Anyone else worry we still only have 2 starting o-linemen?

[Madridista7]

At the start of last season, I wasn't even concerned with the o line. During preseason I thought a line of JMart Cog Pouncey Jerry and Clabo would be great.

Look how that turned out. We can't rely on last year's backups to be our starters. Hell, even many of the FA options can't be relied upon.

We're going to have to draft 2 OL within the first 3 rounds, its just a matter of time until everyone realizes that.

 

[HoneyB]

Please, no even tell me that it's only the 3rd day of free agency. So what? What matters is that linemen are going and going. Collins was the last one now. We only have 2 real starters and I'm worry we're going to be left out. Am I overeacting?

Ozzy rules!!

There are still some tackles available, and some guards.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/transactions/free-agents/ot

Not sure what you expect. You can't man an entire roster in Free Agency. We might still pick up people, we have a Rams guard visiting us, and we've reached out to Zach Strief. The draft is ahead.

I really don't think any of us can NOT WORRY about the O line this year, regardless of what we do, because we had to replace the entire unit. Just because I'm concerned doesn't mean I'm exasperated about it though...this is what I expect. I expected us to struggle to get an O line together. So far, Albert was a great pickup. Your Center and LT are the main pieces.

 

[HoneyB]

While I know we have a lot of concerns about the OL, we're not going to fix the whole thing in 2-3 days. LT's are being played out first. Guards, RT and centers will come after that. Anyone signing a guard or RT now is either grossly overpaying for them or has only that spot as a hole. People also need to realize players like Collins are not going to come here and play/get paid as a RT when they have many other chances to be a well-paid LT. We likely will sign a RT and/or guard within the next week and then draft a couple OL. We are fine and probably need to be more concerned about what we are going to do at CB, LB, RB and probably TE.

Exactly...they all want to be Left Tackles so they can get paid.

I remember when we signed Jake Long, he started out in college as a RT as a great run blocker and switched to left, he admitted, because he said that's where the money is.

 

[Geforce]

Exactly...they all want to be Left Tackles so they can get paid.

I remember when we signed Jake Long, he started out in college as a RT as a great run blocker and switched to left, he admitted, because he said that's where the money is.

Jake Long started out as a RT because Michigan already had an ALL-Big 10 LT on the team. When Stenovich graduated, Long switch over to LT.

 

[Sirspud]

Brennan can and did start competently at LG.

Garner can start in any other position.

Funny how these guys "can start" yet were both benched AFTER starting. On the worst line in football. I also don't seem to remember any of the interior linemen, including Pouncey, opening holes in the running game. These guys can provide an impediment to a d-line getting to your Qb immediately (an improvement on some of what we've seen) but starting caliber linemen need to do more.

Anyone can start if their team is bad enough to put them there.

 

[gregorygrant83]

I personally want two rookies starting, so by my count we have two starters now and will add two more in a few months. I'm not worried about when we add the fifth starter.Another thing to remember is that there are a lot of good linemen in this draft, so after the draft there is going to be some former starters released or traded. Lets see where the team is at in August. And if you've watched any sport long enough, and especially the Dolphins, you know a unit can look secure or in disarray in March and then look the total opposite once the season starts.

 

[CusePhinFan]

Concerned? Yes of course. Worried? Not yet. If they don't pick up at least two more good vet options I will start to worry. Needed for depth at the very least. Can't rely on every draft pick to pan out, and even the ones that do don't always perform up to par from day one.

 

[Digital]

I fully expect us to draft 3 OL. My hope is that we draft 3 in the top 4 rounds, giving us 2 starters instantly and one more to groom to start down the road. Ideally that might be Zack Martin in round 1 to start at LG and James Hurst as the eventual LT starter. Then there are a bunch of decent RT candidates we could get from this draft. With Albert onboard we have time for Hurst to heal up and get up to speed.

But even in that best case scenario, I think we need a third veteran starter next year. Either we find a RG and draft a RT, or we find a RT and draft a RG. Either works. But if we don't do one of the two, we are looking at starting Garner at RT, which isn't where we want to be.

 

[Digital]

Exactly...they all want to be Left Tackles so they can get paid.

I remember when we signed Jake Long, he started out in college as a RT as a great run blocker and switched to left, he admitted, because he said that's where the money is.

Long was always a LT. But as a young collegiate player it's hard to dislodge very good veterans so you play wherever there is an opening ... for Jake that was at RT. But, he quickly adjusted to college ball, and soon moved to his proper place as LT and allowed something like 1 sack in 2 years. He was the very definition of dominant, being phenomenal in pass protection and a one man IHOP in the run game serving pancakes by the truckload.

The only thing that caused Jake to switch from RT to LT is the fact that he was young and they had a great LT ... so he had to pay his dues. He didn't really switch ... LT is always where the best collegiate OT is put when the QB is right handed. That's why something like 75% or more of the OG's and OT's in the NFL played LT in college ... because they were the best blockers on their teams in college.

Centers are a different thing entirely, and you have your fair share of football factories like Tennessee and Alabama who put lots of guys into the pros, and they can't all play LT at the same time. But, for most schools, if it's an OT or OG candidate, they played LT.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Offensive linemen aren't impossible to find. We've made it look more difficult than it is. That's why I'm not preoccupied by this. It's logical that with different eyes at general manager and offensive line coach we'll uncover some competent and promising guys down the road.

I'm confident we won't get scared in the draft and devote a wave of picks to that position. Take one early and make it count.

 

[fakespike]

im not sure if Hickey watched all of the dolphins games from last year, but I did. Tannehill was getting assailed from all angles, not just the blind side. RT was a turnstyle, as were the interior gaps. i'd rather we spend 7 mil on a definite upgrade than 4 mil on someone who "might" be better than clabo, jerry etc. i also dont want to be in a position where we are forced to go OL in the first round, if someone dynamic is sitting there (ebron, etc).

 

[Danny]

I get the point that some are making but untill I see that we have at least 1 more starter I'll be worry. Some people think that all we need is for the oline to be a little better than last year. I don't buy that. Our line needs to be much better. We could get 3 yards a carry and allow "only" 52 sacks and say our line is better. Is that what we want?

Ozzy rules!!

 

[uk_dolfan]

Sign smith, smith and strief draft martin then grab one more in the draft.... line sorted

 

[Dmarino110]

Definitely. Do not want to burn multiple picks in round 1-3 on the line.

burn 1-3 on oline or have tannehill on his back 50+ times again next season?

Sign smith, smith and strief draft martin then grab one more in the draft.... line sorted

We need Strief...id feel better drafting a guard and a center or 2 guards than a tackle...

 

[FSU Truth]

Yes and no....

1st I still think they will sign at least 2 more guys before the draft. they may not be stars, but they should be solid starters.

2nd The draft is pretty deep on the o-line, granted I don't want to go into the season starting 3 rookies, but if they win the position, then that's the way we go.