Change in Philosophy?

[SF Dolphin Fan]

You have to go back a long way to find a Dolphin offensive line that was above average - early years of Marino. That got me thinking as to why that's the case. In the days of Jimmy Johnson, the team's philosophy was not to take an offensive lineman in the first round. That seemed odd to me even as a defensive first guy. If the best player is offensive line don't you take him? Looking back Miami has rarely taken an offensive lineman in the first round. Off the top of my head you have Vernon Carey, Richmond Webb, Roy Foster, Billy Milner...am I forgetting anyone? Anyway, the philosophy has been that you could develop middle round guys, but the Dolphins haven't had much luck doing that. I think the philosophy needs to change in two ways. First, the team shouldn't rule out the first round. Secondly, the team needs to look for more athletic tackles. These big, slow footed "guard" types aren't getting it done at tackle and are a big reason for the three step, quick passing attack. Also, this has limited Randy McMichael as a pass catcher -- his strength.

 

[WA. FINSFAN]

I makes you wonder how the o-line got so much better when Joey became the starter.I mean Cpepp was getting 5 a game and now were going whole games without sacks. I can't believe the line got better overnight

 

[PhinFan0202]

I makes you wonder how the o-line got so much better when Joey became the starter.I mean Cpepp was getting 5 a game and now were going whole games without sacks. I can't believe the line got better overnight

Well not overnight but they have gotten better over the season. L.J. moving to right guard has been key and if Shelton can comeback soon our O-line is going to be even better. Although fonoti is not bad i think Shelton is the starter for a reason.

 

[bluehaze]

I makes you wonder how the o-line got so much better when Joey became the starter.I mean Cpepp was getting 5 a game and now were going whole games without sacks. I can't believe the line got better overnight

It didn't get much better, Joey seems to face more pressure up the middle and off the right side as opposed to the left which I would attribute to DMac doing a better job at LT but there is still constant pressure on the QB. Joey just has uncanny pocket presence, he sidesteps rushers, gets rid of the ball before they can get to him, he seems to know everytime where the pressure is going to come from and adjusts accordingly.

 

[WA. FINSFAN]

the changes to the o-line have worked out well and i'm glad Joey getting the protection he needs, but do you think Cpepp could go a whole game without getting sacked. I believe Joey's quick decisions is making the o-line job a lot easier

 

[Bpk]

When we talk about the O-line playing poorly or having imrpoved, let's not focus solely on sacks and pass protection. It's also important to note whether the line has run-blocked effectively. THAT has improved and helped the Passing Game a lot by backing off the Defense's pass rush somewhat.

Also, the coaches aren;t fools, and once they had the more decisive Joey at QB they went to shorter drops, quicker reads, shorter pass patterns so the protection doesn;t have to hold out as long. It worked and our o-line, put in a better position to succeed, has done as well as they are capable of because too much is not being asked of them (don;t forget, Culpepper was not elusive, and held the ball longer too).

I think Hudson has improved them, and the switching around at LT and RG has helped. Also, we had SO many RG's in the first few preseason and reg season games that it affected the line's blocking chemistry, the stability has helped Carey and Hednot improve as well. That said, RG still seems to be our hexed spot for injuries, even little ones. Also, Cox is not as good as Jeno at LG and it shows, but Kendyl has played better than I thought he could/would so we're lucky. THIS week, however, the interior line has a HUGE challenge, literally, in the Jags DT's, who may be the best DT tandem in the league.

Good luck O-line.

 

[NJPHIN34]

It almost seems as if our coaching staff has repeatedly underestimated the importance of a dominant o line. I wouldn't say it was so much Saban because he hasn't had the opportunity to draft any great studs in the first round yet. But in the past, especially with wanny, who did we draft? Wade Smith, Billy Yates other scrubs?

If you look at the successful teams in this league, year in and year out they have great offensive lines. It's really pretty simple. Look at Edgerrin James. Great back running behind a crappy o line and doing absolutely nothing.

 

[rafael]

I makes you wonder how the o-line got so much better when Joey became the starter.I mean Cpepp was getting 5 a game and now were going whole games without sacks. I can't believe the line got better overnight

They changed the offense to a short passing game instead of the vertical offense they were calling before, Saban has mentioned it a couple of times. It's not the offense he wants to run but it's what our current personnel dictates.

 

[Desides]

I makes you wonder how the o-line got so much better when Joey became the starter.I mean Cpepp was getting 5 a game and now were going whole games without sacks. I can't believe the line got better overnight

The offensive line didn't automatically become better when Harrington started. Yes, he was only sacked once, but that was because of a combination of getting short passes off quickly and being able to avoid defenders. The line didn't really improve until a couple of games after Harrington came in, when the lineup was settled.

 

[johngarryvo]

the reason JH lessened the sack count...he goes thru his progressions...subtitle: DC COULDN'T READ THE D!!...so, while he's being 'habbed', he's most likely being 'schooled'...as in: if A is not there, go to B; if B etc., etc...it's even more of an indictment on why Brees was the better choice...Dante never really had to read the D in MN, it was just throw it and let Randy run to it; and since Moss can't run precise routes, everything was a 'go', and the offense was more about improvising on the fly than knowing what you're supposed to do if something breaks down...like get rid of the dang ball and not take sacks...

 

[rafael]

the reason JH lessened the sack count...he goes thru his progressions...subtitle: DC COULDN'T READ THE D!!...so, while he's being 'habbed', he's most likely being 'schooled'...as in: if A is not there, go to B; if B etc., etc...it's even more of an indictment on why Brees was the better choice...Dante never really had to read the D in MN, it was just throw it and let Randy run to it; and since Moss can't run precise routes, everything was a 'go', and the offense was more about improvising on the fly than knowing what you're supposed to do if something breaks down...like get rid of the dang ball and not take sacks...

Actually, JH has never been great at going through his progressions. He has always had a tendency to lock on his primary and then just jump to the outlet. Even Saban has commented on the fact that JH should sometimes hold on to the ball longer.

And while DC has never been great reading defenses he has always been considered better than JH at going through his progressions. (That ridiculous Moss argument has been proven wrong in so many posts yet the uninformed keep regurgitating it :shakeno: )

 

[PhinsRock]

Sure hope we draft a LT in first round this year, it should be obvious we need some serious talent there and there are lots of good LT candidates in this year's draft.

 

[TampaFinsFan01]

You have to go back a long way to find a Dolphin offensive line that was above average - early years of Marino. That got me thinking as to why that's the case. In the days of Jimmy Johnson, the team's philosophy was not to take an offensive lineman in the first round. That seemed odd to me even as a defensive first guy. If the best player is offensive line don't you take him? Looking back Miami has rarely taken an offensive lineman in the first round. Off the top of my head you have Vernon Carey, Richmond Webb, Roy Foster, Billy Milner...am I forgetting anyone? Anyway, the philosophy has been that you could develop middle round guys, but the Dolphins haven't had much luck doing that. I think the philosophy needs to change in two ways. First, the team shouldn't rule out the first round. Secondly, the team needs to look for more athletic tackles. These big, slow footed "guard" types aren't getting it done at tackle and are a big reason for the three step, quick passing attack. Also, this has limited Randy McMichael as a pass catcher -- his strength.

The offensive line we had with Dixon at LT, Jamie Nails at LG and Ruddy at C was decent enough. We were plagued with Jay Fiedler as the QB.

 

[bluehaze]

One thing is certain, if we don't draft O-Line in the first round, Daunte is going to have problems. Some other things to consider though do you go for a #1 WR first being that Harrington can handle the pressure the line puts him under? Or do you go with O-Line first because Daunte needs more time? I see both as needs and the priority kind of depends on whos going to be under center.

 

[Mike13]

Haze going for OL should be our priority.

The offensive line we had with Dixon at LT,

Dixon was a POS.