http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/a...dbpl=tw&adbpr=19853312&icampaign=web_bleacherIn his first season as Miami Dolphins offensive line coach, John Benton oversaw a unit that was instrumental in helping produce some notable achievements.
At the top of the list, the blocking up front helped the Dolphins produce the fifth-best rushing average in franchise history with a 4.69 mark, a figure that ended up being the second-best in the entire NFL in 2014.
The offensive line also helped the Dolphins rack up 361 first downs, which tied for second-highest total in team history and was the best showing since 1985.
Lastly, the Dolphins led the NFL in lowest percentage of three-and-out drives (12.7 percent) and also in highest percentage of first-down plays that gained 4 or more yards (54.4 percent).
All of those accomplishments were satisfying for Benton, but as he prepares for his second season in Miami, he’s looking for bigger and better things in 2015.
“We had success rushing the ball on the whole, but even breaking that down it’s easier to think of the things we decided to work on,” Benton said during a Coaches Corner segment on The Finsiders. “Running at crucial times in the game, we want to be top in the league in terms of short-yardage rushing, goal-line rushing, that type of thing, critical situations. But a lot of the majority (of the focus) has been on just protection and trying to shore up our protection, both with our techniques and how we’re working person-to-person personnel in some cases as well as schematics. And then, of course, you can always tweak and do things with the scheme and see if you can find a little better way to do it.”
Benton just watched his group complete their offseason work after the minicamp wrapped up last week, but as is the case for every offensive line coach on every team, he’ll get a better gauge for signs of progress once contact is permitted.
As the offseason program ended, the biggest question mark on the Dolphins offensive line appeared to be at guard, where the two starters at the end of last season had to be replaced — Mike Pounceyis returning to center after switching positions last season, and veteran Daryn Colledge announced his retirement early in the offseason.
During the practices that were open to the media this spring, former third-round picks Dallas Thomas
“There’s not one thing set,” Benton said. “It is a wide-open competition and we’ll all be better for it. I completely expect to be very solid at the guard position. Who those two players will be or maybe even third, I don’t know. And that’s something we need the pads on and we need a couple of preseason games to determine. But I think they all feel it.
“What is it, the rising tide raises all boats is the quote? It’s kind of like that. You can see the competition out there. And that’s what you expect. We’ve definitely got talented individuals who are capable of being good players at those positions. Kind of excited to see where it’ll go.”
Benton said he wants his guards to be able to hold up in pass protection and also have the athleticism to get out in the open field in run blocking. Ultimately, he said, the decision on who will start at guard will come down to protection.
Pouncey ended up at guard last season when he returned after missing the first four games following hip surgery because it was determined that keeping veteran Samson Satele at center gave the Dolphins their best combination up front.
Benton praised Pouncey’s unselfishness for making the switch after earning Pro Bowl honors at center in 2013 and his performance in earning a second consecutive Pro Bowl invitation, but this time at a different position.
That said, Benton is excited to see Pouncey first-hand at center.
“I do think it’ll help him,” Benton said. “As well as he played at guard, even when I came in here, I knew he was as good as anyone, if not the best in the league, at the center position. That’s what we expect, and expect even better. He’s given every indication that’ll be the case.”
Pouncey, of course, is one of the two Pro Bowl players on the Dolphins offensive line. The other is tackle Branden Albert
Albert was not able to participate in any practice this offseason as he continued his rehabilitation, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t hard at work.
“I tell you what, I just continue to be impressed by Branden,” Benton said. “Essentially, when that type of injury happens to you, it’s easy to feel like you’re off on your own. You do rehab by yourself, you work with the trainers all day yourself. He went through quite a period of time where he couldn’t walk and that type of thing, and yet I’d sit up in my office and I can’t think of a day where I didn’t look out the window and he’s doing something out on the field at least since he’s been upright. And he has come to every meeting, he’s been in every meeting. He can go in there, from a mental standpoint could play center, guard, probably tight end. Truly works at his craft through that type of adversity and how he’s done it is very impressive.”
After Albert was sidelined last season, 2014 first-round pick Ja’Wuan James followed Pouncey’s path and switched positions when he moved from right to left tackle.
Benton said his hope was for James to stay at right tackle throughout the 2015 season.
“He had to make a tough transition when Branden got hurt,” Benton said. “We moved him to left tackle, a position he had never played before. (He) had his ups and downs over there, but we kind of plan on Branden being back, maybe a little optimistic but with some contingencies of course. Like to see Ja’Wuan stay at the right side. Really felt like before we moved him, he was really taking that position and rolling with it like a good veteran player would. Excited to see where he’ll take it this year.”
The same would apply for all the players that Benton coaches.
It isn’t just his players that Benton is excited about, though. He has been with the Dolphins for about 18 months after spending eight seasons as offensive line coach of the Houston Texans, and sounds like someone who loves every aspect of his job.
“Outstanding,” Benton says of his time with the Dolphins so far. “Fell into a great deal. I really didn’t know much about the area, but I love it here. My family loves it here. It’s like living in a vacation-type place all the time. The weather is perfect. You can smell the ocean half the time. There’s so many perks. And the people are great. Live in a great neighborhood. Just like with any coach, if my family is happy, I’m happy. Love working with the people in the building. Really, really an impressive organization from my standpoint coming in and continues to be.”
Considering how bad the oline was last year after Albert got hurt which definitely played a big factor in us losing games down the stretch, this is positive news. If Douglas can emerge as our starting guard by the time the season rolls around we might be set, or maybe we can pick up a recently released pro bowler in Evan Mathis. Tannehill completed 54% of his passes last year to 7 TDs and 4 Ints when pressure which was 7th best in the NFL. When not pressured he completed 73% of his passes to 20 TDs and 8 INTs.
