Dolphins lineman part of three-man rotation at guard

[DKphin]

DAVIE - Officially, Donald Thomas remains the Dolphins' starting right guard.

The second-year man from Connecticut has started all 12 games there this season, and he continues to work with the first team in practice this week.

But the past two games Thomas has shared time with fellow second-year man Nate Garner in what Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has called a three-man rotation at the two guard spots.

In Sunday's win over New England, Thomas played the first series and quickly gave way to Garner for all but one offensive play through the rest of the game. Veteran Justin Smiley was back at left guard, and Thomas spent much of the afternoon standing on the sideline with offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo.

An injury isn't the problem; Thomas was in the trenches for all three of Dan Carpenter's field goals, including the game winner.

So where does Thomas stand?

"I don't want to be an idiot, but I really don't know," Thomas said. "It's just an administrative decision right now with this rotation. My understanding is when I get in here every day, I see where I'm at."

Sparano recently praised Thomas for his work ethic and devotion to his craft, which includes texting DeGuglielmo at all hours seeking technical advice. However, Sparano also noted the need to give Thomas a "breather" as he enters "uncharted territory" in his first full season.

Thomas won the starting job as a rookie last season but a broken foot ended his year after one game.

"It's more mental for me," Thomas said. "I've never played a long season like this. I say to these guys, 'I don't know how y'all do it,' but now I'm learning little tricks of the trade. Take care of your body and stuff like that."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...(Miami+Dolphins+/+South+Florida+Sun-Sentinel)

 

[Aqua Shadow]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...(Miami+Dolphins+/+South+Florida+Sun-Sentinel)

The worst thing about being a fan of a Parcells/BP disciple run team is that there are ALWAYS smoke screens and players reading off of a script for the coach.

I hate to say it but maybe Thomas is on his way out. It seems like there is a trend.

Didn't Roth get praised before he got cut?
Didn't Wilford get praised before he got cut?
And lets not forget the great John Beck. He was praised prior to his release as well.

Don't be surprised when it happens.

 

[enduro]

The worst thing about being a fan of a Parcells/BP disciple run team is that there are ALWAYS smoke screens and players reading off of a script for the coach.

I hate to say it but maybe Thomas is on his way out. It seems like there is a trend.

Didn't Roth get praised before he got cut?
Didn't Wilford get praised before he got cut?
And lets not forget the great John Beck. He was praised prior to his release as well.

Don't be surprised when it happens.

wtf!!!! he's a rookie basically. relax. he's not going anywhere.

 

[jvw]

In the Parcells/Ireland/Sparano system, they love to rotate the guys up front.....this keeps them fresh and hungry.....They do it with the D line all the time this is the first time they have done it with the O line, i think its because they have the talent to do it. I like it because not only does it keep them fresh, we dont skip a beat if somone gets injured......Thomas was a late round pick so he's not making any money, he's not going anywhere......

 

[JT-forpresident]

The worst thing about being a fan of a Parcells/BP disciple run team is that there are ALWAYS smoke screens and players reading off of a script for the coach.

I hate to say it but maybe Thomas is on his way out. It seems like there is a trend.

Didn't Roth get praised before he got cut?
Didn't Wilford get praised before he got cut?
And lets not forget the great John Beck. He was praised prior to his release as well.

Don't be surprised when it happens.

WTF ? complete paranoia from your part my friend...

there is a rotation for almost every single 22 starting positions on this team... it's easier to name the guys who stay in there no matter what than to name players who get breathers ...

Adding to that, there's no other coach more suited to understand what an oline needs to be succesful than tony sparano and Deguglielmo (spelling)

i'm not worried one bit, they keep it competitive, they keep the guys fresh, it's all good

:aww:

 

[13finfan4ever]

One things is for sure this team has 2 or 3 guys with close to equal talent for every position.

 

[zach8111]

The worst thing about being a fan of a Parcells/BP disciple run team is that there are ALWAYS smoke screens and players reading off of a script for the coach.

I hate to say it but maybe Thomas is on his way out. It seems like there is a trend.

Didn't Roth get praised before he got cut?
Didn't Wilford get praised before he got cut?
And lets not forget the great John Beck. He was praised prior to his release as well.

Don't be surprised when it happens.

oh no.. henne is being praised right now... so he's gone.. ricky is being praised right now... he's gone too.... whatever dude

 

[Lilseb93]

The worst thing about being a fan of a Parcells/BP disciple run team is that there are ALWAYS smoke screens and players reading off of a script for the coach.

I hate to say it but maybe Thomas is on his way out. It seems like there is a trend.

Didn't Roth get praised before he got cut?
Didn't Wilford get praised before he got cut?
And lets not forget the great John Beck. He was praised prior to his release as well.

Don't be surprised when it happens.

:err:

 

[miamiron]

The worst thing about being a fan of a Parcells/BP disciple run team is that there are ALWAYS smoke screens and players reading off of a script for the coach.

I hate to say it but maybe Thomas is on his way out. It seems like there is a trend.

Didn't Roth get praised before he got cut?
Didn't Wilford get praised before he got cut?
And lets not forget the great John Beck. He was praised prior to his release as well.

Don't be surprised when it happens.

Sean Murphy was the most improved player
said by Sparano during training camp...Maybe we can hope the words spoke by Sparano about Crowder being future pro bowl will lend himself to the group you mentioned

 

[Aqua Shadow]

oh no.. henne is being praised right now... so he's gone.. ricky is being praised right now... he's gone too.... whatever dude

Its the players that are being praised who aren't playing well... The ones that people on this site use to make a point such as "See, they aren't even doing that bad". The ones that aren't starting.

 

[TraderJoe]

While watching the game I thought it made perfect sense why Thomas was out. We passed the ball over 50 times and Thomas by far is our worst pass blocker. I think that is the only reason he was on the sidelines.

 

[cafinfan408]

We were rotating for the last few weeks when smiley was getting into contact again. I agree with the reason thomas sat was he is a just a run blocker at this point