Is Billy Turner ready to contribute with the Dolphins?

[Perfect72]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...tribute-with-the-dolphins-20141110-story.html

If Billy Turner hadn't been battling a bout with turf toe during the exhibition season it is quite possible that the rookie might have begun this season as a starter for the Miami Dolphins.The former North Dakota State standout the Dolphins selected in the third-round of the 2014 draft had established himself as one of the team's more forceful run blocking offensive linemen.

Fast forward two months later and Turner hasn't played in a single regular season game for the Dolphins. He's finally healthy, and it appears Branden Albert's season-ending knee injury has created a vacancy on the starting offensive line.He was a little rough around the edges as a pass blocker, but had begun to settle in at right guard, pushing Dallas Thomas for the starting spot he eventually lost to Shelley Smith. Then Turner's foot injury set him back. When the window of opportunity had finally opened to proven he was worthy of a starting spot the former North Dakota State standout had to be shut down.

While Ja'Wuan James, the team's 2014 first-round pick, has been used as Albert's replacement at left tackle, and that move from right to left appears Joe Philbin's final answer, there is one player on the Dolphins' roster who spent four years as a college left tackle.
That player is Turner, whom the Dolphins have been cross-training as a offensive guard for months. But Turner gets some work at offensve tackle every once in a while at practice. The question is.... is Turner ready for some game action? Is Turner ready to block Mario Williams?


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The Dolphins must use this short week to determine if the team would be better off finishing the season with Dallas Thomas at right tackle or give Turner a test drive at the spot.

Can the Dolphins coaches throw him into the deep end of the pool at right tackle. And would getting him work as James' backup at left tackle be a wise idea?

Having two days to prepare for Thursday night's home game against the Buffalo Bills likely means this question will have to be put on pause. And putting Turner on the field for his first NFL regular season game against the toughest defensive line in the NFL isn't exactly a smart approach.

But at some point Miami needs to see if this puppy will bite. :err:

 

[hoops]

absolutely get him in the damn tackle rotation...abso freaking lutely

 

[ANUFan]

Where do you put him?

 

[Danny]

We need to find out what he can do. With the way things are shaping up pretty soon we'll be playing to find out what some guys can do. Keep on mind that Alberts probably won't be ready for opening day next year.we don't even know if he'll be the same player and if he comes back strong, we don't know when that will be. We need to plan as if he's not coming back. And of course we're taking a big cap hit just to keep him in the roster. If Ireland hadn't moved up for Jordan and instead had taken a young healthy LT there would have been no need to go after Albert. Everything Ireland did is still haunting us.

 

[hoops]

f that...put him at tackle...he's got 34 inch arms is an 1/8 under 6 ft 5...and has as good short area lateral agility and feet as any player on our oline...couple that with the best move to the 2nd level in space player and on the hoof athlete and if this kids healthy he needs to start getting some run

we just lost our starting left tackle...i'd give him tons of tackle reps in practice left and right side...and yeah there will be hiccups but this kid puts dallas thomas and nate garner tools and physical abilities wise to freaking shame

when i evaluated his college tape i said pro tackle more than guard anyways...perfect scheme fit...the only thing that's not ideal as a tackle is the height is about an inch under ideal...still this kids kick slide lateral quickness and foot speed is very good...sure he will have some issues with technique etc sometimes his feet stop moving and he leans and reaches needs to trust those terrific feet and lateral abilities more and he can have some issues vs speed off the corner as he learns to play vs nfl talent but this kids a legit nfl prospect and long term quality starter imo...coach up his hand placement

get him in the rotation...now...active on thursday absolutely

 

[Hayden Fox]

Terrible they have sat on him this long.

 

[hoops]

if we stick with status quo we are screwed guys...it's either you go for it with a legit talent and yeah i know 2 starting rookie tackles is dicey stuff and pretty much never works out it's a miracle we got one that's played as well as he has but this kids legit talent...and very good in space

worst case this would be a great time to give him extra olineman package run in unbalanced sets thursday and let him get his feet wet...if he's healthy finally get this kid contributing...and start working him into that tackle slot...he has the potential to right the ship...

 

[Hayden Fox]

It is just crazy how Dallas Thomas keeps coming back into to play. He is like the Michael Myers of subs.

How does a guy get beaten so bad he is replaced in an instant Sunday while at LG end up being the first choice at RT? Garner has experience at RT? Why is Fox on this team exactly? Billy Turner is a strong kid that has a ton of upside? What does Dallas Thomas bring to the table exactly that makes him the immediate choice.

 

[Despacio]

We need to find out what he can do. With the way things are shaping up pretty soon we'll be playing to find out what some guys can do. Keep on mind that Alberts probably won't be ready for opening day next year.we don't even know if he'll be the same player and if he comes back strong, we don't know when that will be. We need to plan as if he's not coming back. And of course we're taking a big cap hit just to keep him in the roster. If Ireland hadn't moved up for Jordan and instead had taken a young healthy LT there would have been no need to go after Albert. Everything Ireland did is still haunting us.

The fanbase would've killed Ireland if he took a tackle that year, and Alberts injury was a fluke that could've happened to anyone. Also Albert has never played less than 12 games in a season his whole career. Chalk it up to Phin misfortune and bad luck that seems to plague this team all the time.


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[hoops]

miami should have given turner some tackle run in camp and the preseason anyways...i know they liked their starting tackles in camp hell if i had seen james and alberts tape then i would have too looking at the lateral quickness and agility and technique but there's no reason you can assume guys will stay healthy and not be ready for something like this...i dont want to hear the excuse we didnt want to overload him and "ruin him" like that crap about dallas thomas...truth is thomas was terrible no matter where they tried him last year and he is in terrific shape this year and as soft as they come...looks like tarzan plays like jane...billy turner trumps that kid physical abilities and talent wise by a mile...

we did it to ourselves...could have had some tackle tape with turner instead of just worrying about his leverage and technique kicked inside where he was more upright than they wanted...i wonder why??? he was a freaking tackle all thru college played on the edge in space where being a little more upright is ok...

i like the oline coach he's done a really solid job i hope he can figure this out...time for plan b...the next 3 weeks we face a murderers row of edge and rush talent

billy turner time to contribute

 

[Travis34]

I'm with you hoops. He needs to be atleast active and get a shot out there. Puts the other where they belong


The question is right or left though? James has been very steady all year at RT and at LT for a short time he was ok. I'd leave him at rt personally let Turner find his home on the left

However I imagine the right side may be easier starting out next to Pouncey

 

[mnphinfan]

if we stick with status quo we are screwed guys...it's either you go for it with a legit talent and yeah i know 2 starting rookie tackles is dicey stuff and pretty much never works out it's a miracle we got one that's played as well as he has but this kids legit talent...and very good in space

worst case this would be a great time to give him extra olineman package run in unbalanced sets thursday and let him get his feet wet...if he's healthy finally get this kid contributing...and start working him into that tackle slot...he has the potential to right the ship...

Any word on how Simms injury is healing? We could really use him as help on the left side right now. I'd be fine with having Turner start and Simms as his fail safe on the outside.

 

[hoops]

i guess we will see how james fares at left tackle and usually it is easier to find a suitable right tackle replacement...but if james shows poorly i think you got to consider moving him back and giving turner left tackle run...he played left tackle in college albeit against lower level competition...

there's no way garner or thomas can play the left side

as for sims i just dont expect him to play in a short week even participating in a walk thru yesterday unless he practices likely the only field day of work these guys will get before thursday...even then i could see them sitting him and giving him 10 more days off

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

you go for it with a legit talent

Yeah. Find a way to get your talent on the field.

 

[Ruckus45]

Wow, two rookie OL potentially starting. That Albert injury really hurts. I hope with youth comes athleticism and the ability to pull on screens and misdirection. Otherwise life will be hard for Tanne.

On the bright side, that pocket did look a lot better in the second half for the Fins. For the most part Tannehill had time to throw and the RBs were getting decent yards up the middle. Maybe we can survive this and get into playoffs.