Jackson's Sports Buzz 8/5

[So Be]

### Though Dolphins offensive line coach John Benton said Tuesday the team’s young guards have improved, “I wouldn’t say [it’s] to the point of saying, ‘I’m impressed.’”
He called the guard play “a little bit inconsistent.”
Who has been the best among left guards Dallas Thomas and Jamil Douglas and right guard Billy Turner?
“That’s a tough question to answer,” Benton said. “One guy has a real good practice, and the other guy maybe doesn’t and the next day it’s switched. It’s going to be who does well consistently over time.
"I’m not 100 percent sure we have a real front-runner. Dallas has been doing really well. He got dinged up a little today [but I don’t think it’s serious].”
The Dolphins gave Douglas some work at right guard Tuesday in case they settle on a Thomas/Douglas pairing. As Benton said, the Dolphins want to “make sure we are able to put the best two guys on the field.”
Benton wants more consistency from Turner. “We love the aggression and physicality he plays with,” Benton said. “We don’t want to temper that. We just want to do it the right way.”
Benton said shoring up the play of the interior of the line “was our No. 1 concern coming out of last season. That has been the major focus of our group from the start. It’s going to happen… I’ve seen some progress in the three practices [in pads]. That’s all you can do, find a way to get incrementally better every day.”
### Yet another sack today for defensive end Terrence Fede, who has been among the most impactful players in training camp.
“Once I came in and saw Fede,” Ndamukong Suh said, “I didn’t know much about him, but as I’ve seen him and saw some of the old tape on him, he’s definitely a young guy last year that’s made great progression coming into his sophomore year.”

 

[insomnia411]

### Though Dolphins offensive line coach John Benton said Tuesday the team’s young guards have improved, “I wouldn’t say [it’s] to the point of saying, ‘I’m impressed.’”
He called the guard play “a little bit inconsistent.”
Who has been the best among left guards Dallas Thomas and Jamil Douglas and right guard Billy Turner?
“That’s a tough question to answer,” Benton said. “One guy has a real good practice, and the other guy maybe doesn’t and the next day it’s switched. It’s going to be who does well consistently over time.
"I’m not 100 percent sure we have a real front-runner. Dallas has been doing really well. He got dinged up a little today [but I don’t think it’s serious].”
The Dolphins gave Douglas some work at right guard Tuesday in case they settle on a Thomas/Douglas pairing. As Benton said, the Dolphins want to “make sure we are able to put the best two guys on the field.”
Benton wants more consistency from Turner. “We love the aggression and physicality he plays with,” Benton said. “We don’t want to temper that. We just want to do it the right way.”
Benton said shoring up the play of the interior of the line “was our No. 1 concern coming out of last season. That has been the major focus of our group from the start. It’s going to happen… I’ve seen some progress in the three practices [in pads]. That’s all you can do, find a way to get incrementally better every day.”
### Yet another sack today for defensive end Terrence Fede, who has been among the most impactful players in training camp.
“Once I came in and saw Fede,” Ndamukong Suh said, “I didn’t know much about him, but as I’ve seen him and saw some of the old tape on him, he’s definitely a young guy last year that’s made great progression coming into his sophomore year.”

Lol what? They didn't address guard at all in the off season until the 4th round of the draft. They certainly didn't act like it was their #1 concern coming out of last year.

 

[So Be]

FWIW. I saw Lazor on the Finsiders yesterday say that Dallas is much improved. Add that to Benton and Tannenbaum, and we got three guys who have seen every play having something good to say about Dallas. Now maybe, like me, they feel they need to defend him from all the Phan attacks, and maybe all three got together and agreed to say something good on DT over Turner and Douglas. OR. maybe, just maybe they are saying what they are seeing, which we are not.

 

[Phinatic8u]

I've noticed one thing.

Only the RG has been mentioned as being bad since TC started. That's the player Suh goes against, coincidence? Yes.

 

[So Be]

I've noticed one thing.

Only the RG has been mentioned as being bad since TC started. That's the player Suh goes against, coincidence? Yes.

I think it has pretty much been everyone but, th different degrees. Turner getting beat up by Suh is expected but, would really like to know (or better see) how badly. I saw Turner on Finsiders and he was saying how tuff it was to deal with all the blitz packages the D was throwing at the OL without mentioning Suh.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

FWIW. I saw Lazor on the Finsiders yesterday say that Dallas is much improved. Add that to Benton and Tannenbaum, and we got three guys who have seen every play having something good to say about Dallas. Now maybe, like me, they feel they need to defend him from all the Phan attacks, and maybe all three got together and agreed to say something good on DT over Turner and Douglas. OR. maybe, just maybe they are saying what they are seeing, which we are not.

Thank you. I have been feeling like the lone wolf trying to defend Thomas. Glad others are starting to notice. Just can't figure out all the hate for a player giving his all to entertain us, being hated so. You would think he was the lone gunman that killed poor Cecil or something.

 

[.....]

FWIW. I saw Lazor on the Finsiders yesterday say that Dallas is much improved. Add that to Benton and Tannenbaum, and we got three guys who have seen every play having something good to say about Dallas. Now maybe, like me, they feel they need to defend him from all the Phan attacks, and maybe all three got together and agreed to say something good on DT over Turner and Douglas. OR. maybe, just maybe they are saying what they are seeing, which we are not.

FWIW: "improved" does not equal "good" necessarily

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

He's a bad player and he's being talked up so that the guard they are in talks about signing doesn't have as much leverage. Ain't hard to figure out.

 

[hoops]

interesting comments on turner that they like the physiicality etc...that's perfect for right guard if he's got some nasty in him...makes me wonder if he's oversetting and overaggressive instead of sitting back and trusting his punch and his footwork and lateral ability...

 

[So Be]

I have posted a lot on Dallas over the last year. I am no expert but, watch film on the OL every game and have done so for years. I can see good vs bad play, and posted realistically on DT. Quick run down.

In 2013, he was wasted by constant position changes. Philbin admitted the same.

In 2014 at RT, he was as bad as bad could be. No one disputes this and there is no reason to discuss it further.

He played 3 games at LG and 3 games at RG after a red shirt year. He did not have a single good game at OG. However, he did have a couple playing just below average, showed some improvement, and this is expected from a player playing for the first time vs NFL competition. He showed some promise.

This year, no Phan other than going to practice has seen him play. The 3 from the team, quoted above, have and have some good things to say. I'll go with that until I see a preseason game to have a different opinion.

All I have asked from those blindly hating the guy is for something specific, AT OG ONLY, saying why. Few have come up with anything. Some have made good points as to playing soft, etc. which is fine and good discussion. For the rest, they should understand the difference between OG and RT or, wait until they have something they saw to put up a worthwhile post rather than making stuff up that is simply not true.

JMO

 

[So Be]

He's a bad player and he's being talked up so that the guard they are in talks about signing doesn't have as much leverage. Ain't hard to figure out.

Yeah, his agent does not know any better, does not watch the Dolphins, and is dropping the price of Mathis because of these comments. C'mon Man.

 

[Aqua and Orange]

You know things are bad when Benton can't even pick a single person to praise at 2 open positions. Wow, that was damning.

It's early, but here's to hoping one of them emerges FAST. The season is only a month away.

 

[utahphinsfan]

I've noticed one thing.

Only the RG has been mentioned as being bad since TC started. That's the player Suh goes against, coincidence? Yes.

Its more like correlation & causation.

That said, I'd prefer they go w/ Turner & Douglas then let Brenner (I'm biased) & ?? roll w/ the 2nd team.

 

[Tannenbombs]

I like Fede

 

[Sherif]

I don't think Pouncey has been good in two years + training camp 2015.