Ja'Wuan James impressing teammates and coaches

[Daytona Fin]

By Andrew Abramson - Palm Beach Post Staff Writer


DAVIE — Dolphins right tackle Ja’Wuan James is more frugal than your typical first-round pick. Even after signing a four-year, $8.4 million contract, he wouldn’t pay $800 for the black, customized version of the Jordan Nike sneakers he really wanted.
For a standard order, the size 16s that James needed were available only in white, so he went on Twitter asking fans to recommend artists who could paint his sneakers black at a reasonable price.

+Rookie Ja’Wuan James brings mature approach to Miami Dolphins’ O-line photo ALLEN EYESTONE
New offensive line coach John Benton is thrilled to have Ja’Wuan James, above, on board: “You’re just so pleased when a ... Read More
“I’m still trying to conserve my money,” he said.

The Dolphins drafted James 19th overall to protect quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but it’s his maturity that already is impressing teammates.

They have been raving about his study habits and ability to learn the offense since he joined the team in May.

“We love Ja’Wuan,” center Mike Pouncey said. “He’s one of the best rookies that’s come in in a long time.”

New offensive line coach John Benton said the team’s enthusiasm for James is more than just preseason hype.

“As much as you research and as much time as you put into the draft, there’s still a little bit of you’re just throwing it a against the wall and hoping it sticks,” Benton said. “You’re just so pleased when a guy comes in like Ja’Wuan with his level of maturity. The athletic ability is the easy part to evaluate.

“He’s picked up the offense incredibly well. He’s getting better every day. I think he’s going to be a very good player for a very long time.”

Benton even has experimented in practice with James at left tackle, a position he never has played. If Albert were to get hurt, Benton said he wants the best five players on the field, and that could mean James at left tackle.

“It’s all the little things,” James said. “Coach Benton is always on me about my footwork, always on me about my hand placement. It’s those things.”

Tannehill said James has made a few mistakes but already has improved noticeably since workouts began in the spring.

James said he and Tannehill are tight.

“We’ve got the same agent so I’ve bonded with him through that,” James said. “We don’t even talk about (the sacks) from last year. All we focus on is my job to protect him and whoever’s back there. I feel like when you think about bad stuff, that’s when it comes up.”

James said he also hasn’t discussed last season’s bullying scandal and the NFL’s subsequent investigation. Pouncey is the only Dolphins player left who was directly involved.

“Coming in, hearing about it through the media and all that, I was like, ‘Wow, OK,’ ” James said. “Everybody said, ‘Oh Mike Pouncey is such a bad guy, blah blah blah.’ Mike is one of the coolest guys in the room.

“Everybody’s bonded. B.A. — Branden Albert — he does a good job. Me and Billy (Turner), all the rookies since we’ve been here, everyone is just focused on the same goal. We want to win and we want it to be because the O-line is doing their job.”

http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news...pbpstubtomypbp_launch#7e9d8440.3454205.735471

 

[Vaark]

impressing a bunch of fans too... and by association, Dennis Hickey as well!

 

[urbanski]

Its very early but this looks like a solid first draft for Hickey.

 

[fishfanmiami]

Good to see him playing some left tackle last game for down the road.
Nice to have two competent bookends going into this year for a change :up:

 

[Dolphin North]

He looks better at run blocking than I had hoped. I hope it continues.
Sounds like the new o-line is at least focused on winning and not on stupidity and bringing teammates to the lowest level possible. Even if the talent level is about the same or mildly improved that alone would make a big difference IMO.

 

[PhinFan1968]

He looks better at run blocking than I had hoped. I hope it continues.
Sounds like the new o-line is at least focused on winning and not on stupidity and bringing teammates to the lowest level possible. Even if the talent level is about the same or mildly improved that alone would make a big difference IMO.

My impression is they've gone from dumpster fire to average. That was my minimum hope.

 

[finfan54]

Hickey is terrible. takes a Tackle in the first round.

 

[Nawledge]

Good read, thanks