Miami Dolphins’ Dallas Thomas establishing himself at right guard

[dlockz]

I wonder if anybody is worried about the oline anymore. Certainly doesn't look as bad as any of us thought

BAsed on one game of preseason lol Im sure after Jville last year people thought the same thing

 

[Zounds]

I hope Dallas Thomas is becoming that guy, but he was the worst starting lineman in the first preseason game. He whiffed on some backside blocks, and was just ok in the passing game. I'd like to see how he plays for an entire half before I crown him a starter.

 

[phinfan40353]

I think Smith's run blocking is what is keeping him on the roster until final cuts. IMO Thomas, Turner and Larsen have the entire preseason to prove to the staff Smith is expendable. Philbin LOVES growing his own players. And frankly I like that approach. Teaching takes time. But the long term benefits build champions. Free Agents have their role, but elite franchises grow their own talent.

I think the Devlin cut indicates we are only carrying 2 QBs this season. I see Smith, Daniel Thomas, Wheeler and Ellerbe as other candidates for surprise cuts to get to 53. I firmly believe Philbin and Hickey prefer their youth and own picks to these guys. I think Devlin was just one of several shrewd moves Hickey will perform to manufacture spots for younger players to stick on this team. We have too much young and promising talent to simply cut them loose and let someone else benefit.

Others have said Brenner is in danger of being cut. Frankly, his utility is only equaled by Garner's. I see Smith being cut.

I also think with the shuffling of Smith and Colledge at LG while Thomas has remained at RG indicates we are looking to the left side as our run heavy side. If Turner can develop fast enough, I think Turner makes Smith expendable for now. Then replaces Colledge at some point as the starter at LG.

 

[miamiron]

I think Smith's run blocking is what is keeping him on the roster until final cuts. IMO Thomas, Turner and Larsen have the entire preseason to prove to the staff Smith is expendable. Philbin LOVES growing his own players. And frankly I like that approach. Teaching takes time. But the long term benefits build champions. Free Agents have their role, but elite franchises grow their own talent.

I think the Devlin cut indicates we are only carrying 2 QBs this season. I see Smith, Daniel Thomas, Wheeler and Ellerbe as other candidates for surprise cuts to get to 53. I firmly believe Philbin and Hickey prefer their youth and own picks to these guys. I think Devlin was just one of several shrewd moves Hickey will perform to manufacture spots for younger players to stick on this team. We have too much young and promising talent to simply cut them loose and let someone else benefit.

Others have said Brenner is in danger of being cut. Frankly, his utility is only equaled by Garner's. I see Smith being cut.

I also think with the shuffling of Smith and Colledge at LG while Thomas has remained at RG indicates we are looking to the left side as our run heavy side. If Turner can develop fast enough, I think Turner makes Smith expendable for now. Then replaces Colledge at some point as the starter at LG.

The way the contracts are structured there is no way Wheeler and Ellerbe will be released this season
NEXT season 2015 is a different story

 

[Zounds]

Others have said Brenner is in danger of being cut. Frankly, his utility is only equaled by Garner's. I see Smith being cut.

Brenner is still eligible for the practice squad, so that's always an option too. I don't think Smith gets cut though, we still need depth.

 

[Digital]

Waaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiit a minute. Let's not be too fast to crown Dallas Thomas a success off one preseason game against a veteran defense just going through the motions.

Dallas Thomas is not good IMHO. He is just starting now because our other options are even more flawed.

Smith is a good run blocker and was set to start at RG. The C experiment derailed that. But, until he gets his pass protection up to acceptable levels, he will be fighting for a spot. We are a pass offense ... pass protection is the most important aspect of his job.

Colledge is a LG. Good short term solution. The natural replacement for LG and backup LT is Turner. But despite many people believing natural athleticism is all you need, it's simply not the case. It's a big jump from his level of college to the pros.

It's tough for big guys to bend their knees without losing a lot ... so the learning curve from OT to OG is much harder than many people understand ... particularly for guys with sloppy technique.

So Dallas Thomas is not quite as risky in pass protection compared to the alternatives. That is why he currently is starting. In time, Turner will take over LG and Smith or someone else will take over RG. Colledge has LG nailed down for this year if he stay healthy. After that all bets are off. RG is a problem spot ... but it's the easiest spot to be a problem along the line.

 

[MRojas4]

Turner at LG and Thomas at RG should be the future of the Dolphins O-line for years to come.

LT - Albert
LG - Turner
C - Pouncey
RG - Thomas
RT - James

 

[So Be]

Anyone know if Dallas and James started on the right side at Tenn in 2012?

 

[mnphinfan]

Thomas started at LT for 2 years then LG his senior season, which would have been 2012. James started all 49 games of his career at RT. Which is why I didn't shun the pick. This FO and coaching staff wasn't drafting a LT and moving them to the right side. They were drafting a player who had played and excelled at RT throughout his entire college career in the same blocking scheme (zone) they currently use.

Sure he will have some growing pains. But IMO the Fins finally have their bookend tackles for years to come.

 

[phinfan40353]

Brenner is still eligible for the practice squad, so that's always an option too. I don't think Smith gets cut though, we still need depth.

I don't think Brenner will make it to practice squad. He's a proven utility interior OL and would snatched up immediately by a needy team if cut.

So, I see it as we either keep him or lose him. PS is not an option. Technically, yes it is. Realistically, no.

 

[phinfan40353]

The way the contracts are structured there is no way Wheeler and Ellerbe will be released this season
NEXT season 2015 is a different story

Let's at least hope, since we have to carry those ridiculous salary cap numbers this year, they at least get demoted and outplayed by Tripp and McCain this year.

 

[hoops]

sounds to me like thomas work ethic got him to the starting gig in the offseason and camp up to his play as to whether or not he keeps it...

 

[roy_miami]

sounds to me like thomas work ethic got him to the starting gig in the offseason and camp up to his play as to whether or not he keeps it...

Yup. Would love to know who else showed up for that voluntary strength and conditioning regimen in February.

 

[Vol&dolfan]

Anyone know if Dallas and James started on the right side at Tenn in 2012?

When James came Dallas was the LT so they put James at RT. Then when Antonio Richardson came in to get the best players on the field they moved Dallas to LG kept James at RT and started Richardson at LT.
So no Dallas was on the left side with Richardson.

 

[FearTheBeard]

Agreed but if he's not one of the best he shouldn't have been signed and would be considered the first FA Hickey bust unfortunately

You don't crown a guy a FA bust after one preseason game...that's extremely stupid. For all we know he'd be a starting guard if he hadn't been played at center for a decent chunk of training camp. The center experiment I'm sure pushed him back a bit, and he actually graded out best among the OL in the first game.