Miami’s Offensive Line: Expensive & Flawed

[fisi]

Miami’s Offensive Line: Expensive & Flawed

 April 4, 2016 byChris Fetter 



When thinking about the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line, there are a slew of words that I’m sure come to mind: Flawed, unhealthy, stagnant, basura …. But what about expensive? Often lost in translation is the expense of Miami’s Front Five.


According to Spotrac, the Miami Dolphins have the seventh largest cap amount dedicated to the offensive line in 2016 at 20.43%. So where exactly is this $30,354,389 going? Brandon Albert ($10,150,000) who is the sixth highest paid left tackle in the NFL, and Mike Pouncey ($10,025,000) who is the third highest paid of all centers in the league, are a large part of that figure. Both players have missed significant time due to injury, but they are elite talents at their respected positions. Pouncey and Albert both represented the Dolphins in the 2015 Pro Bowl.



Next up is Ja’Wuan James. His $2,298,654 cap hit ranks 21st among right tackles. James, who dislocated his toe last season against the Patriots, has been a solid acquisition for the Dolphins as well when healthy. His cap-friendly rookie contract helps balance out larger contracts, making the former University of Tennessee standout a crucial part of the offensive line.

But then there’s Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner, aka the cap-saving, line-destroying duo of guards.

“I’m just encouraging those guys every day, so I don’t have to move back to guard.“- Mike Pouncey

While both Thomas and Turner are among the lowest cap hits on Miami’s O-Line, according to Pro Football Focus, Turner ranked No. 75, and Thomas ranked No. 81 out of a possible 84 candidates. Therefore, the Dolphins’ pair of guards equates to the worst of the worst in the NFL.

The cataclysmic meltdown of both injures and poor play have widely contributed to QB Ryan Tannehill’s 45 sacks in 2015 as well as Miami’s sub-par bottom-10 offensive line.


http://www.dolphinssidelinereport.com/miami-dolphins-offensive-line-expensive-and-flawed/


The signing of Bushrod is baffling to me, why sign an average tackle to play guard ? can you really teach an old dog a new trick. I would've been happy with swartze as a back up or even a pontetial starter and either Jamil Douglas or Turner as his replacement if he gets injured. Dallas Thomas in the lineup makes me queasy. I doubt these guys make the team.

 

[McGaniel]

I hope douglas kid can surprise us..

 

[dlockz]

Miami’s Offensive Line: Expensive & Flawed

 April 4, 2016 byChris Fetter 



When thinking about the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line, there are a slew of words that I’m sure come to mind: Flawed, unhealthy, stagnant, basura …. But what about expensive? Often lost in translation is the expense of Miami’s Front Five.


According to Spotrac, the Miami Dolphins have the seventh largest cap amount dedicated to the offensive line in 2016 at 20.43%. So where exactly is this $30,354,389 going? Brandon Albert ($10,150,000) who is the sixth highest paid left tackle in the NFL, and Mike Pouncey ($10,025,000) who is the third highest paid of all centers in the league, are a large part of that figure. Both players have missed significant time due to injury, but they are elite talents at their respected positions. Pouncey and Albert both represented the Dolphins in the 2015 Pro Bowl.



Next up is Ja’Wuan James. His $2,298,654 cap hit ranks 21st among right tackles. James, who dislocated his toe last season against the Patriots, has been a solid acquisition for the Dolphins as well when healthy. His cap-friendly rookie contract helps balance out larger contracts, making the former University of Tennessee standout a crucial part of the offensive line.

But then there’s Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner, aka the cap-saving, line-destroying duo of guards.

“I’m just encouraging those guys every day, so I don’t have to move back to guard.“- Mike Pouncey

While both Thomas and Turner are among the lowest cap hits on Miami’s O-Line, according to Pro Football Focus, Turner ranked No. 75, and Thomas ranked No. 81 out of a possible 84 candidates. Therefore, the Dolphins’ pair of guards equates to the worst of the worst in the NFL.

The cataclysmic meltdown of both injures and poor play have widely contributed to QB Ryan Tannehill’s 45 sacks in 2015 as well as Miami’s sub-par bottom-10 offensive line.


http://www.dolphinssidelinereport.com/miami-dolphins-offensive-line-expensive-and-flawed/


The signing of Bushrod is baffling to me, why sign an average tackle to play guard ? can you really teach an old dog a new trick. I would've been happy with swartze as a back up or even a pontetial starter and either Jamil Douglas or Turner as his replacement if he gets injured. Dallas Thomas in the lineup makes me queasy. I doubt these guys make the team.

Problem is Bushrod is not average at tackle anymore

 

[uk_dolfan]

This has been the case for years

 

[TopOfTheWorld]

The real problem is, Ryan Tannehill has zero pocket awareness. He gets sacked twice as much as he should, because he is clueless out there, imo.

 

[Gonzo]

How can they be expensive? I thought they've "ignored" the line all these years?

 

[dlockz]

How can they be expensive? I thought they've "ignored" the line all these years?

only guard lol

 

[Jimi]

The real problem is, Ryan Tannehill has zero pocket awareness. He gets sacked twice as much as he should, because he is clueless out there, imo.

He certainly hasnt shown great pocket awareness on multiple occasions, but its really hard to judge when he gets hit and the pocket collapses as often as it does. Its hard to develop that kind of thing when you are actually more likely to be facing pressure than not on any given dropback.

 

[fishfanmiami]

This thread is about the O line. An attempt to hijack it and make it another Tannehill thread will not be allowed.
Don't respond to this just stick to the subject being discussed. Thanks.

 

[Gonzo]

only guard lol

They've used several high picks on OG. Hardly "ignoring" it. Garbage drafting and coaching doesn't equal ignoring, though at least Turner and Douglas have potential if they are played in their proper positions.

 

[NY8123]

There is a bigger problem with the line than people want to realize. Set the pass protection aside.

This line and last years offense was enept in the running game when they needed it most. Grind out some ground and pound and maybe some of the closer games end up in the W.

Good teams run the ball enough when they need too, Miami could not run the ball when they needed too.

 

[cafinfan408]

Zone blocking set us back 5 years

 

[footsteps_falco]

We lost a 2nd round pick Jonathan Martin, Pro Bowl guard in Richie Incognito and a journeyman Guard who was a 3rd(?) round pick in John Jerry,,, all because of [Bully-Gate]. This then pushed Miami to spend a 1st round pick on J.James, two 3rd round picks on Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas, and a 4th round pick on J. Douglas.

The snowball effect that no one mentions.

 

[gofins60]

We lost a 2nd round pick Jonathan Martin, Pro Bowl guard in Richie Incognito and a journeyman Guard who was a 3rd(?) round pick in John Jerry,,, all because of [Bully-Gate]. This then pushed Miami to spend a 1st round pick on J.James, two 3rd round picks on Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas, and a 4th round pick on J. Douglas.

The snowball effect that no one mentions.

"Bully-Gate" was Philbin having no idea how to run/control his football team. The resulting "worst o-line in the league" after 4 years is due to Philbin's wish for a finesse o-line blocking scheme and the players that were brought in to run it. Philbin's o-line philosophy and his stubborn dislike of the running game are why Miami has a problem with converting 3rd or 4th and short on the ground.

Whether Albert is an elite player doesn't matter when you consider that he is being overpaid with his injury history. Pouncey is nothing special... he is the "anchor" of arguably the worst line in the league. How is he worth big bucks, and how does that make him Pro Bowl material?

When Ross finally fired Philbin, I was hoping that the next Head Coach would realize that this team needed rebuilding after what Philbin did to it, and that the o-line needed at least 4 new starters (James may be worth keeping, but that's it). Dump Philbin's finesse linemen and go with some physical road-graders. But no... Gase likes finesse, and so far he's keeping Philbin's line intact and they're bringing in bargain-basement guys for depth.

 

[Gonzo]

We lost a 2nd round pick Jonathan Martin, Pro Bowl guard in Richie Incognito and a journeyman Guard who was a 3rd(?) round pick in John Jerry,,, all because of [Bully-Gate]. This then pushed Miami to spend a 1st round pick on J.James, two 3rd round picks on Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas, and a 4th round pick on J. Douglas.

The snowball effect that no one mentions.

Incognito only became "good" because of bullygate and because Thomas managed to be worse. That line sucked, and it wasn't just because of Martin.