O-line Experiment is a Disaster

[AJ Duhe]

I was willing to give Ireland, Philbin and Sherman the benefit of the doubt during training camp and the preseason, but it is now evident that the tinkering on the O-line has set the group back. I get it. They were trying to mix and match personnel and cross train as many linemen as possible so that they could field the 5 best but also create versatility in case of injury. Well, IT DIDN'T WORK.

First, Ireland failed to find a starting RT in the draft nor in free agency. I can understand passing on some draft picks, but he waited WAAAAYYYY too long to shop for a RT in the free agency bargain bin. Clabo has been terrible. I have to admit, I was on board with this signing because I thought the coaching staff and scouts had identified him as a good fit. I was wrong. He's nothing more than a stopgap. Ireland gambled, and the Dolphins are losing.

Second, Philbin and Sherman decided to tinker with different O-line groupings well into preseason. Is that how you build chemistry? I understand when some guys have to fill in for hurt starters (ex. Samuda starting for Jerry much of the preseason and looking like a turnstile), but they shifted guys around too much. This is not an easy blocking scheme, and these guys need time to gel. Now I'm afraid they're going to compound the mistake by plugging in McKinnie at LT, because he can't play RT, and moving Martin back over to the right. So now we'll have an overweight and balky knee McKinnie protecting the blindside and a deflated and uncomfortable Martin on the right? Great improvement.

Finally, isn't the whole reason teams build depth is to foster competition for a spot? By adding McKinnie and giving him snaps with the first team offense, what this coaching staff is really telling us is that Garner, Thomas, Yeatman, and to a lesser extent Watkins aren't worth crap. You're telling us that none of these guys has stepped up as a possible replacement for Clabo or a struggling Martin. Is that on the coaching staff for not being able to develop a lineman or Ireland for not being able to properly acquire talent?

 

[NCFINFAN13]

I was willing to give Ireland, Philbin and Sherman the benefit of the doubt during training camp and the preseason, but it is now evident that the tinkering on the O-line has set the group back. I get it. They were trying to mix and match personnel and cross train as many linemen as possible so that they could field the 5 best but also create versatility in case of injury. Well, IT DIDN'T WORK.

First, Ireland failed to find a starting RT in the draft nor in free agency. I can understand passing on some draft picks, but he waited WAAAAYYYY too long to shop for a RT in the free agency bargain bin. Clabo has been terrible. I have to admit, I was on board with this signing because I thought the coaching staff and scouts had identified him as a good fit. I was wrong. He's nothing more than a stopgap. Ireland gambled, and the Dolphins are losing.

Second, Philbin and Sherman decided to tinker with different O-line groupings well into preseason. Is that how you build chemistry? I understand when some guys have to fill in for hurt starters (ex. Samuda starting for Jerry much of the preseason and looking like a turnstile), but they shifted guys around too much. This is not an easy blocking scheme, and these guys need time to gel. Now I'm afraid they're going to compound the mistake by plugging in McKinnie at LT, because he can't play RT, and moving Martin back over to the right. So now we'll have an overweight and balky knee McKinnie protecting the blindside and a deflated and uncomfortable Martin on the right? Great improvement.

Finally, isn't the whole reason teams build depth is to foster competition for a spot? By adding McKinnie and giving him snaps with the first team offense, what this coaching staff is really telling us is that Garner, Thomas, Yeatman, and to a lesser extent Watkins aren't worth crap. You're telling us that none of these guys has stepped up as a possible replacement for Clabo or a struggling Martin. Is that on the coaching staff for not being able to develop a lineman or Ireland for not being able to properly acquire talent?

Sadly I really think this must be the case.

 

[NY8123]

That's what I said, I said to myself "how bad is the depth at O-line and why is it that bad after two years with almost the same depth from last year?" That is unacceptable in my eyes.

 

[cdz12250]

Anybody could have seen the problem by the last two preseason games, and instead of going into desperation mode and overpaying for rpeople who have the ability, they sat pat on what we have and felt warm and fuzzy for being 20 mil under the cap. You are witnessing the result.