It has been a long time since the Dolphins have gotten this kind of play out of its offensive line. Maybe a decade. Probably more than that.
Sure, there are many reasons why the Dolphins have been among the top rushing teams in the league this season, just as there are many reasons why quarterback Chad Henne has not been sacked in the last two games. But the offensive line deserves most of the credit. We've heard all season how much money they make. By now it is evident that this money was well spent.
The names should be familiar by now. Jake Grove at center. Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas at guards. Vernon Carey and Jake Long at tackles. They came to the Dolphins in all sorts of ways; Long and Carey were first-round picks, Grove and Smiley were free agent signings and Thomas was a late-round pick, a guy that didn't even play football in high school.
You look at where they are, you evaluate their potential, you see how they have bonded together, and you get the feeling that the Dolphins are now in pretty good shape for years to come.
When Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano took over this organization less than two years ago, they made the offensive line one of their top priorities. Smart men. They know you build a football team from the inside out. As good as Ronnie Brown played before his injury, as good as Ricky Williams is playing now, both will tell you that the offensive line is the main reason.
