Omar Kelly: Dolphins rookie linemen need to earn, not inherit starting spots | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Omar Kelly: Dolphins rookie linemen need to earn, not inherit starting spots

DKphin

DKphin

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The word "Strength" is tattooed on Billy Turner's left triceps muscle.
"Ambition" covers his left forearm. "Strong" is scrolled on his right arm, and so is "Dream."
All those words etched in ink on Turner's arms personify what the Dolphins offensive linemen will need to be and do to achieve his dream of becoming an NFL starter in his rookie season.
"I like to hit people. That's why I play the game," Turner said following his first rookie camp practice. "That's why I play on the offensive line. I'm an aggressive guy.":up:
The Dolphins hope Turner, the team's third-round pick, is aggressive enough to earn one of the vacant starting guard spots. But the organization would be making a mistake if the job was given to him. And the same goes for Ja'Wuan James, the team's first-round pick.
Jonathan Martin was the last Dolphins player given a starting spot back in 2012, and that's part of the reason he never earned the trust of his teammates in his two seasons playing for the Dolphins before quitting the team last season, and forcing a trade to San Francisco this past offseason.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...phins-0524-20140523,0,3131756.story?track=rss
 
i see james competing with jason fox at RT, and turner competing with fox (if james gets RT), garner, brenner, dallas thomas, and shelley smith for one of the two guard spots. can't really see anybody just handed a starting job.
 
In reality the RT job is James' job to definitively lose. Garner and Fox are the only non driftwood guys who even have an outside shot. Garner had repeatedly been passed over at the spot for guys who routinely ranked near or at the very bottom of he league as RT's so obviously the staff doesn't really see him as an option.

Fox is an option but the only reason he is available is because the guy can't stay healthy, so clearly the staff will shy away from starting him at all costs unless James really fouls the bed royally.

Guys Like David Hurd are camp bodies given fliers but not really competing for a starting spot. Unless someone gets scooped off the Waiver wire, James doesn't really have any competition at RT.

Turner and Smith do have competition, but will be given a first, second, third ... and eighth chance to win the spots. If it's even remotely close they start.

I'd love to see us add some serious depth and competition as teams cut down this year. This draft was so stunningly deep that we will get some guys with real ability come across the waiver wire.

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circumstances said:
i see james competing with jason fox at RT, and turner competing with fox (if james gets RT), garner, brenner, dallas thomas, and shelley smith for one of the two guard spots. can't really see anybody just handed a starting job.
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Billy turner is a guard he will compete and start at LG
 
jonathan martin NEVER should have been drafted. thats the mistake as far as thats concerned. he had a rep for being soft and a head case in college but ireland drafts him hi anyways.

turner and james are non of that. tough, squared away, smart players.

and i am all for throwing them to the fire. what do we have behind them? LOSERS who could never crack the starting lineup that was made up of losers.

i think both of these guys can handle it, just as webb and simms did and keeping them out of reps is the mistake. shelley, even though i am more confident in him than most needs to compete and not handed the job. he has some issues and even though he hasnt been in the nfl for long, he has been in it enough and should have to compete to see if his issues are a fluke or if he just doesnt have it.

but its ALL competition, no matter who gets the nod. even though you may be "starting", you have to keep it. so i really dont think it matters that much who the coaches put in first. not in the state our o-line is now.

---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 PM ----------
Billy turner is a guard he will compete and start at LG
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yep!!
 
Met Ju'wuan James uncle at the braves game today. I was wearing a Ryan tannehill jersey and he yelled at me and said "my nephew is going to be trying to keep him upright this year". Then he showed me ju'Wuan's pics after he got drafted. He said the Ju'Wuan is one of the hardest workers you could ever see. Said james was in the basement playing xbox when hickey called. Said Ju'wuan told him that he's going to go down there and start right away. Said james hasn't sat on the bench his while football career and he's not going to now. Talked to him forever about ju'wuan, great guy. All told me that Ju'wuans dad prayed everyday that he would be a dolphin because James told so well about them and wouldn't shut up after their meeting about how great the staff was
 
GoFins87 said:
Met Ju'wuan James uncle at the braves game today. I was wearing a Ryan tannehill jersey and he yelled at me and said "my nephew is going to be trying to keep him upright this year". Then he showed me ju'Wuan's pics after he got drafted. He said the Ju'Wuan is one of the hardest workers you could ever see. Said james was in the basement playing xbox when hickey called. Said Ju'wuan told him that he's going to go down there and start right away. Said james hasn't sat on the bench his while football career and he's not going to now. Talked to him forever about ju'wuan, great guy. All told me that Ju'wuans dad prayed everyday that he would be a dolphin because James told so well about them and wouldn't shut up after their meeting about how great the staff was
Click to expand...
Wonderful to read that both about James and his view of the coaching staff, sincere thanks for sharing.
 
Im certain these two will start week one...and play very well. I think they both have the athletic requirement...but they also have the needed personality and drive. No expert...dont pretend to be. Just gut feeling.

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James can be sharpie marked onto the starting RT spot, no doubt. Turner, not so sure. Shelley and Garner are my favorites to win the right side and Brenner and Thomas will also offer some steep competition. Whoever wins the OG competition I wish more resources had been spent there.
 
With the crao ahead of them on roster it bodes bad if they cannot start over these guys
 
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