Sports Buzz 8/22

[Daytona Fin]

3:30 p.m. post-practice news from Dolphins coach Adam Gase: He said Xavien Howard, back from knee surgery, was able to do "a little" team drills today for the first time... Chris McCain was held out of practice, but it's nothing serious. He took hard hits both during Friday's game and in Sunday's practice and "we're just trying to be cautious."...
Matt Moore is out indefinitely with a concussion. "I'm not going to say he's doing OK," Gase said. "It was a pretty vicious hit. Still sore neck. It's going to be a minute [before he gets back]. We'll figure out who's going to go second and third [against Atlanta Thursday in Orlando]." Expect to see Ryan Tannehill in the first half, with Brandon Doughty and Zac Dysert getting the rest of the work.
Does this make it more likely that the Dolphins keep a third quarterback (presumably Doughty)? "We'll evaluate and see where his health is," Gase said of Moore...
Jakeem Grant got only one offensive snap Friday, and Gase was vague when asked whether they didn't want to show other teams how they plan to use him on offense. "Any time I had a returner that was a specialist - you want to find ways to get him on the field but don't want to overdo it," Gase said.

Reshad Jones was shaken up late in practice, and his lower left leg was examined on the side, but he seemed to be OK....
Besides McCain and Moore, Kenyan Drake (hamstring), Chimdi Chekwa (thigh), Mike Pouncey (hip), Earl Mitchell (calf), Dion Jordan (knee), Zach Vigil (back) and Chris Culliver (knee) also did not practice.

The Dolphins have taken a novel, outside the box approach to address their perennial, perpetual offensive line problems.

Instead of signing players with experience at the positions they’re being asked to play, the Dolphins are doing things a bit differently.
If, as expected, Anthony Steen starts at center in place of injured Mike Pouncey on Thursday against Atlanta, and if offensive-tackles-by-trade Laremy Tunsil and Jermon Bushrod again start at guard, that means that three of the five positions will be manned by players who NEVER played a single snap at those positions in a game before this month.
It’s not unusual for offensive linemen to change positions, but having three starters who have never played those positions before is unusual.
The Dolphins could have signed a traditional guard in free agency in March, but bowed out when the prices rose to uncomfortably high levels for veterans who were of interest to them, such as JR Sweezy, who got five years and $32.5 million to sign with Tampa.

As for Tunsil, the Dolphins were pleased with his pass blocking but not as pleased with his run blocking against Dallas.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...ensive-line-pead-thriving-after-he-blew-.html

 

[hoops]

that sure doesn't read like bushrod is in the tackle rotation

sounds to me like sam young and billy turner are your depth tackles

the fact they gave tunsil tackle reps early in tc makes me think he's still a possible tackle solution not in game but the following week...and he might be the 3rd option

which again still reads like dallas Thomas could find his way into a starting gig with one tackle injury

 

[Austin Tatious]

I thought Bushrod was meh out there at right guard. I want to keep looking at Turner at RG. While Bushrod may be fine in pass pro, Turner can spring some runs and give some pop in the running game to help balance out the strengths of the line. There is still time to look at both guys and see what they look like to make the sample size larger. Turner IMO makes mental mistakes and needs to improve his consistency. That might all still happen. There's a reason why offensive linemen are often some of the brighter guys on the team. There is a lot to learn there and Turner has been a work in progress in this regard.

Steen looks like has running game potential. Gase indicated that Tunsil graded well in pass pro, but not so much in the run game. But Tunsil is adapting to a new position and there's upside there. I think we can run the ball more as the season wears on.

Also, don't sleep on Ulrich John as a backup offensive lineman. He looks much improved.

 

[maralieus]

that sure doesn't read like bushrod is in the tackle rotation

sounds to me like sam young and billy turner are your depth tackles

the fact they gave tunsil tackle reps early in tc makes me think he's still a possible tackle solution not in game but the following week...and he might be the 3rd option

which again still reads like dallas Thomas could find his way into a starting gig with one tackle injury

The good news is Dallas Thomas can only play one position at a time.

 

[AL R]

Some of these injuries.... Not expecting Mitchell to stay healthy all year, no new news on Vigil not sure if he is going to be able to suit up - last thing I saw they weren't clear on what was really up with his back. Drake probably won't go Thursday so what do we do with him PUP or what?

Not sure they are being totally forthcoming with the Pouncey injury either. Hip strain or what is it exactly. Hopefully he won't need another surgery.

 

[Penthos]

The good news is Dallas Thomas can only play one position at a time.

Um, no... He actually can't.

 

[Lionstone]

I thought Bushrod was meh out there at right guard. I want to keep looking at Turner at RG. While Bushrod may be fine in pass pro, Turner can spring some runs and give some pop in the running game to help balance out the strengths of the line. There is still time to look at both guys and see what they look like to make the sample size larger. Turner IMO makes mental mistakes and needs to improve his consistency. That might all still happen. There's a reason why offensive linemen are often some of the brighter guys on the team. There is a lot to learn there and Turner has been a work in progress in this regard.

Steen looks like has running game potential. Gase indicated that Tunsil graded well in pass pro, but not so much in the run game. But Tunsil is adapting to a new position and there's upside there. I think we can run the ball more as the season wears on.

Also, don't sleep on Ulrich John as a backup offensive lineman. He looks much improved.

Here is where you and I differ. I do not believe we have an offensive line that will excel with the running game. That means the addition of Turner at guard introduces a big liability with his poor pass protection for a limited gain in the rushing attack. The identity of this offense will be the passing game with a complementary rushing attack.

Given that identity, the best starting guards are Tunsil and Bushrod. It is not even close.

 

[hoops]

I don't agree with turner having poor pass pro...not sure where that comes from...if anything the athlete that he is allows him to recover more than guys like bushrod or dallas Thomas who has never recovered in his life when beaten initially

if turner starts for you he's not gonna get you beat with his play at guard...only one game last year could you point to turner being a reason the team lost or could have lost

 

[FinfanInBuffalo]

that sure doesn't read like bushrod is in the tackle rotation

sounds to me like sam young and billy turner are your depth tackles

the fact they gave tunsil tackle reps early in tc makes me think he's still a possible tackle solution not in game but the following week...and he might be the 3rd option

which again still reads like dallas Thomas could find his way into a starting gig with one tackle injury

Which is why I'd like to see Turner bet the nod at RG. Bushrod is LT depth. Urbik is guard depth and Dallas Thomas is expendable.

 

[hoops]

Which is why I'd like to see Turner bet the nod at RG. Bushrod is LT depth. Urbik is guard depth and Dallas Thomas is expendable.

makes sense to me...the thing is the team has to have a backup center with steen the likely starter someone active must be able to play it...I guess that's where urbik comes in?

we should get some answers I think Thursday based on how the rotation goes

 

[AgentXof12]

It can't be unreasonable to expect this front office to sign Dallas Thomas's replacement before the start of the season. Can it?

I'm figuring that just about any camp cut is easily better than what we see out of Thomas during the games.

 

[hoops]

has urbik played center before?

 

[Eesti]

Urbik has played a few games at center but he is buried right now. Not looking real good when I have watched him. He is getting knocked around by 3rd team DT's. I'm also not impressed with Turner and never have been. He was not terrible last year but I still see him getting pushed back into the pocket all too often. I have to agree with his pass pro issues. He had better be a monster in the run game to earn the starting spot but I don't see it.

Between DT, Douglas, Urbik, Painter and Young....I'm not convinced we couldn't find a better player on the street after cuts.

 

[Lionstone]

I don't agree with turner having poor pass pro...not sure where that comes from...if anything the athlete that he is allows him to recover more than guys like bushrod or dallas Thomas who has never recovered in his life when beaten initially

if turner starts for you he's not gonna get you beat with his play at guard...only one game last year could you point to turner being a reason the team lost or could have lost

You and I are seeing the same plays differently, but I do not evaluate players for a living so perhaps you are correct.

---------- Post added at 11:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 AM ----------

Urbik has played a few games at center but he is buried right now. Not looking real good when I have watched him. He is getting knocked around by 3rd team DT's. I'm also not impressed with Turner and never have been. He was not terrible last year but I still see him getting pushed back into the pocket all too often. I have to agree with his pass pro issues. He had better be a monster in the run game to earn the starting spot but I don't see it.

Between DT, Douglas, Urbik, Painter and Young....I'm not convinced we couldn't find a better player on the street after cuts.

After listening to Coach Gase talk about centers, the top three centers make the roster. Congratulations, Mr Urbik!

 

[hoops]

probably comes down to what you prefer in your guards...me I like a move and 2nd level athlete who can overcome angles especially in zone concepts...I think turner has more punch than bushrod who I see as more a catch blocker but who probably shows a little better technique cause he doesn't reach or lunge as much and lets the defender come to him...and I also prefer a guy that I feel like has the short area lateral quicks and feet to meet a delayed lb blitzer or pass off a player and still have the athleticism to pick up the loop defender in the gap and wash him out or by the qb

I think turner has more punch more nasty disposition and more finish...more thud in his hands on contact

just my preference