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Sports Buzz: Thursday notes

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With South Florida at risk of being impacted by a hurricane early next week, the Dolphins have examined the possibility of moving practice to an undisclosed location, potentially on Monday and Tuesday.

“We’ve discussed a couple different scenarios,” coach Joe Philbin said. “We’ll be ready if we need to. Everything is on the table. We have to get our team ready to play in the regular season.”

Philbin declined to say where practices might be moved.

According to projections released Thursday afternoon, Tropical Storm Erika is expected to reach hurricane status with 75 mph winds as it approaches South Florida on Monday. It’s too early to tell whether South Florida will get a direct hit.

The Dolphins say there are no plans to move Saturday’s home game against Atlanta. And the storm is expected to have passed before next Thursday’s preseason finale against Tampa Bay at Sun Life Stadium.

### Dallas Thomas said he’s prepared to play some left tackle on Saturday in the absence of Branden Albert (knee) and Jason Fox (concussion). Thomas has been working with the first team at tackle this week.

“He’s a good athlete; one of the things that intrigued us when we watched his college film was his position flexibility,” Philbin said of Thomas.

But Thomas allowed seven sacks when he played tackle last season. “I remember it all; the good, bad and ugly,” Thomas said Thursday, smiling.

Thomas has worked mostly at left guard this summer and is the likely starter there.

Asked if moving to tackle is disruptive, he said, “It can be if you let it and say, ‘Man, I’ve been doing so good.’ [But] you have to do what’s best for the team.”

### Philbin, on the situation at guard, where Thomas appears the likely starter at left guard and either Billy Turner or Jamil Douglas at right guard: “We’re not necessarily locked and loaded at that position. Still a lot of evaluation going on.”

COYLE’S THOUGHTS

### Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle confirmed what had already become clear: Walt Aikens is the “leading candidate” to replace injured Louis Delmas as the starter at safety, alongside Reshad Jones.

“Even prior to Louis’ injury, Walt was one of the most improved players on our team throughout the spring, throughout training camp,” Coyle said. “He’s a very, very good athlete. He needs experience and he’s getting that. Hopefully will make an impact on the defense.”

In Delmas’ absence, Michael Thomas’ role also “has increased,” Coyle said. “Mike is a guy you can rely on. Very capable, very steady, confident back there.”

### Coyle said “a final decision has not been reached” on middle linebacker, but the Dolphins worked all week with Kelvin Sheppard at middle linebacker, flanked by Jelani Jenkins and Koa Misi.

Sheppard clearly is the front-runner for the job, in part because the Dolphins want more consistency from Chris McCain, who would be the likely starter if Misi played middle linebacker and Sheppard came off the bench.

“It’s not an issue we lay awake at night worrying about,” Coyle said of middle linebacker. “We’re confident we have the right mix of guys who can get the job done. You are looking for an instinctive player that likes to take charge and communicate. Kelvin Sheppard has done a very good job. Koa has made great strides in that capacity. He’s going to have opportunities to show that.”

### On McCain, Coyle said: “Chris is a guy that flashes tremendous athleticism. You love his height. You love his range. You love his length. He can do a lot of different things.

“But the consistency down in and down out is something [we want]… I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Chris to this point. We know what he’s capable of doing. He can be better. He can be more impacting both as a linebacker and as a rusher. I hope we start to see that.

“I talked to Chris walking off the field today – I want to see him go out there Saturday night and cut it loose and be the athlete he’s capable of being. Don’t think too much.”
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More here:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...-for-switch-another-lo.html#storylink=addthis
 
i sure hope that "position flexibility" talk from philbin with dallas thomas was just coach speak...unfortunately i dont think it is
 
I still say Thomas does a fine job...nothing spectacular, but serviceable at LT
 
Most nervous I will be watching preseason game if RT plays into the 2nd half with Thomas at LT and a rookie at LG.
 
My biggest fears are:

A - Thomas gets blown up at tackle and his confidence takes a beating going into the regular season.

B - Thomas does a serviceable job in two quarters of work and the coaching staff gets a false sense of security and believes it's safe to play Thomas at tackle during the regular season.
 
HOW is Barry Jackson not THE reporter every news outlet goes to for Dolphins news? He is the only one who consistently delivers breaking, informative, well-written information. To top it off, unlike other reporters he doesn't insert himself into every story like some sort of egotystical twit. No "I" or "Me" in his reporting.

Somewhere as I wrote that, Omar Kelly just finished a tweet that said, "My boy Billy Turner's body looking SWOLE. Tannehill's not going to be on my best QBs list with that incomplete pass. SMH."
 
B should be your biggest fear gregorygrant...remember thomas didnt give up a sack in a half vs detroit at right tackle in the regular season when he was moved there due to alberts injury but the signs were all there...i tried to get that across to people

If hes a better short area lateral quickness athlete in space i will eat my shorts...thats what you need to look for first...without it curtains

It will be interesting who he faces and what they have...if they got nothing edge rush talent wise or are a corpse dont let it get to your head

Left tackles face elite level athletes and redirect on a dime explosion athletes on the regular...no way dallas thomas athletically can match up...no way
 
Theres only 3 guys on the team who have the short area lateral quickness to play left tackle on this roster...albert james and turner

The rest would be liabilities in that regard...

ideal scenario he sucks there the qb survives and this ones banished for good as a tackle option...and left side even makes it worse...at least on the right side his base and anchor would help vs strength...either way as a tackle hes a fish out of water
 
Why is everyone acting like Fox is dead? It's 2 quarters at best of a preseason game for Thomas, Fox will be back in a week and then Albert will be back after that if not sooner. Unclench people
 
I forgot about fox but hes not a high end lateral athlete either and hes a marginal left tackle option anyways...journeyman level

But i would definitely play him at tackle before i would thomas...fox at least looks like a tackle with his play
 
gregorygrant83 said:
My biggest fears are:

A - Thomas gets blown up at tackle and his confidence takes a beating going into the regular season.

B - Thomas does a serviceable job in two quarters of work and the coaching staff gets a false sense of security and believes it's safe to play Thomas at tackle during the regular season.
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I don't think you need to worry about either...D. Thomas will be fine...he has above average athleticism and a strong enough base to work their in a pinch.

We forget that these player do improve each year and while a player mat struggle early they can improve to the point where they are actually good.
 
Moore will see the most snaps with this line than anyone else, and Atlanta is not bringing the second coming of Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor either, if it anything its good they are up against such a crappy defense.
 
hooshoops said:
B should be your biggest fear gregorygrant...remember thomas didnt give up a sack in a half vs detroit at right tackle in the regular season when he was moved there due to alberts injury but the signs were all there...i tried to get that across to people

If hes a better short area lateral quickness athlete in space i will eat my shorts...thats what you need to look for first...without it curtains

It will be interesting who he faces and what they have...if they got nothing edge rush talent wise or are a corpse dont let it get to your head

Left tackles face elite level athletes and redirect on a dime explosion athletes on the regular...no way dallas thomas athletically can match up...no way
Click to expand...

You always say you will eat your shorts. That's like...dozens of shorts you have to eat
 
ShorePhin said:
Moore will see the most snaps with this line than anyone else, and Atlanta is not bringing the second coming of Reggie White and Lawrence Taylor either, if it anything its good they are up against such a crappy defense.
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Not that I'm worried About it during a preseason game, but Atlantas pass rush and defense is moving on up.
 
hooshoops said:
Theres only 3 guys on the team who have the short area lateral quickness to play left tackle on this roster...albert james and turner

The rest would be liabilities in that regard...

ideal scenario he sucks there the qb survives and this ones banished for good as a tackle option...and left side even makes it worse...at least on the right side his base and anchor would help vs strength...either way as a tackle hes a fish out of water
Click to expand...

I think they're 99% sure both Albert and Fox will be available week one so why take snaps away from James and Turner on the right side?
 
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