Like many of his new Dolphins teammates on the offensive line,
Kraig Urbik bounced around from one spot to another during the offseason program.
It was nothing new for Urbik, whose versatility has been on display since he entered the NFL in 2010 as a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Besides, if being able to play multiple positions can help Urbik earn a roster spot or perhaps even a starting job with the Dolphins, he’s certainly all for it.
“It’s going to be great competition,” Urbik said. “We’ve got a lot of depth. We’ve got a lot of guys vying for a few spots. Every day is a different day. I might be a right guard this day and center, left guard. It’s kind of competition throughout. It’s going to be one of those battles going in and throughout training camp.”
The Dolphins’ starting lineup along the offensive line appears set at tackle with
Branden Albert and Ja’Wuan James and at center with
Mike Pouncey, but there should be tremendous competition for the two starting guard jobs among returning starters
Billy Turner and
Dallas Thomas, 2015 fourth-round pick
Jamil Douglas, 2016 first-round pick
Laremy Tunsil and veteran
Jermon Bushrod, a two-time Pro Bowl selection at tackle who got snaps at guard in practice last year with the Chicago Bears and this spring with the Dolphins.
Urbik was added to the mix March 22 when he was signed exactly three weeks after he was released by the Buffalo Bills.
“They just told me to come in and I’m going to compete every day (at) right guard, center, left guard, it doesn’t matter,” Urbik said during the offseason program. “It’s been a different combination every single day, so I’m kind of just going with the flow of that. Everybody is competing for a spot and I’m just going in and trying my hardest every single day.”
Besides versatility, one thing in Urbik’s favor is his experience, with 57 NFL starts at guard and center in six seasons.
All of those starts came with the Bills, who claimed him off waivers in 2010 after he was inactive his entire rookie season with the Steelers.
“I think (his experience) works for him,” Head Coach Adam Gase said. “He has seen a lot of things. He has played a lot of different positions and roles on a team. Anytime you got a guy that’s flexible and he’s willing to learn … I feel like he’s really engaged. It’s something a little different than what he has done in the past. I think he’s enjoying the experience. We’re moving him all over the place.”
For his part, Urbik says he feels comfortable at all the interior spots along the offensive line.
