A pre-minicamp look at Dolphins' offensive line

The Miami Dolphins offensive line is an interesting subject these days because what seemingly was an established unit now has a number of moving parts and issues that speak of possible improvement and, yes, the possibility of regression.

Here's the situation at each position (Coach Sparano, please correct me next time you see me if I get any of this wrong):

LEFT GUARD

The positive: There is a great chance to improve the spot because the Dolphins are separating from Justin Smiley, which means the next player up could be someone more dependable, that will be there every game of every season and not suffer the shoulder problems that plagued Smiley. The Dolphins have plenty of suitable candidates for the job as 2009 part-time starter Nate Garner (pictured) is expected to recover completely from the foot/toe injury that is keeping him out of OTA work. The Dolphins have also moved Donald Thomas to left guard because Richie Incognito is almost exclusively a right guard and a pretty good one at that when he keeps his emotions in check and stays free of dumb penalties. So Thomas adds competition to the spot as does promising rookie John Jerry, for whom the position seems eventually destined if he is the player the Dolphins hope and believe he was when they picked him in the third round of the recent draft. There are good options galore here.

The negative: Smiley was a wiley, experienced veteran and a great help to young Jake Long. Long will miss him. The Dolphins may also miss Smiley's ability to pull, which was one of his strengths. Garner's injury is a setback for him. He cannot compete for the job now as he and the Dolphins would like. He is falling behind. Yes, he can catch up once he gets going in training camp, as scheduled. But right now he's missing time. Thomas is a novice on the left side. He didn't play the spot last year as the team was trying to get him fully acclimated at right guard. He seemingly slumped late last season, which is the reason Garner was able to move over from the left side when Smiley's injuries improved and take over the starting job from Thomas.

CENTER

The positive: Joe Berger (pictured) and Jake Grove are splitting first-team snaps here. This is probably because Berger played and graded out well while Grove nursed an injured ankle/leg last season. It speaks well of Berger that he started the final six games of the season, including the final two when Grove was well enough to start and otherwise regain his job. So regardless of who wins this competition, the Dolphins will have solid depth at the position.

The negative: Um, the Dolphins paid a bunch of money to Jake Grove to be their starting center. When any team spends $29.5 million over five years on one player to be the starter and $2.5 million over three years for another player to be a swing C-G backup, the two guys should not be equals. And if the two guys are pretty much equals on the field, something is awry. Either Grove underperformed or Berger over-achieved or some of both. I think some of both is the right answer.

RIGHT GUARD

The positive: Incognito is an upgrade here and it's his job to lose. He is the first-team player there now. He will play there almost exclusively because that's what he is: A right guard. Coach Tony Sparano has lately been coy about the possibility of moving Incognito around, but if that somehow ends up happening, something went wrong. That's because Incognito is the strongest, ablest, most experienced right guard on the team right now. He is an upgrade over 2009, in case you missed it when I wrote it the first time. But he has to prove it. Also, the Dolphins have depth at the spot because Thomas or Garner offer starting possibilities, also.

The negative: There is a negative only if Incognito freaks out like he did with the St. Louis Rams and in college -- at both Nebraska and Oregon, where he got pretty much kicked off both squads. This would require the Dolphins to go back to last year's answer to start which would be either Thomas or Garner. And then the upgrade would suddenly disappear unless Thomas or Garner are markedly improved.

LEFT TACKLE

The postive: Jake Long (pictured) plays there. 'Nuff said. Man's a beast.

The negative: Jake Longis very, very good. But has he fully arrived? Probably not. Dolphins are still working some technical things with him to make him better. Scary thought, by the way. Here's another scary thought: If Long gets hurt, the depth is an issue because it is unproven. The Dolphins drafted Andrew Gardner last year and have worked hard in the past year to make him stronger and a better technician. I have no idea if that project has worked or not because I've not seen him in a live practice or game since the 2009 preseason. Lydon Murtha is also a possibility, but again, I have no clue if the guy can play or not.

RIGHT TACKLE

The positive: Vernon Carey (pictured) is established and usually solid. He is also proven to be dependable as he's started 75 consecutive games. Gardner has played right tackle before and the game experience he picked up last year is invaluable for a young player.

The negative: Carey seemed to be a little heavy and slower of foot late last year. He was by no means a dominant right tackle so improvement is hoped for, if not required. The Dolphins don't seem to have a lot of competition for this job and that's not necessarily a good thing because the coaches love competition and Carey could probably stand some pushing.

Comments

[jet taylor .]

Chad Henne to turner , Oh a Fumble .

[vegasj]

Off subject, but gotta say this schedule of ours really pisses me off.

First, we start with 2 road games. After that both our home games we play in the division, but they are at night so we give up our heat advantage. We still get to play both these teams at the very end of the season in the cold so they get to take advantage of their home field advantage.

In fact the first game we get to take advantage of Miami heat is 7th week in oct.

also take a look at how the jets and pats play against most of the tougher opponents at home to give a better chance of winning and both have most of the easier games on the road which they have a shot of winning.

its BS!! this league loves the good story lines and drama. They figure better for them to have pats/ jets battle it out for div and beyond. This teams like Rodney Dangerfield.. gets no respect.

sorry long post

[mal idea]

NJ the fairy bought a little puppy for him and his mommy who he lives with in Armpit, New Jersey.This ridiculous roid clown is so amusing & gay.
This is his one of his statements, followed by another bloggers reply.Could not make this stuff up, too funny.

NJ PHIN FAN says:
May 21, 2010 at 1:41 pm

LOL @ all of you. I’m very happy but happy for my mom too. She loves her. It is pretty weird seeing a big , muscled up guy with a little shih tzu. People think i should be on south beach. LMFAO !!!

Posted by: LMAO | May 22, 2010 at 08:54 AM

This post was so funny I had to repost it here.

[Home]

The reply by the blogger was even funnier
Seems many folks can read between the lines

finfanrob says:
May 21, 2010 at 1:44 pm

People think i should be on south beach. LMFAO !!!

yeah, we do, on south beach in your t – back speedo, pink flowery umbrella and high heels.

a shih tzu, geeeze, that is just pathetic LOL

Posted by: LMAO | May 22, 2010 at 08:55 AM

[beerndrums]

The Jets don't even scare me.Two hard fought wins for the Fins.

[Home]

Unlike The Gulf of Mexico & Atlantic Ocean Around The Cuba, SE USA and soon Europe

The Dolphins O-Line Will Be Just Fine

[Home]

Until Our Defense
Get Their Act Together
And Develops Some Chemistry

Unlike The Chemistry BP Is Developing In The Ocean
By Dumping Now Over 700,000 gallons of
TOXIC COREXIT 9500 OIL DISBURSEMENT GOO
Into The Now Accurately Predicted
30+ Million gallons of Toxic Red Oil
and could reach
100 Million gallons by August Preseason Football Games when they say is the real timetable to stop the
BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER IN USA HISTORY

[mal idea]

Home what did you think of NJ's post??

[Home]

Oh Yeah
Not only is Fergs blood toxic according to NFL rules for banned substances

The EPA rates COREXIT 9500 to be
One Of The Most Toxic Disbursement Chemicals on their list

and BP Cannot Dump Hundreds of Thousands of Gallons of this Toxic Chemical Into Our Oceans Fast Enough

Who wants to go for a swim?

[Rodge]

Jim, nobody should listen to Jetty Man. Apparantly nobody should listen to you either. How are the Jets better, because they look good on paper? And WTF are you talking about "flushing" money down the toilet for Marshall? Go write your moronic posts on a Jets' blog, you'd fit right in with those idiots

[murcielago]

Home, about reading between the lines. You know Bobby is going up North to catch a fins game with NJ. hmmmmm. hmmmmmm. Such fun. Fins, beer, and men. LOL

[murcielago]

Home I am out, catch ya later. Waiting for the attacks from you know who...

[Home]

Cant even comment on NJ
Without bursting in laughter and spitting my drink on the computer screen ROTFALMAO

[Home]

With Henne starting
Ronnie healthy
Marshall as our #1WR

Dolphins Offense Is Better Than The Jets Offense

However
At This Point
Would say Jets Have The Better Defense

I Calls It
The Way
I Sees It

Popeye

[ALoco]

did the oil reached the keys yet ?

[bobbyd12]

Murcielago wants my dick-down his throat as usual!!! LMFAO can't go ONE blog without talking about/wishing he was me...you poor basturd, you really have no life, do ya??? Everyday, you need to bring up my name. LOL Fn greaseball

[bobbyd12]

Murcielago LOVES ME...All day everyday he CANT talk about anything else!!!! I'm flattered u love me so much ur puny little brain can't think of anything else to ever talk about!!! LMFAO u queer-man crush HOM-O

[bobbyd12]

Back to work fo me while u have ur wet dreams HOM-O

[pistol]

Jim stenson, that comment about Marshall was one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. You been watching soccer for the past 3 years or something?

[odinseye]

pistol,

I fell for stensons retardation ONCE. Then I "discovered" his posts at jetsblog.com.

He's a jet fan troll. Re read ANY of his posts with this in mind and you'll understand.

It's best to just ignore his BS!

[odinseye]

This offensive line might appear unsettled. That is, if your football knowledge is....um....somewhat "challenged".

We have our starters. Other than Smiley, they're all going to be healthy and returning. Before the injuries last year this unit was tops in the NFL.

The additions of Jerry, Inconito, etc, etc. doesn't unsettle anything. They raise the level of competition and keep the incumbents motivated.

You have to keep looking for that Diamond in the rough and the Trifecta does this continually. If you're a Dolphin Fan you better get used to it.

[phinfaninhhschh]

The negatives
Bill Parcells,Jeff Ireland,and Tony Sparano are still here.
The positives, there is hope after we go 3-13 and finish in last place behind the hated JETS,Patriots, Bills(in that order) and Jets win the Super bowl Mr. Ross will see the light and Ozzie Newsome will be pulling the trigger for our drafts and signing free agents and get us the NT, FS,TE,KR, and deph at WR we need!
The bad, 2010 will be brutal 3-13
The good 2010 will be the end of the trifecta,the wildcat, Randy Starks at NT, Pat White at QB.
For all of idots who keep bitching about the oil spill being the fault of the republicans, the Obama adminsitration isn't doing sh-t to fix it. I guess you same morons who think big tuna is doing a great job voted for Obama and think he is doing a great job too. I will send all of you liberals my medical bills. Go Dolphins GO GOP REPUBLICANS GOD BLESS AMERICA AND TIM TEBOW!

[pistol]

Thanks Odin, That makes perfect sense.

[beerndrums]

3-13.....have you been swimming in the oil drenched ocean or what?Oh wait,you must be a Jet fan.Sorry to hear that.

[Franco Cuzzamano]

Watching the
'Domestic Creep'
destroying a good Blog

ONE POST AT A TIME!!
.
.
.
.

[Rob NOVA]

Looks like the jets fans are projecting their deficiancies with this junkyard analogy. The only team adding pieces from a junkyard to their team in the AFC East is the jets. Their key acquisitions consist of has beens and misfits bordering long term suspension. i.e. LT who i wouldnt want on my fantasy team much less an NFL franchise. Cromartie the dead beat dad. Holmes with a four game suspension. Regrettably JT who will most likely be miserable when he is injured and riding the jets bench while the Fins beat them down in new jersey...Fins added pro bowler Marshall in his prime, Dansby who should be in the pro bowl after this season and a defensive draft.

Enough said!

[pistol]

I feel bad for the Giants for having to share a stadium with those losers.

[Away]

NJ Phin troll & fool idiot = Home

LMAO = Home

murcielago = Home

mal idea = Home

Soon there will be no one posting here except...wait for it..... HOME!
.
.

[vegasj]

phinfaninhhschh.. another brilliant post..

[Stanley32]

murceelago is correct,

If you read his posts and Bobby's, who is worst?

Bobby has explicit filthy language and does not sound like a gentleman at all. Just my 2 cents.

[anti-phinfaninhhschh]

For all of idots who keep bitching about the oil spill being the fault of the republicans, the Obama adminsitration isn't doing sh-t to fix it. I guess you same morons who think big tuna is doing a great job voted for Obama and think he is doing a great job too. I will send all of you liberals my medical bills. Go Dolphins GO GOP REPUBLICANS GOD BLESS AMERICA AND TIM TEBOW!

Posted by: phinfaninhhschh | May 22, 2010 at 02:02 PM

You bozo. I dont recall reading any posts that blamed the republicans for the oil mess. Go away and die. Good republican is a dead republican. bwhahahahahahhahahahahahahah

[Stanley32]

what does murceelago mean??

[JUST INCREDIBLE]

BOBBY YO MOUTH IS VERY DIRTY
YO @ZZ WOULD NOT BE TALKIN LIKE THIS IN THA HOOD

[bobbyd12]

Justin the WIGGA!!! LMFAO!!! Here's a fatass white guy who has asthma from smoking dope acting like he from DA HOOD...Closest you've been to the "HOOD" Justina is when your fatass drives by one on I95...LOL

[Franco Cuzzamano]

Google Stanley32 - G O O G L E!!!
.

[Stanley32]

Franco, you could have told me it meant "bat".

Bobby I thought Justin is black. You say he is not? Dont get it.

[Darryl Dunphy]

What is the wierd infatuation with NJ. Phin Fan. Who cares, The guy hardly posts here. Why the beef? Let him have it on the SS post so at least he can reply. Go get an autograph, or start a fist fight, but please let it go.

[Cuban Menace]

I see the Buffoonery is still Going on in here.........................

[pistol]

You are correct Cuban.

[Cuban Menace]

Agree Darryl, This guys man love for NJ is not healthy................

[bobbyd12]

Cuban, yes I still plan on being up there on Dec 12th for the game..Hopefully u and NJ won't kill each other

[Cuban Menace]

Bobby, Nah, dont see me and NJ fighting at all, though I see us three having to watch each others back, These Jets fans are well how do I put it..... RETARDED is the only thing that comes to mind, Like I said, I know a few Bail bondsmen in the New Jersey area......lol...

[bobbyd12]

Lol Cuban...life is good!!!

[Cuban Menace]

We'll have to Carry our "Badges" with us as not to get arrested... Cant afford it.......career wise, and if we get in a knock down drag out brawl, all we need to do is make it back to Coney Island, Hot Ashley can help us out as far as Hospitalization is concerned..........Maybe we can get Odin over to the Tri-state area, assuming he's not under some kind probation where he couldnt travel out of Michigan...

[bobbyd12]

All we need is our friend ALoco...he can be 50 different people at once so we will have an "Army" with us!!

[JUST INCREDIBLE]

YO BOBBY YOU GONNA MEET YOUR BOY FOR A GAME>
HOW SWEET MAN LOVE

[JUST INCREDIBLE]

I HATE WHEN RACIST SAY LIFE IS GOOD

[Cuban Menace]

Odin, What kind of Probation you on bro???? Will you be able to come to the Tri-State area????????

[Cuban Menace]

That's a fake Justin Credible, Learn to spell it right if your gonna steal a name, numbnuts.......

[Cuban Menace]

Bobby, I think our LiL friend Aloco is posting as Justin.....

[Salvatore Za Za]

Darryl Dunphy: (@ 4:35 PM)

Thats right.

'Phin Fan' hasn't posted here in at least 4 weeks.
(...although he may have dropped in once or twice under a different alias.) He's reduced his visits drastically.

But for some reason..... there is at least one 'Creep' on the blog with an Axe to grind with the guy -- and he's apparently too immature to let it go.

Its almost as if NJ Phin Fan had locked him in a basement for 12 years and abused him with a broomstick or something. There's real evidence of emotional pain left over from the past...

Anyway...Its tough to watch a really good blog get wrecked -- because some FREAK has convinced himself that this PLACE TO POST 'SPORTS COMMENTS' has been put here so that he can aggressively push his political agenda.

Maybe if there was more Dolphins news we wouldn't have to hear about Conspiracies.
.
.

[Cuban Menace]

Sal, The last word in your post tells everyone who is the guy with the "Man love" for NJ.... Sad, very sad...........

[jefferson]

sal callate la boca

[Bigfoot lives]

Bigfoot sighting at Arbys in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Home, please confirm with your sources on youtube the veracity of this statement. The world needs to know and only you can bring the light of truth to the masses about the dangers of bigfeet and their plot to control the HAARP facility in Alaska.

[Cuban Menace]

LOL @ Foot.........

[mrmikejohnson]

Stop getting players from the Raiders...offensive lineman, safeties, whatever...just leave the Raider players alone.

[Michael Weston]

Just heard they signed Jamarcus Russel to play catch with Pat White.
.

[WickyRilliams]

Life is good muva fukar

[WickyRilliams]

Life be good kid. Word.

I get minez edjucashum

[WickyRilliams]

Yo ese. Yo tengo un penga de Toro loco.

Pegunte tu madre culerio.