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

[Cuban Menace]

Ran out of wine so I sent the cuban out to do what he does best,track down and fetch.HAHA kinda like a dog.HOT ASHLEY

[Home]

Did the mainstream media
Just Tell U
Several weeks ago

Nothing to worry about oil disaster
Will be smaller than drunken Valdez spill

Well So Far
It Is Almost # Times as Big
Only in warm H20 and covered up on the surface with MORE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GALS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS

So sounds to me
Home was right, again

and your mainstream media news was lying again and the conspiracy is them

Home = Truth
Mainstream Media owned by New World Order = Lies

U Get That, Huh?

[Cuban Menace]

we may continue sheeple

Posted by: Home | May 24, 2010 at 01:31 PM

Sounds like "Playtime in barnyard". What a freak.HOT ASHLEY

[Darryl Dunphy]

Cuban- What up, thanks for adding some substance to the blog today. Good Work. Here's my question. Of the rookies taken in rounds 1-3 which one has the best chance to start? I don't think any will. But this is my opinion.

[Cuban Menace]

Who is this guy, I thought you guys talked about football on here.HOT ASHLEY

[Home]

BP almost 3 Times Bigger So Far Than
Drunken Valdez Spill

Why R They Lying To Us, again?

Home says last month = Disaster Of Biblical Proportion

Mainstream Media says = no worries, all is fine

Home = Truth

Mainstream News + Fox News for Dummies = Lie

[Cuban Menace]

Darryl, Cuban will be back shortly,had to get more wine.HOT ASHLEY

[Bu]

On Nfl.com theres a video bout the top teams in nfl.Pitt Fans Screamin they the best.Why Steeler Fans So Retarded?Steelers Best Team.Ha!.Ben Isnt Playin Four Games And No Holmes.Look At Their Schedule.Steelers Wont Be In The Playoffs.They Will Be 7-9,8-8 At The End Of The Season.An Lets Dont Forget That They Drafted At 17 For A Reason.

[Home]

Menace
U Have Anything Other Than Weak Dummy Skit?

[pistol]

The 70 degrees part sounds nice.

[Home]

Pat Kirwan NFL.com
Thinks Our Defense Will Be weak
No Joey or JT
No Pass Rush
and ranks us low way behind Jets & Pats

New World Order also thinks U R dumb & weak
U Must Be Eliminated, Soon

[Darryl Dunphy]

Hot Ashley- tell Cuban I meant starters on opening day. May I suggest a nice bottle of Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge. Very good one of the better red wines from the south of France. about 40 bucks a bottle

[pistol]

This blog needs an anti-spam component

[Home]

Home Predicted & Posted 3 hours before Eric Green Firing

Home Predicted & Posted 48 hours before Ted Ginn Firing

Home = Truth

No One Like Home
No One Like Home
No One Like Home

[Cuban Menace]

Pistol, Its very nice, cloudy incense in the apt, sitting out on the fire escape drinking wine after a tough nite at work, speaking about wine, Cuban must be taking his sweet time, been gone for 30 minutes and its only 15 minutes away.Hummmmmmmmmm.HOT ASHLEY

[Home]

Home Predicted & Posted Two days & One Day Before 1st Jets Game

Miami Dolphins Would Sweep The Jets In 2009

Home = Truth

No One Like Home
No One Like Home
No One Like Home

[Cuban Menace]

Darryl, If it was up to michael he'd be drinking a 10 dollar bottle of Woodbridge,He has no wine "Sense" among other things that he has no sense of.HOT ASHLEY

[pistol]

Cuban/Ashley, I'm going up there for the first time in a couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to it.

[Cuban Menace]

First Visit to NYC Pistol?HOT ASHLEY

[Home]

Home Predicted & Posted 3 Hours Before Patriots Game
In Our Stadium
Before leaving to game:
Miami Dolphins Will Beat The New England Patriots By One Point

When ALL SPORTSWRITERS SAID DOLPHINS WOULD LOSE &
SEASON OVER

Final Score
Miami Dolphins Win By EXACTLY ONE POINT

No One Like Home
No One Like Home
No One Like Home

Home = Truth

[Cuban Menace]

Who Is this Idiot Home?HOT ASHLEY

[bigfoot lives]

Home, crab people are now being implicated in the bigfeet plot to secure and use the HAARP facility in Alaska in an attempt at world domination.

Please check your sources on youtube to confirm or deny this report. It will take weeks, if not months, to prepare for an imminent crab people strike and we must be prepared.

[pistol]

It is Ashley. I'm only going to be there for 2 days so I don't know how much I'll be able to do.

[pistol]

Crab people can be identified by their unique crab walk.

[pistol]

The only defense against them is a steamer, cracker and melted butter.

[Darryl Dunphy]

Ok Hot Ashley- a couple of weeks ago, we all gave our predictions. I went out on a limb and said the Phins would go 5-1 in the division(4-2 the last two years) You said hell no, I'm crazy. What is your prediction for the division record this year?

[Cuban Menace]

Not to mention there unique handshakes.HOT ASHLEY

[Cuban Menace]

Did I? I think the fish will be 4 and 2 in the division. and finnish 11 and 5 making it to the play-offs.HOT ASHLEY

[Grrreatdane]

Don't worry about crab people the oil will kill them all off..

[Cuban Menace]

Thats the thing about the "Crab People", cant take the chemicals.HOT ASHLEY

[Darryl Dunphy]

I hope the crab people are Dungeness crab people, so when we kill them they will be some good eatin'

[pistol]

Let's hope they're not the itchy crabs.

[Cuban Menace]

"CRAB,PEOPLE, PART CRAB, PART PEOPLe,CRAB PEOPLE PART CRAB. PART PEOPLE" Great South park episode.HOT ASHLEY

[Bootang25]

Pistol,

I hadn't thought of the simplest way to deal with crab people. Thanks for the headsup. I was busy googling hand grenades and handguns. Couldn't find much, and was having a meeting with a guy named 'Steve' on Wednesday to get them. Never like meeting guys at abandoned truck stops that use fake names, always risky business.

Thanks to you I only need to go to Sam's Club, I'm sure they have 50 gallon drums of butter. Though the lady at checkout will look at me odd that I got 79 crackers and 7 steamers. I got to do what I got to do to survive though.

I WILL NOT GO LIGHTLY crab people!!!!!!!

[beerndrums]

You guys are killing me here(directed to the crab people of course).

[Cuban Menace]

That's the spirit Bootang, never give up and carry plenty of butter.HOT ASHLEY

[beerndrums]

The Dolphins will finish 4-2 in the division,but it should be enough to put us on top.

[Ron Burgundy]

Call me crazy but I see Randy Starks becoming a better NT than Jay Ratliff by week 5...and Jared Odrick being a candidate for rookie dpoy

[Cuban Menace]

Beer, Butter and Tant, Sounds like a nite I"m about to have............THE CUBAN IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rickm]

I happened to come home early today. I notice that all of you guys talk all day long-home,Cuban menace, aloco etc. When I grow up , I want your jobs. I think we will lose 1 game in the division and 5 overall. The road schedule Is pretty heavy. What do you guys think?

[cocoajoe]

beerndrums,

i wish i was with you , cuban is a dirty man .

[pistol]

Bootang, it is our duty as Americans.

[pistol]

Don't forget the bread crums for the crab cakes.

[Cuban Menace]

Just catching up on the last hours posts and gotta say that are friend"HOME" is insane, ashley is drunk, and I need to use my Taser, so I'll check back with you guys in a few hours.........

[Rickm]

I think we will lose 1 game in the division and 5 total. I am concerned about the road schedule.

[Bootang25]

I am glad that this blog has evolved to greaseballs, truck drivers, crab people, oil spills, November 13 (my birthday is the 15 and if some earthquake makes it so I can't party, I'll be might pissed at the New World Order) (Speaking of the nWo, is this the black and white led by Hollywood Hogan? Or the Wolfpack black and red led by Kevin Nash?) back to popular blog subjects of late: Multiple screennames to really confuse people, Dez Bryant's mom, cross dressers, conspiracy theorists, filthy insults laced with expletives, HOT ASHLEY, the University of Montana football team (or is it Montana University?) LeBron Janes mom, not having sex with strangers, but her son's teammate, no big deal there, happens ALL the time. I am sure that I am forgetting great topics, and to be honest, I don't even remember what the hell this blog is even about. Or why I am here. I can't remember. I know it was a centralized topic, I just can't put my finger on it.

[pistol]

And lots of lemon!

[bigfoot lives]

Home, the people on this blog are obviously intelligent and need no help from you to deal with the Axis of power (bigfeet, crab people and Loch Ness Monsters)

When confronted with the possibility of a crab people infestation, the blog was bombarded with numerous ways to take the fight to these creepy crawlers. We would like to thank you for your dedication and numerous youtube sources of info but I think we have it well in hand now.

Please take your invaluable information to a Jest blog or perhaps the Patsies blog as these are the people who are in dire need of and will benefit most from your unparalleled knowledge.

[Bu]

Im A Dolphin Fan,But,Some times We Make Dumb Chooses.Before the draft everyone was Sayin get Eric Berry,Get Earl Thomas.But,When I Said Get Mike Iupati,Eveyone Called Me An ASS!!Now Look.We Could Have Traded Smiley To Get Greg Olson...Nxt Years Draft Is Loaded.Hope We Get Mark Ingram(Replace Ricky)

[Cuban Menace]

Ricky, Just getting home?????? its only 2:30 in the afternoon, what kind of job do you have??????

[Home]

Bill P. & Dan Henning R Visionary Geniuses

What About

Nick Tessler & Dr. Bernard Eastlund

The New World Order & Military Thinks These Guys R
The Real Visionary Geniuses

Oh Yeah

Its The End Of The World
As We Know It
and i feel fine

[Bootang25]

Pistol,

I'm already on my way back from
Sam's Club, and NOW you remind me of breadcrumbs? NOW? Come on man? Geesh, I'm turning around. And before I leave again, does anyone need anything? I'm only asking once, and I will not go back. Also, I don't have a lot of room, so don't ask for anything crazy. Unless it can be tied to the roof of my car, then we are ok.

[HairyGreekSteroidMcShrinkySack]

Shoulders day

[HairyGreekSteroidMcShrinkySack]

baklava

[Cuban Menace]

Tang, I agree, What the heck are we talking about????? Oh yeah, Crab, With/or with out butter...............

[SoiledBottom]

Dear Mr. Salguero

I just learned....from Fox news

"Crab people can be identified by their unique crab walk."

"The only defense against them is a steamer, cracker and melted butter."

For those that are enlightened...

According to Dez Bryants mother, the only way to avoid crabs is to not have sex with suspect partners or wear a full body prophylactic.

I get my information from the Pro's

Soiled :)

[Bootang25]

Ah yes, shoulders day. Is there no legs day, or bicep or tricep day? No chest workout? Just shoulders? What about the back? Interesting, I have seen many exercise programs and infomercials, and have never seen this unique approach. Hmmmm, I may have to try it. I'm calling right now and extending my gym membership an additional 17 months.

[pistol]

Bootang, get lots of beer and that's it. I swear.

[Home]

While Bill P Sits Up
and Beams Down

HAARP Gigantic Antennas Beam Up
Heating the Ionosphere with over 1 Billion Watts
Then Beam Down Anywhere desired w/RF Waves of Energy & can trigger earthquakes or create severe weather systems

Oh If Bill P.
Only Had The Power

***** The Dynasty Be Fins! *****

[Rickm]

A good one sometimes Cuban. Self employed. I hope not to get fired.