Miami Dolphins In Depth

Wake has rejoined Dolphins workout program

Consider the Dolphins and Cameron Wake to be on friendlier terms this week.

Last week the linebacker sat out the week of voluntary offseason conditioning to make the point he's none too thrilled with the idea he has not gotten a contract extension as he heads into the final year of his deal in 2012.

After some dialogue between the team and Wake's agents and Wake and Joe Philbin, that has changed this week as general manager Jeff Ireland told me today Wake is back working with the club in the conditioning program.

The mini holdout is over!

"Cameron felt like he had to go in to speak with Joe Philbin face to face, man to man, out of respect to him as a new coach," said agent Paul Sheehy, who represents Wake. "They spoke, and Cameron decided to work with his teammates during this voluntary period, while I work on the business side of things with the Dolphins."

The sides will continue to discuss an extension. Nothing is imminent on a deal front. Both sides want to get it done. Both sides obviously have a difference what the final numbers should be.

But it seems like good news that this is going forward out of the shadow of hard feelings.

Anyway, didn't we all know that Wake, a workout warrior, couldn't keep from doing everything he can to be ready for the 2012 season?

It will be interesting to monitor how things go during minicamp and then again for the start of training camp if the sides haven't agreed on a deal. We'll see.

Jeff Ireland on impact of offensive linemen

Remember when pundits were saying Reilly Reiff was Miami's likely pick at No. 8? Yeah, ain't happening.

But that doesn't mean the offensive line will be dismissed when the Dolphins dive into the draft next week. The Dolphins need help at right guard and right tackle. And they expect to get it.

But in the first round? God, I hope not.

As I've stated, the first round -- particularly the top part of the round -- should be set aside for impact players. I define impact players as those who make game-defining plays. They score touchdowns. They sack quarterbacks and end drives. They throw touchdowns. They come up with interceptions.

Offensive linemen do none of these.

And yet Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland considers offensive linemen impact players. I know because today I asked Ireland if he believes offensive linemen can be in that group of impact players with the receivers and quarterbacks and alike.

“It depends on if it’s the right guy, yeah, I consider him an impact player," Ireland said. "If a guy can start 16 games every single year and be a Pro Bowler, I think that’s a pretty impactful player.”

I respectfully disagree. An offensive lineman may be a foundational player. He might be a franchise cornerstone. But impactful?

Nope.

Quick, name the left tackle for the New York Giants. Or the New Orleans Saints.

No offensive lineman can lead his team to a playoff win. No offensive lineman makes a difference in a game unless he’s completely inept and is giving up sack after sack after sack.

Richmond Webb was as good as there was at left tackle and he shut down Bruce Smith year after year. And yet it was the Bills always advancing to the Super Bowl and typically doing it at Miami's expense.

With Miami's new-look offense, it has been speculated the Dolphins will be searching for a different kind of offensive lineman this year -- a smaller, quicker lineman. Ireland said that is not true.

"I think [offensive line coach] Jim [Turner] and [offensive coordinator] Mike [Sherman] and [coach] Joe [Philbin] are still looking for big, strong, athletic types for offensive linemen," Ireland said.

General Manager Jeff Ireland talks Dolphins draft

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland had his pre-draft press conference today. Some highlights:

The Dolphins have been meeting 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day for the last three weeks, Ireland said. As a result, the Dolphins draft board is complete.

"We're ready to draft," Ireland said.

Ireland said he used the free agency period this year to "build depth."

"This year that's my philosophy," he said. "free agency changes depending on the situation you're in year to year but this year it was to provide depth."

Obviously this means the Dolphins have to find starters in the draft. Starters. Not role players. Not busts.

Starters!

"I think all the picks are extremely important but second, third and fourth-round picks, those guys need to be starters or significant role players," Ireland said. "I'm maybe stubborn enough to think I can hit on every single one of them."

Of course, he cannot. No one can or has. In truth Ireland says if he hits 55 percent of the time, he's thinking he's successful. 

"I think where we were when we started to where we are now, we've done a pretty good job of adding some talent to this football team," Ireland said. "Certainly not hit on every single one, because I haven't. No doubt about that. Some I've taken some risks on and hit and some I've taken some risks on and it didn't work out so good."

 Ireland said he believes wide receiver is a strong position this year. “I think it’s a pretty good group," he said.

He said there are plenty of guards and tackles in the draft.

As the Dolphins will be running a different offense (West Coast) and defense (hybrid) this year, it stands to reason the club is looking for different type of players this year at different positions.

"I've always been big, strong fast, that's what I'm looking for," Ireland said. "In some cases you're now looking at a different player versus the run or a different player in a nickel situation or coverage situation. There are some cases we're looking for diferent types of players."

Ireland, however, said offensive line is not necessarily one of thos positions. "Mike and Joe are still looking for big, strong, athletic-type offensive linemen," he said.

Not surprisingly, Ireland would rule nothing out -- not trading up, down, sideways, across the street or up in the sky. Means nothing but I am required to share that with you. "Anything's possible," he said.