Clarity for that which has not been clear

Earlier this week, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said his team didn't have a first-team right guard and said he didn't have clarity at left guard either. He said he had no idea who would start at those two positions against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday in Miami's third preseason game.

Well, Shelley Smith and Dallas Thomas will both get work at right guard Saturday but it seems Smith will be the starter there.

At left guard, meanwhile, Daryn Colledge will likely be the starter as he's taken practically all the first-team snaps in practice this week. But do not be surprised if rookie Billy Turner gets some snaps with the starters.

By the way, Colledge played for Philbin for a long time at Green Bay. He's a known quantity to Philbin. The fact the Dolphins coach this week voluntarily mentioned left guard as also up in the air suggests Colledge isn't meeting standards, particularly in the run game.

The Dolphins expect tight end Charles Clay to play. Obviously, that means he starts.

Clay has taken all his reps in practice this week and seems none the worse for wear after missing the first two preseason game while nursing a setback to the right knee that underwent surgery in the offseason.

"I want to get out there," Clay said today before adding he was not sure what coaches planned for him.

Running back Knowshon Moreno is also set to make his Miami Dolphins debut. Although he practiced every day this week, it is unclear to me whether Daniel Thomas will play and if so, how much. It seems doubtful Mike Gillislee, who has missed the entire week of practice with a hamstring injury, will play.

Kicker Caleb Sturgis will not play against the Cowboys as he continues to recover from the groin he re-injured in warmups against Tampa Bay.

John Potter, who is competing with Sturgis for the kicking job, connected on both his attempts in practice today -- from 47 and 43 yards. Potter's only miss I've noted this week was on a 51-yarder that hit the left upright a couple of days ago.