Will the offensive line be good enough for the Miami Dolphins?
The Miami Dolphins did not land the big fish at guard during the first round of free agency and that pool dried up very fast.
Of course that was most likely the plain all along to make do with what you have at this position or can get on the cheap. Even though reports/rumors did not specify what tier type of free agent they would be after only that it would be two guards though free agency.
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On Thursday Jermon Bushrod was signed to a new contract and most likely will be starting at the same position he held last season at right guard. And the Miami dolphins are probably lucky to have him back. Many rumors had stated a need for an upgrade at his position and he took that well even letting on that he wanted back the next season.
These rumors persisted from having bad grading; Pro Football Focus had him rated dead last.
"“Jermon Bushrod was a huge problem at RG all season, allowing five sacks and 34 total QB pressures as a pass blocker. He was also disastrous in the run game, with a 34.9 run-blocking grade, making him the lowest-graded guard league-wide”"
This report is hard to defend but the Miami Dolphins brass must know something that PFF analytics and pundits (myself included) may have overlooked. This might include; The two-time pro bowler Bushrod had played guard for the first time ever. The Miami Dolphins run mostly in zone were the line is more of a unit. And as such when Ja’Wuan James had early struggles learning a newer system it reflected on Bushrod and more sacks were given up. Also the fact of having three 200 yards plus running games.
Those record running games were nice but consistency is also key. There were pockets in between of poor running filling out the last season. But Bushrod might grow into his newer surroundings at guard even at the ripe old age of 33. And newly signed journeyman Ted Larsen (age 29) with six seasons under his belt and having started eight games filling in last season should be competing for the left guard spot with Kraig Urbik and Anthony Steen. Both of whom filled in at center last season.
One other thing that might be considered is QB Ryan Tannehill’s need for protection. He will be playing in a knee brace this coming season, an added precaution of better protection would be nice to go along with it. But it’s too late to turn back now. Perhaps the prowess of former capologist Dawn Aponte is missing with trying to squeeze one more higher tier player on to that line.
It is shaping up to look like a higher draft pick could be spent on an offensive lineman. And Forrest Lamp is lining up as the highest pick should that pan out. At 309 pounds he ran a five second forty at the combine. The top RB prospects ran around 4.5 seconds. It is hard to get excited about drafting a guard in the first round and frankly kind of scary to think he might be protecting an ailing Ryan Tannehill but it is what it is. And I had thought they would have splurged for one in free agency so who knows?