Miami Dolphins offensive line is solid but final 53 is up in the air
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins have their best offensive line on paper since the days of Richie Incognito but that means little until they take the field.
The addition of Josh Sitton has a lot of people feeling pretty confident about this years offensive line unit and while they should, it’s the experience that Sitton brings to the table for the other lineman is that the real value.
Unlike other positions, offensive lineman tend to not have huge egos that they worry about their job security. Thus teaching and helping others around them tend to be of more importance. Josh Sitton said that he would be helpful to make the other offensive lineman better.
We know that the first unit is set. Something we haven’t known going into training camp in previous years dating back as far as Tony Sparano. For the first time in that span the Dolphins are going into camp with all five starters known.
Ja’Wuan James, Jesse Davis, Daniel Kilgore, Josh Sitton, and Laremy Tunsil make up that line and thus make the final 53 man roster.
Honestly, I have never had a lot of success predicting the final offensive line roster. I tend to keep too many players and then by the time I get to the safeties I’m scrambling to cut a player or two on the Oline to make up for the mistake.
Why am I telling you this? Because when I get to safeties, I’ll probably be cutting one or two of the guys I am predicting to make the roster below.
So far I have the Dolphins keeping the following as we wrap up the offensive side of the team.
2 – quarterbacks, 6 – wide-receivers, 4 – tight-ends, and 3 – running backs for a total of 15 players. The above five mentioned starters on offensive line bring that total to 20 players. Here are the predictions for the rest of the offensive line.
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At tackle it will be interesting to see who makes the team initially. The Dolphins like versatility and that is where Eric Smith, Sam Young, and Zach Sterup come in.
Sterup and Smith both have a lot of potential while Young was competing with Jesse Davis to start. While none of them are locks to make the roster, Sterup and Young have better chances than the other lineman.
Only two guards are listed on the Dolphins roster aside from Josh Sitton. They are Ted Larsen and Isaac Asiata. Larsen provides veteran depth and should make the team but there are questions about Asiata who did very little last season.
The Dolphins knew drafting Asiata was going to be a developmental process and they are hoping that the aggressive and physical lineman can get things to click sooner rather than later.
The Dolphins will also enter training camp with four centers. Of those four only two are going to make the roster, Jake Brendel and Daniel Kilgore.
Miami is likely to keep nine or ten offensive lineman heading into the season. Last year they released Sam Young and then brought him back after week one when his contract was not fully guaranteed. I expect they will the same with him this year so look for Young to be cut.
Centers – Kilgore and Brendel
Guard – Sitton, Ted Larsen, *Asiata
Tackle – James, Tunsil, Davis, Eric Smith
I think that Zach Sterup will be released and re-signed along with Sam Young. I think the Dolphins like what they are developing in Eric Smith so barring a bad camp he should be fine and last year he played better than Asiata.
Asiata has asterisk near his name and that is because I think this camp will be critical for him. He needs to take the next step. Miami needs to know that he is heading in the right direction. I don’t think they are ready to give up on him yet as they invested a mid-round draft pick on him in 2016. The thing is this, Asiata can’t sit by and watch, he needs to get on the field and impress the coaches. He is that one guy on the line who can be a 50/50 cut or make the roster.
For now I have the team carrying nine and bringing two back after they are released. Young after week one an Sterup to the practice squad. This brings our roster to 24.