With offensive lineman Dallas Thomas not practicing all week, it’s looking more and more like rookie third-round pick Billy Turner could suit up for his first NFL regular season game Sunday. http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/a...er-Notes/c8c0f08d-106b-42c3-b469-0ec6e4769d00 ...followed by the usual Joe Philbin crapola: “He’s really progressed well,” Head Coach Joe Philbin said. “He’s done a good job. He’s worked extremely hard. He’s done an excellent job in the weight room from a strength and conditioning aspect. He’s in the building a lot putting in extra time, and it’s paid off. He’s getting better. I was just down there (Thursday) watching the one-on-ones, and he’s improving without a doubt.” Philbin could just as easily have been talking about the (not) vastly improved Dallas Thomas. The problem with Philbin in this regard is that now that I've come to expect that he's just running his mouth and trying to vaguely stay positive, the platitudes mean nothing. Billy Turner looks so good and in practice and he's working so hard and improving so much... but the only reason he might see some action today is because the immortal Dallas Thomas, he of the earlier Philbin praise, turnstile pass protection, pitiful balance and lousy technique, is injured today. My point is, Philbin should tone down the praise a little bit, because as he's proven with his Dallas Thomas praise it means nothing. I'd be more interested in Philbin explaining what the real story is, or at least something close to the truth instead of his typical pollyanish offerings. Billy Turner is a third round pick that cost us 3rd and 4th round picks to trade up for him- he's big, strong and very athletic even for a LT- and somewhat raw coming out of North Dakota St. Our blue chip Left Tackle Branden Albert went down for the year. Billy Turner was moved to Guard, and because of this our prize rookie RT Ja'Wuan James was moved to LT and Dallas Thomas has been stinking up the joint at RT. Meanwhile, we had injuries at Guard and that position stunk up the house because of a lack of quality depth, with Billy Turner nowhere in sight. Now that Dallas Thomas, maybe the worst starting RT in the NFL, is injured we MIGHT see Billy Tuner suit up today and actually play some football, and his "lingering" turf toe injury doesn't even warrant a mention. Back to Philbin's words: “He’s really progressed well,” Head Coach Joe Philbin said. “He’s done a good job. He’s worked extremely hard. He’s done an excellent job in the weight room from a strength and conditioning aspect. He’s in the building a lot putting in extra time, and it’s paid off. He’s getting better. I was just down there (Thursday) watching the one-on-ones, and he’s improving without a doubt.” OK Joe, what really happened?
well said. A little honesty would go a long way. Ever hear Bellicheck. He makes me laugh when they loose but he has that respect. This is just another of those little nuggets that get over looked. If Philbin is like that with the fans is he like that with the Players? I would love a couch who would lay it on the line. Maybe some accountability would shake things up a bit.
Billy Turner should have been playing LT since Albert went down..dude was a stud LT in college..hmm cautious Joe I don't know, insert Turner at LT and rest of line stays put..much better option...if Ross does NOT FIRE YOU.......
Ja'wan James, in the second half of the New England game, could not play left tackle. Could. Not. Play. At all. A 3 man rush and people were getting to Tanny over James' attempts to get in their way. We would seem to lose very little by putting Turner in at LT and moving James back to RT, where he plays better.
I wasn't able to watch the game, and haven't been able to find anything on this... Did he get in at all and how did he look?
