So now the Dolphins, shockingly, have 3 elite level tackles. Do you stunt Tunsil's growth and make him a guard next season and keep James and Albert at their current roles? Guard has been a huge weakness for this team since Tanehill got here. Tackle is a more important position, why not put your youngest most talented guns in those spots and have Tunsil play next to Albert (at guard)? I read this morning that Tunsil never got RB assistance for blocking assignments through his career. What are the other options for the other guard spot? Bill Turner? Sam Young? Dallas Thomas? I am excited about the future of this line should it stay healthy.
I would stick Albert at guard. Start working to phase him out. He is too injury prone at this stage to be our starting LT - get Tunsil in there reppin immediately. If Tunsil or James have issues, then you can bring in Albert.
I see the depth chart playing out like this: LT - Laremy Tunsil, Jermon Bushrod, Sam Young LG: Branden Albert, Jamil Douglas C: Mike Pouncey, Kraig Urbik RG: Jermon Bushrod, Dallas Thomas RT: Ja'Wuan James, Sam Young, Billy Turner Could see either Turner or Thomas getting cut before the final 53. Keep your eyes on Jacques McClendon and Ulrick John to possibly join the depth chart.
Albert has said, strongly, several times that he won't move to guard. Play Tunsil there for one year, then if need be, cut Albert next March when its more affordable.
I don't see Albert being anything other than our LT, in 2013 when the Chiefs drafted Fisher 1st overall he refused to play RT that year, I don't see him being flexible with the position. I think it's going o be: LT Albert LG Tunsil C Pouncey RG Bushrod/Urbik RT James
Just a hunch, Alberts refusal to play RT or guard before was due to his upcoming Free agency. The LT money is substantially more than RT or guard money. Now that he has had his large pay day he may be willing to play guard under his existing contract. I would like to see them try to restructure his deal down a little and add 2 years as a inventive for him being a team player and moving to guard. Just a thought.
James is definitely not elite or even close. He's a solid starter and mid tier among RT. Outside of that, I say Tunsil while he adjusts to the speed of the NFL. Albert will likely get injured at some point so he will get his shot to move LT permanently. If and when that happens, you cut Albert and find a G.
Tunsil at LG would epic stupidity, time to shop BA as hes firmly on the record for never playing guard. Hes got two years on his deal so his value is considerable. I fully expect the Dolphin to fark it up and play Tunsil at guard, watch BA get hurt again, and have to pay out BA entire salary (vested veteran). rinse, lather, repeat.
Jonathan Ogden played left tackle all 4 years in college. His first season in the NFL, he played left guard. That seemed to work out. Also if BA gets hurt, bump Tunsil to LT.
With Branden Albert already established at LT, and his strength being pass protection, I don't see kicking him inside as being the best of ideas. I agree that Tunsil is likely to land at LG. With Albert and James both having had a tendency to miss time, I suspect Tunsil may see action at Tackle before the year is through. My question is really who wind up at Guard. I'd love to see Jamil Douglas develop. I'm not sold on Bushrod necessarily being better. It's nice that there are now at least 2 guys ahead of Thomas and Turner though.
From what I've been reading Tunsil will be at LG this year. Probably working on phasing out BA. That's not a bad idea, considering BA's durability. I've been thinking since we've signed him that we should be looking for his eventual replacement. Despite what he says about how he's feeling health wise, he looks overwhelmed and uncomfortable at times out there. Last year we had a few scares with him. Glad the team addressed this, and I'm hoping Tunsil works out for us. Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
This is something they're going to have to look at in camp. There are questions that need to be answered. Tackles aren't overqualified to be Guards and the transition might not be seamless. The same goes for swapping a guy from the Left to Right side or the reverse. Tunsil at Left Guard makes the most sense to me. Don't switch his side, Albert will almost certainly miss some games and you want him ready to step in. Bushrod has never played Guard or on the Right side afaik, which raises a bit of a question if he'll be able to beat out Kraig Urbik or Billy Turner. He might end up being a backup.
It is hard for me to feel comfortable with a rookie LT. I still believe the best course of action is for Tunsil to play LG.
I have watched the draft a couple of times and the announcers reported when Miami picked Tunsil that he will be moved to guard.
Tunsil fills one of the guard spots, LG presumably, then when Albert gets hurt, I say again, WHEN Albert gets hurt again, Tunsil slides over Albert rehabs and gets cut/shipped off to another team next year. No hand-wringing necessary. Having this much talent on the oline is no issue whatsoever. Oh, and cut Dallas Thomas right now, please. Thanks in advance.
We also have to consider that the 2 best tackles may very well be Albert and Tunsil. It may be too soon to assume James automatically gets the job at RT, plus, as many have already pointed out, James is neither all-world or entirely reliable week-in, week-out.
Send the message that Tunsil was a first round pick at his position for a reason and will be treated as such. Send the message/expectation that he will be the man and he should be motivated and prepared to step up as such. Throw Dallas Thomas into the deal as well. Don't baby Tunsil along.
Albert and Tunsil are likely better at LT than James. I think that goes without question. Albert is also likely better at RT, and Tunsil may be, or may not be. But James is better at RT than he is anywhere else. If James is the worst guard of the three players, then moving him there makes no sense, and it takes away a solid starter than we already have.
1) Albert has played guard before. 2) I think it would help extend his career 3) I don't want to mess with Tunsil who is supposed to be a GREAT LT by moving him to guard. 4) I am not convinced it is so easy to switch up positions, from left to right side as people think. James was good right tackle, not so much LT.
LT is all about talent, James is not that good at LT because of lack of talent, but any good LT can move to RT without skipping a beat. By a very large margin, LT is the highest drafted Oline position, and tons of college LTs are playing LG, RG and RT in the NFL, basically, the LT in college is simply the best Oline player on a given team. The reason they get moved in the NFL is due to talent and or size, take my guy from last year for example, Marpet, as skilled as you like, but short for LT, he was a very good RG for the Bucs last year, he had never played anything but LT on the Oline at any level(until the senior bowl), but just plugged right in at RG. The problem I have with putting either Tunsil or Albert at OG is that is like putting a tiger in a cage that was made for a wolf, cramping them, they are longer than the position needs, they play with a wider base then whats good for the position, and kills their range abilities. Tunsil or Albert would be a better RT than James, for guys with their talent, the only difference between LT and RT is prestige, and the reason for that is because LT is the best Olineman on the team. I think by the time we get to TC, it will be Albert/Tunsil, ___, Pouncey, James, Albert/Tunsil, and with those two guys on the wings, Tanne won't feel much pressure from the outside at all. Just my 2 cents.
If that works we could hopefully finally get a clearer assessment of RT. If this line shows significant improvement, and RT kind of plateaus, it will be telling. If he sky-rockets... welcome to the show.