Donald Thomas Out, So Now What?

Now what? They plug someone else in and see if they can do the job, that's what. The Dolphins aren't a Super Bowl contender or anything right now, so there is no need to panic over it and go throw big money at someone. The guy who just got hurt, while he was impressive, was a rookie who was drafted in the 6th round. It's not Def-Con 3.

Mathis played and started for the Panthers in 2006 I believe.

every time i read mathis i think its rashean mathis.. and i get excited... <sigh>

Evan Mathis is a former letterman and all SEC team Guard for Alabama. I haven't seen much of him in the NFL but watching him in college he was always solid yet unspectacular. He'll open a hole and will rarely allow a sack but he probably wont make too many plays that will leave you saying wow! Though at the same time wont make many plays that leave you scratching your head and wondering what he was thinking. I hate to see Thomas go down, and I actually wonder if Shawn Murphy is going to get the chance to start at RG. We'll have to see how it goes.

Is it confirmed that Thomas is on IR?

EDIT: Yes, its confirmed on MD.com

Let Murph and Alleman fight it out

Evan Mathis should be the starter as he will be able to do a decent job filling in. He is also the best backup guard Miami now has.

I expect Murphy to get a look as well as Evan Mathis. I'm not familiar with Mathis but apparently he started 15 games with Carolina. Murphy struggled at both Guard spots in training camp so that might be a worry. However, this situation may not be that bad in the end. If Murphy was to play, he would have some growing pains but he'd gain experience and I'd expect him to improve over the course of the season. With Mathis, he can provide a veteran (?) fill-in and hopefully play solid for us as he apparently did in Carolina. One thing for sure is that this will put us a step back in the progression made chemistry-wise with the offensive line and our protection, both running and passing, will suffer in some ways.

Chances are Ndukwe gets the nod this week as Alleman has been here a week, Mathis knows nothing of the current offense and hasn't even got a place to live yet.

He may start for a week or two and then hand the reins to someone else but for tight now that is who we have to go with.

Murphy didn't appear to be ready to start this early in the season (based on preseason play) and he has been at LG for a majority of the time.

Who knows I could be wrong, but thats who I'd go with.

Lemonaid out of lemons here, RG is not the end of the world position to lose, we can find someone to fill in, don't know how well as our depth is really bad,

My gut tells me that Murph would have the same problem as Liewinski had last season, he will have trouble keeping rushers our of the pocket, Mathis could be a better choice, or we could rotate the three guards, it's not unheard of.

If we had more Tackle depth...Vern Carey to RG....and "whomever" at RT....

Good RG are such a luxury, this bothers me...:sad:

"Conuficus wrote:

Chances are Ndukwe gets the nod this week as Alleman has been here a week, Mathis knows nothing of the current offense and hasn't even got a place to live yet.

He may start for a week or two and then hand the reins to someone else but for tight now that is who we have to go with.

Murphy didn't appear to be ready to start this early in the season (based on preseason play) and he has been at LG for a majority of the time.

Who knows I could be wrong, but thats who I'd go with.

I think Mathis played under Henning in Carolina so he knows the offense. Him not having a place to live yet has nothing to do with whether or not he should start.

Mathis should be the starter.

"Conuficus wrote:

Chances are Ndukwe gets the nod this week as Alleman has been here a week, Mathis knows nothing of the current offense and hasn't even got a place to live yet.

He may start for a week or two and then hand the reins to someone else but for tight now that is who we have to go with.

Murphy didn't appear to be ready to start this early in the season (based on preseason play) and he has been at LG for a majority of the time.

Who knows I could be wrong, but thats who I'd go with.

He played for hennings offense.:wink2:

This is why I didnt understand us getting rid of Trey Derilek. He could play every position and though he wasnt a road grader he played the guard spot pretty well in preseason. To me it seemed he played it better than any of the other backups

"adamprez2003 wrote:

This is why I didnt understand us getting rid of Trey Derilek. He could play every position and though he wasnt a road grader he played the guard spot pretty well in preseason. To me it seemed he played it better than any of the other backups

That is a pretty good point. They are trying Ndukwe there first and he seems a better fit at Guard to me tha tackle. Derilek seems like the team didn't like him as much as they let on all pre-season.