How Turner couldn't secure a starting job given his competition and after it was basically handed to him on a silver platter is beyond me....what a disappointment.

 

The good news is that he can provide depth and should be plenty motivated to step up his game. Let's see which route he takes before anointing him a total failure

 

You're right, but he certainly failed this offseason. Literally everyone had him down in permanent marker as a starting guard months ago....and that includes the coaching staff.

but he'll get his opportunity because I doubt both of the guys we have now play well enough to stay on the field the entire season.

 

IMO Turner is best suited to back-up at T. You get a little more space out there and I think it suits his skill set better. At G he whiffs too often for my tastes. Douglas is a natural fit at G here as I've been saying since before the draft. I've been impressed with Thomas' play at G as well, although not so much at T. I think Thomas is much more natural at G as well. I think I'd feel better with Turner as the back-up at both G and T.

 

Some guys take a little longer to develop. Even Thomas seems to be playing better.

 

Too late I already did that last year :) He's not starter material and the sooner we stop pretending the better

 

Billy Turner has not looked comfortable yet. Dallas Thomas looks like he's figured it out. Turner still stands out like a sore thumb though.

Good to hear Jamil Douglas, someone most of us liked in April, is going to march right into a starting spot.

 

I agree. I said from day one that Dallas Thomas should have been stuck at LG and never moved. I remember seeing him live while at UT against Alabama. He and Cordarrelle Patterson were the only two Vols offensive players that looked like they belonged on the field with 'Bama. Good for Dallas Thomas for improving at the end of the day. Interested to see what happens with Turner. I really like him as a player and still wonder how he would have fared if he'd been at LG starting out.

 

He should have been motivated to come in and win the job this year. Especially since he was basically given the starting position in the off season and his main competition for the job was a 4th round draft pick fresh out of college.

I really don't know what kind of depth he will provide under the circumstances. I will be surprised if he is still a member of the Dolphins after this coming season.

 

His skill set is at OT, I think he'll be ok there if they move him.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing what he could do at LT in the final preseason game. Let him play both LT and RG in the final game.

 

I thought Douglas would, at some point, win the job.

 

To me, all this means is our depth has improved on the OL, Turner at worst takes over Nate Garners' old role as jack of all trades on the OL, and he has a lot more physical talent.

 

third round pick in his 2nd year, I would agree..

 

Ya it's a little disappointing he's been beaten by a rookie...but that rookie is solid and was heavily valued coming in, even if a 4th round pick. I'm sure he's feeling a little embarrassed by it, and he could use that to improve...either way, unless he gets worse, he won't be going anywhere. Maybe it's like some others have said and he needs to move to a T spot...anything can happen between now and next year, but this coaching squad has shown one thing regarding the OL...if they develop them, it's a slow process. Which is STILL my #1 knock on Philbin.

 

The only reason Douglas is starting is because he sucks less than Turner, have you guys been watching?

 

So are you saying he's not at least average at the position?

 

After watching the hell that was John Jerry slightly below avg is an upgrade

 

April? I've been praising Douglas since late January. Saying he fit our scheme better than any other mid round guard in the draft while I'd constantly saw guys like the FSU guards and the kid from Alabama being mentioned as possible picks, when none of them fit well in a ZBS.

 

Yup Mr Clean has been all over Douglas for a long time. Kinda disappointed in Turner but he was raw coming out. Hopefully they shift him back to left side and have him push Thomas who I am still not convinced on.

 

Yes, that's what I'm saying because that's what I'm seeing, Thomas as well, although he's been better, but still making too many mistakes, the whiffs and penalties that the 3 of those guys have been responsible for in the limited time they've been on the field is a bit scary, and will likely just get worse the more they are exposed to it in-game, that's what usually happens to back ups, they usually fade under the pressure.

Imo all 3 of our OGs are nothing more than back up quality, Douglas and Turner being even poor back ups imo, I doubt Douglas keeps his job for very long.

 

OL is often a position where it takes several years for players to reach their peak. We had Wade Smith early on, let him go, and a few years later he became an above avg guard for KC and Houston. Evan Mathis spent some time on the roster in 2008, was waived, and a couple of years later made the Pro Bowl. Both of the Eagles current starting guards are around 30, and were previously on the Dolphins roster but let go, apparently too soon.

It is ludicrous to think we've already seen the best Turner and Douglas have to offer.

 

If you could please point out where I said anything like that, I'd appreciate it. I'm just basing it on what I'm seeing on the field, poor play from the OGs.

 

Maybe you did not mean it that way, but the entire tone of your previous post sounded to me like what we are seeing now from the young guards is all we will ever see. No accounting for improvement with added experience. If that was not your intent, then my apologies.

 

Mr. Clean what do you think about bringing Donald Thomas back into the fold? Maybe primarily as a backup so his penchant for injury will be less of a concern, less wear and tear and imo a quality Guard for depth.

 

Yes, because players don't improve with more experience nor learn how to correct mental mistakes. :up:

 

You anointed Turner a failure last year, without him even playing? Wow. You really are special. I'm going to write Tannenbaum and company a letter, recommending you as GM, or OL coach. You sir, deserve that.

Maybe we give the guy some time to play, learn and develop and see what happens?

Great. That's usually why someone beats someone else out of a job. The only reason Tannehill starts, he sucks less than Moore. Miller starts, because he sucks less than Williams & Ajayi. Wake starts, because he sucks less than Fede and Shelby etc... I like that logic. :up:


:rolleyes:


That being said, good for Douglas. He seems the better player of them all, and it looks like he should continue to grow into the role and be a nice addition on the line. Hopefully he can step it up and keep getting better against better opposition.

 

He has been injured so much lately, how much could we count on him? Also, he is a guard only, and I think you'd want your interior reserves to be able to handle both center and guard. I would not be opposed though, because when he is healthy he is a very good player. We do not need both Brenner and McClendon as reserves. Either of them could be the backup center. So, thinking about it as I type, I'd be fine with the idea of adding Thomas.

 

I'd be fine with cutting Donald Hawkins and Aundrey Walker. moving Billy Turner to OT and rounding out the unit with Donald Thomas at OG. Also see what else is out there as per final cuts and PS guys, of course.

 

Oh Thank God.

 

Hawkins and Walker are very likely cuts anyway.

 

I would be shocked if either makes the team

 

Agreed, we can almost assuredly replace them with better players from other teams' final cuts and practice squads.

 

Right now, there are at least 9 rostered OL ahead of both.