YAHOO SPORTS: "Questions surround Dolphins’ offensive line"

I wouldn't say there are many questions at all. You can pencil in Carey at RG, Colombo at RT, and ink in Pouncey at C and Incognito at LG.

The only real unknowns at this point is whether John Jerry is a complete bust, and whether or not Jake Long will be ready to go for the season opener.

"Desides wrote:

I wouldn't say there are many questions at all. You can pencil in Carey at RG, Colombo at RT, and ink in Pouncey at C and Incognito at LG.

The only real unknowns at this point is whether John Jerry is a complete bust, and whether or not Jake Long will be ready to go for the season opener.

Jake will be ready.

"Stitches wrote:

Jake will be ready.

Every injured football player says they'll either be ready to go by training camp or week 1. It's a cliche. So Long may very well be ready in time, but for now it's still an unknown.

I'm being generous with the unknowns here.

"Desides wrote:

I wouldn't say there are many questions at all. You can pencil in Carey at RG, Colombo at RT, and ink in Pouncey at C and Incognito at LG.

The only real unknowns at this point is whether John Jerry is a complete bust, and whether or not Jake Long will be ready to go for the season opener.

Bingo, the only question I'd add is whether or not they sign a Vet Rb to back up Thomas, or if they just go with Hilliard or Sheets or Grigsby.

"Desides wrote:

I wouldn't say there are many questions at all. You can pencil in Carey at RG, Colombo at RT, and ink in Pouncey at C and Incognito at LG.

The only real unknowns at this point is whether John Jerry is a complete bust, and whether or not Jake Long will be ready to go for the season opener.

I'm telling you right now that Colombo at RT is a huge mistake.
They have taken an approach here that I feel will really bite them in the arse.
Carey should have been left at RT and a Guard should have been pursued.
They weakened the RT spot to fix the RG spot. That still leaves a weak spot on the right side. Nothing has been accomplished.

This is being handled just as backwards arsed as the RB position..... just my 2 cents.

"Coral Reefer wrote:

I'm telling you right now that Colombo at RT is a huge mistake.
They have taken an approach here that I feel will really bite them in the arse.
Carey should have been left at RT and a Guard should have been pursued.
They weakened the RT spot to fix the RG spot. That still leaves a weak spot on the right side. Nothing has been accomplished.

I'm not ready to say they weakened RT. Colombo had a bad 2010, but he was injured. He can still play well, and he's fully healthy as far as we know.

I was banging the drum hard for Marshal Yanda (he can play RG and RT at a Pro Bowl level) but I'm not dissatisfied with a right side of Carey-Colombo. We'll see if it backfires, but I'm not going to criticize Ireland for going that route.

"Desides wrote:

I'm not ready to say they weakened RT. Colombo had a bad 2010, but he was injured. He can still play well, and he's fully healthy as far as we know.

I was banging the drum hard for Marshal Yanda (he can play RG and RT at a Pro Bowl level) but I'm not dissatisfied with a right side of Carey-Colombo. We'll see if it backfires, but I'm not going to criticize Ireland for going that route.

The only thing I can offer is that I hope you are completely correct but to me I have huge doubts.
This situation and the RB situation has really left me questioning these guys.

Until Nate Garner gets injured I'm not worried...

Hopefully they fix the line this year, considering its been their main focus for 4 years now its kind of sad that there are major questions and positions up in the air at this point.

"Coral Reefer wrote:

I'm telling you right now that Colombo at RT is a huge mistake.
They have taken an approach here that I feel will really bite them in the arse.
Carey should have been left at RT and a Guard should have been pursued.
They weakened the RT spot to fix the RG spot. That still leaves a weak spot on the right side. Nothing has been accomplished.

This is being handled just as backwards arsed as the RB position..... just my 2 cents.

RT's are a dime o dozen CR, heck we could kick the tires on Jared Gaither if we had to do so, they just signed Willis and if he outplays Colombo would not surprise me a bit to see him given his walking papers and those two still have to compete with Garner and Murtha.

To me, that is the best situation our line has been in since Smiley and Grove we still healthy in 09.

"Coral Reefer wrote:

The only thing I can offer is that I hope you are completely correct but to me I have huge doubts.
This situation and the RB situation has really left me questioning these guys.

I can understand doubting the OL moves on the right side, because this regime doesn't have a great track record at that area. Totally understandable. I'm just saying that, on paper, the Carey-Colombo pairing doesn't look too bad. It certainly appears to be better than a Jerry-Carey pairing, which is what we were headed for. If the basic idea was to make sure that we were fielding our five best linemen, then Carey is certainly better than Jerry, McQuistan, etc., while Colombo is certainly better than Murtha.

As for RB… meh. Fungible position. Would have been nice to snag Michael Bush if he had been a free agent, but considering that you can stick almost anyone out there and get 4 YPC out of him with even sub-par blocking, the current lineup back there is not a big deal. I do think we're susceptible to injury at RB, but again, the position is fungible. Sign a guy off the street and let him get his 4 yards and a cloud of dust.

If Colombo doesn't work out, we still have viable options in Murtha, Garner, or just moving Carey back there. It's not like we're Columbo or bust. If Vernon performs better at RG and Pouncey plays to his potential, we'll have strengthened the interior OL, which will be very important for us to re-establish the ground game.

My main concern for the OL is Jake Long's health. As long as he's good to go for the start of the season, I won't lose sleep over it.

''Were gonna shift guys in and out until we find the right mix, once we do we'll stick with them, but were not there yet, this is what practice is for right now.''

Marty Mornhinweg quote..

Everybody does it..

My biggest fear is that the reason we signed both Colombo and Willis is because the FO knows that Long won't be ready to start the season.
On a silver lining note, Long being down for a long stretch of the season could be our ticket to Andrew Luck.
Of course, with this franchises recent luck (no pun intended), we'll finish 3-13, get the first overall pick and Luck will suffer a Theismann-esque injury in the Rose Bowl.

when all are 100% ready, the only questions will be the starting guard positions.
We have our BookEnds & Center. (Long____POUNCEY____Carey)
the real challenge & competition will arise @ either Guard, the rotation & backups.

don't see anything complicated in putting this offensive line together.
potentially, any linesmen can play guard, with minor adjustments...
just have to find the best athlete with a desire to adapt & win the start.

let them compete. should be entertaining. Tony knows the offensive line

"djphinfan wrote:

''Were gonna shift guys in and out until we find the right mix, once we do we'll stick with them, but were not there yet, this is what practice is for right now.''

Marty Mornhinweg quote..

Everybody does it..

I don't know if I'd be using Mornhinweg as a source regarding how to be a head coach. This is the same guy who won the coin toss in overtime and gave the ball to the other team.

"PSG wrote:

My biggest fear is that the reason we signed both Colombo and Willis is because the FO knows that Long won't be ready to start the season.
On a silver lining note, Long being down for a long stretch of the season could be our ticket to Andrew Luck.
Of course, with this franchises recent luck (no pun intended), we'll finish 3-13, get the first overall pick and Luck will suffer a Theismann-esque injury in the Rose Bowl.

Or just not declare for the draft.

Murtha seems like he's legitimately holding up well enough at LT that he could be a solid starting option at RT if Colombo doesn't work out.

"Disgustipate wrote:

Murtha seems like he's legitimately holding up well enough at LT that he could be a solid starting option at RT if Colombo doesn't work out.

Murtha is a player I've kept an eye on from a distance and his issue is the same as Garner's, he hasn't been able to stay healthy otherwise he has enough tools to play either side imo.

(I believe in 09 he had a ankle or foot problem, in 10 I think he had a concussion)

I've had my eye on him since Detroit drafted him.
Murtha has excellent hands & is very quick for a big man.
Had some play @ TE, prior to filling the tackle slot. the guy is really versatile.
could be used as a blocking TE or H-Back in certain situations
as well as seriously compete with Carey for the start.

"padre31 wrote:

Bingo, the only question I'd add is whether or not they sign a Vet Rb to back up Thomas, or if they just go with Hilliard or Sheets or Grigsby.

'
I agree Padre. The line is set, it just hasn't been announced yet. Injury obviously could affect that as well. My question is a bit off topic, but aren't Sheets, Grigsby and Bush just about the same type of back ?? Sheets may be a bit faster, but none of those guys are really 3 down backs...Hilliard is an enigma...just can't figure him out. He has a very good TC last year, but when he gets into games, he disappears...But he's not a scat back like the others...

"the 23rd wrote:

when all are 100% ready, the only questions will be the starting guard positions.
We have our BookEnds & Center. (Long____POUNCEY____Carey)
the real challenge & competition will arise @ either Guard, the rotation & backups.

don't see anything complicated in putting this offensive line together.
potentially, any linesmen can play guard, with minor adjustments...
just have to find the best athlete with a desire to adapt & win the start.

let them compete. should be entertaining. Tony knows the offensive line

Yeah, well unless Sparano starts tinkering with Pouncey...And any lineman can't play guard. Long would have a tough time inside. That is what they may have figured out about Murtha as well. And the fact that the OL is STILL being tinkered with and talked about kinda contradicts your statement about Tony and the OL...

Ray willis will fit if Colombo doesnt perform

"Larryfinfan wrote:

'
I agree Padre. The line is set, it just hasn't been announced yet. Injury obviously could affect that as well. My question is a bit off topic, but aren't Sheets, Grigsby and Bush just about the same type of back ?? Sheets may be a bit faster, but none of those guys are really 3 down backs...Hilliard is an enigma...just can't figure him out. He has a very good TC last year, but when he gets into games, he disappears...But he's not a scat back like the others...

Well, we just have to wait and see about B/S/G, Sheets is the largest of them at 208, but has little in game experience blocking, and all 3 are injury prone at one time or another, but all 3 offer home run hitting threats.

As for Lexxy, I suspect he will flourish in Daboll's system as he is a good all around back with size and enough giddyup to reach the perimeter of the Defense on toss sweeps and what have you.