Where the Dolphins' offensive line stands, with insight from several. And an early problem

Miami Herald

4 days ago

The Dolphins' shuffling along the offensive line can be viewed through two different prisms.
The glass half full perspective: They have a skilled pass-blocking left tackle (Patrick Paul) who's mammoth (6-7, 326 pounds), had Pro Football Focus' highest pass-blocking grade among all FBS tackles in 2023 and permitted just two sacks in 1,053 pass-block snaps over his final two years at the University of Houston.
They have a right tackle, Austin Jackson, who blossomed in 2023 before a knee injury torpedoed his 2024 season after eight games. They have center Aaron Brewer, who was PFF's seventh highest-rated at his position last season and much improved in pass protection.
They have a supreme left guard in James Daniels, who permitted just two sacks in three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, covering 39 games and 1,367 pass-blocking snaps. And they have rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea who 'looked like an All-Pro in the Alamo Bowl,' according to ESPN's Louis Riddick.
There's also the glass half empty perspective: Jackson is coming off knee surgery last November and Daniels is back from a Week 4 torn Achilles. (Both are healthy.)
Paul, replacing former Pro Bowler Terron Armstead, has been beaten some early in camp, and PFF ranked him 79th of 81 tackles last season. Savaiinaea permitted four sacks at Arizona last season and 'can be knocked off balance at times,' according to Mel Kiper Jr. Brewer wasn't as effective in the running game late in the 2024 season as he was earlier in the year.
The Dolphins must hope that 2025 reflects more of the former than the latter.
Jackson, the longest-tenured member of the line, cites reasons for optimism, including the athleticism of Daniels and Savaiinaea, who are good fits for this system, and Paul's skill set.
'We are young in the interior and really athletic,' Jackson said of Daniels (27) and Savaiinaea (21). 'You can expect a lot of speed, strength. We have the stamina to be fast the entire game.
'Mike McDaniel was talking today; we want to finish our games faster, with more intensity, more urgency to finish the games. You can expect the same kind of thing from our interior linemen.'
Defensive lineman Zach Sieler said Thursday that Savaiinaea 'has all the talent in the world. His frame is great. He has good feet. I'm excited to see him grow as a player.'
Last year's guard combo, Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg, wasn't good enough, particularly with runs up the gut. Eichenberg, who is out indefinitely with an undisclosed injury, was PFF's 69th-ranked guard out of 77 and allowed 29 pressures, while Jones (who signed with Dallas in March) had the line's worst run-blocking grade (per PFF) and permitted five sacks and 28 pressures.
Daniels participated in multiple sets of team drills on Thursday and seems fully recovered from the Achilles. He was PFF's second-rated guard last season before his Achilles tear.
One overriding objective: Improve a running game that had the highest percentage of runs stuffed for no gain in short-yardage situations (44%, tied with New England) and ranked 28th in the league in yards per carry (4.0).
'You are going to see all types of blocking,' Jackson said. 'I'm excited for our run game as well as our pass game, but mostly our run game because that's what we hang our hat on this system.'
Paul's play will be critical in how the Dolphins' season plays out. Filling in for Armstead last season, Paul permitted three sacks and 15 pressures in 229 pass blocking chances, and PFF rated him 81st (worst) among tackles as a run blocker.
'In college you can just body people [and get away with] lack of technique,' Paul said late last season. 'When I went back and watched my college tape in the predraft process, it was like I was beating people on sheer size. In the NFL, they're technicians. These people are paid to rush the passer. They're not going to stop once you get your hands on them. They're going to counter a second time and get there whatever way is possible. It's a big change.'
On Thursday, Paul said he studied every one of his 337 offensive snaps last season 'to see where I can improve. I also studied other tackles throughout the league to pick games from them and see how they can be successful in different situations. I watched everyone, watched every single tackle for 31 teams. I'm a real film junkie, so that's what I do. I really like watching [the 49ers'] Trent Williams.'
He values the mentorship offered by Armstead in the past year: 'He's getting into his media aspect of life. When I see him, I see him.'
He also appreciates the blossoming relationship with Savaiinaea:
'Me and Jonah, we hang out all the time. Through the offseason, me and him were here in this building every single day working. So naturally, when you spend that much time together, you're gelled like one.'
Dolphins linemen committed far too many presnap penalties during the first two days of camp, and they're self-imposing a penalty: running post-practice laps.
Jackson said it was players — not coaches — who came up with the idea to run laps after practice. 'We have presnap penalties, we are going to punish ourselves for that,' he said. 'Things we can control, if we make a mistake in practice, we're going to self-correct ourselves with a little disciplinary action.'