Dolphins offensive line coach discusses what team is looking for in the trenches
The Miami Dolphins’ need for offensive linemen has been well-documented.
One year removed from fielding a sixth-ranked rushing attack, the Dolphins fell to 21st in 2024 primarily due to their substandard guard play. There, however, remains a silver lining: the guard trio of Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn are currently free agents, meaning that Miami has a chance to secure their interior offensive linemen of the future.
And just what does Miami value? Toughness, according to Dolphins assistant offensive line coach Lemuel Jeanpierre.
“Everybody has size and all the measureables but dog mentality is something that I’m looking for,” said Jeanpierre, who has worked as the offensive line coach for the National team at the 2025 Senior Bowl. “Also a certain type of not just physical toughness but mental toughness because it’s a grinding position.”
Added Jeanpierre: “Starting from [Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel] down and how we attack, you have to be built kind of different.”
His time with the National team put him side-by-side several top o-line prospects including North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel, University of Miami’s Jalen Rivers and Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. When asked if any stood out, he kept it brief.
“Definitely,” Jeanpierre said.
And while he wouldn’t get into specifics, the Dolphins love for position versatility – McDaniel called the trait “absolutely paramount” in the 2024 offseason – would lend more so to Rivers and Zabel, both of whom played up and down the offensive line during practices. It’s no surprise that Rivers already talked with the Dolphins, according to Our Turf Football’s Lisa Johnson, as he told the Herald that his specific position doesn’t necessarily matter to him.
“This past year, I went from left tackle to left guard every series,” Rivers said Tuesday, explaining that he “feels comfortable at every spot” along the o-line. Evaluators, however, have told the Jacksonville, Fla. native that he would see the most “success at probably guard.”
Zabel expressed something similar.
“I’d probably just say offensive linemen,” Zabel responded when asked about his preferred position. “You got to play them all and it’s been awesome.”
McDaniel emphasized the importance of position versatility due to the gladiator-like nature of professional football.
“We can’t dictate the terms on injuries in general and where those opportunities will present themselves,” McDaniel said July 31. “So you have to give them an opportunity to make the team if they’re in the competition mode for their role and then eventually you have to give them a chance to start at that position.”
To Jeanpierre, a former center and guard who played roughly six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions, the ability to play wherever on the offensive line feeds into his desire for mentally tough players.
“If you built a certain way, you’re like ‘If I see a challenge, I attack a challenge,’” Jeanpierre said. Although the coach wouldn’t be upset if a player has a preferred spot, he maintained that “it’s all about how you present.”
“Guys might want to be a tackle, might want to be a guard but most o-linemen to me, they want to play football,” he continued.
In recent years, the Senior Bowl has been a great place to find talent. Most notably, both tackle Patrick Paul and tailback Jaylen Wright, the latter of whom was invited but didn’t play in the game due to injury, caught scouts eyes in 2024. Only time will tell who the Dolphins truly fell in love with in Mobile. Fans will have to wait until draft day on April 24 to find out.
This story was originally published February 1, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
