What metrics reveal about extent of Dolphins’ biggest weakness. And potential upgrades
Tenth in a 10-part part series with nuggets and notes on every Miami Dolphins position heading into free agency and the draft, with today’s focus on the offensive line, an area expected to be significantly addressed in the coming days and weeks:
▪ The Dolphins, if they’re honest with themselves, can project only one lineman as a definite 2022 starter: Robert Hunt, either remaining at guard or moving back to right tackle, where he played well to end the 2020 season.
The Dolphins, in the weeks ahead, are expected to add at least one starting tackle and potentially a starting guard, with the 49ers’ Laken Tomlinson a natural guard target because of his connection with Mike McDaniel. Chicago guard James Daniels would also make a lot of sense.
And Michael Deiter shouldn’t feel secure about his starting job. It’s a deep class of free agent centers, and the position is particularly important in the offensive system used by McDaniel.
We’ve implored the Dolphins to fix left tackle by signing one of the best free agents: New Orleans’ Terron Armstead or New England’s Trent Brown, who can play both sides. The Colts’ Eric Fisher or Jets right tackle Morgan Moses would be other proven free agent options.
Another interesting option has emerged: right tackle La’el Collins, who has been made available by Dallas, a source confirmed. The Dolphins pursued him when he went undrafted out of LSU in 2015 before he signed with Dallas. He missed five games last season due to violating the league’s substance policy.
Though Armstead would be appealing, I’m hearing the market for him will be very competitive. Collins might end up being a more affordable option, if last season’s suspension doesn’t deter Miami.
Pro Football Focus named one player each team should pursue this offseason. Its choice for the Dolphins was Fisher.
“The Dolphins’ tackles earned the lowest unit grade by almost a full 10 points in 2021, with a lot of shuffling players around in the process,” PFF said. “Rookie second-round pick Liam Eichenberg showed some promise at left tackle, but he probably fits best on the right side. Having Fisher serve as the blindside protector could go a long way in solidifying the entire unit.
“Fisher played in 2021 fresh off an Achilles injury suffered in the 2020 AFC Championship game, and while there were undoubtedly some struggles, he performed admirably overall, given that it wasn’t a guarantee he’d be ready for the season.”
But even though Fisher was excellent as a run blocker last season, he permitted seven sacks and he’s 31. So he would be more of a stopgap.
Eichenberg graded out poorly as a left tackle but improved to decent in the final weeks of the season. If he moves to right tackle, he would be protecting Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side.
Among 83 qualifying tackles, Pro Football Focus rated Jesse Davis 80th and Eichenberg 81st. Davis stands at risk of being cut, and his days of being a full-time starter here are likely over.
▪ Here were PFF’s final rankings for the Dolphins’ other starting linemen: Deiter was rated 29th among 40 centers.
Among 83 qualifying guards, Hunt was rated 37th and Austin Jackson 76th.
So there’s one sure-fire 2022 starter with Hunt. Everything else is a question, though Eichenberg has a chance to start somewhere on the line. The Dolphins believe he can become a good player.
▪ While Deiter was competent, it would be surprising if the Dolphins don’t pursue a center either in the draft or from a strong free-agent class led by the Rams’ Brian Allen (fifth), Tennessee’s Ben Jones (eighth) and Tampa Bay’s Ryan Jensen (13th).
There are at least eight starting centers available in free agency.
And with the Dolphins hiring Matt Applebaum as their offensive line coach, the Dolphins could draft one of two interior linemen he coached at Boston College — Alec Lindstrom, who was a two-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference center and allowed one sack and seven quarterback pressures last season, per Pro Football Focus; and guard Zion Johnson, whom many NFL people believe will be an effective NFL center.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has two centers going in the first round: Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum at No. 10 (“one of the best center prospects of the past decade”) and Johnson 27th. NFL Network’s Scott Pioli said teams were raving about how Johnson impressed them in interviews at the NFL Combine.
Kiper notes that Johnson “played both guard and tackle for the Eagles, but he had a dominant season at guard in 2021, where he didn’t allow a single quarterback pressure, much less a sack. He took some snaps at center at the Senior Bowl and showed that he could make the transition.”
He would be an option for Miami at No. 29 if center isn’t filled in free agency.
FYI: At center, Deiter allowed one sack and 10 pressures in eight games. Among appealing unrestricted free agents, Jensen permitted four sacks and Ben Jones one.
As a run blocker, Deiter was below average (28th overall of 40, per PFF). The Dolphins’ offensive line obviously needs to be much better as pass blockers. But they also need to be better run blockers as the Dolphins transition from a man to a zone blocking scheme.
▪ No surprise that Pro Football Focus rated the Dolphins’ offensive line as worst in the league last season, with Hunt grading out the best and Jackson the worst among the five starters.
The Dolphins allowed a league-high 235 pressures and would have permitted more sacks if not for Tua Tagovailoa’s nimbleness avoiding them (or making a few regrettable throws to avoid them).
▪ The Dolphins’ sack and pressure numbers allowed were gruesome.
Among tackles, only David Quessenberry and Jonah Williams allowed more sacks than Eichenberg, who permitted nine, according to PFF.
Davis relinquished eight sacks.
It’s notable that the aforementioned Fisher permitted seven sacks, but just 23 pressures, compared with 39 for Davis.
Those 39 pressures were third most among all NFL tackles, behind only Eichenberg (45) and Storm Norton (42).
Among the other aforementioned top free agent tackles, Armstead and Trent Brown permitted only one sack, per PFF — in eight games for Armstead and 14 games for Brown.
If the Dolphins use another high pick on a tackle — and enough is enough doing that — then options at 29 would include Tulsa’s Tyler Smith (16 penalties last season) and Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann. Draft analyst Tony Pauline said Miami likes Smith.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah projects Smith to Miami at No. 29, calling him a “mauler with outstanding quickness and agility.”
Kiper has Miami taking Raimann, noting he “can move his feet in pass protection and anchor in the run game. He had some trouble at times with better prospects at the Senior Bowl, but I believe in his upside. He could play left or right tackle for Miami.”
▪ After moving to guard early in the season, Jackson was mediocre for a while, played well for a time and then struggled at the end.
Overall — including the first three games at tackle — he permitted 49 pressures (fourth most among guards) but just two sacks in his time at guard. So there’s something to work with there, though I doubt he will be gifted a starting position without competition.
Jackson committed too many penalties at particularly inopportune times. He was whistled for 12 penalties overall, fourth most among all offensive linemen. (Eichenberg was the other Dolphins lineman with double-digit penalties, finishing with 10.)
Hunt allowed 31 pressures but just two sacks.
▪ The Dolphins averaged just 3.5 per carry, a reflection of both the backs and the blockers.
Among 83 tackles, PFF rated Eichenberg 70th and Davis 83rd as run blockers.
Among 83 guards, PFF rated Hunt 35th and Jackson 69th as run blockers.
And Deiter, as noted above, graded out below average as a run blocker.
Run blocking is critical to McDaniel’s offense - another reason why upgrades are expected.
▪ Robert Jones, who said he can play every position on the line, got the start at right tackle — replacing Davis in the finale — and allowed three pressures. The Dolphins like the upside there and he could eventually fill Davis’ original jack of all trades role here, if not compete for a starting job.
Of all the key linemen on the team, Davis stands most at risk. None of his $3.1 million salary for 2022 is guaranteed. His cap hit would fall from $4.6 million to $1 million if he’s cut.
Here’s part 1 of the series on Tua Tagovailoa.
Here’s part 2 of the series on the Dolphins’ wide receivers.
Here’s part 3 of the series on Mike Gesicki.
Here’s part 4 of the series on tight end options.
Here’s part 5 of the series on running backs and options to improve the position.
Here’s part 6 of the series on Dolphins cornerbacks and some issues brewing.
Here’s part 7 of the series on Dolphins defensive linemen.
Here’s part 8 of the series on Dolphins safeties.
Here’s part 9 of the series on inside linebackers.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 4:22 PM.
