Miami Dolphins offensive line coach Steve Marshall offered a glowing comment about two of the team’s rookie linemen, left tackle Austin Jackson and right guard Solomon Kindley.
Jackson was the second of the Dolphins’ three first-round picks in April’s draft, while Kindley was selected in the fourth round. Both could conceivably join the team’s starting lineup, while second-round pick Robert Hunt remains in the mix at guard and tackle.
“Those three guys are competing for a job; they were very good players at the college level and are getting better every day,” Marshall said. “Every play is a new adventure for those guys. We’ve been pleased.”
The need to overhaul the Dolphins’ offensive line was clearly evident after the team’s signal-callers were sacked an embarrassing 58 times during the 2019 season.
Keeping the quarterback upright has become even more important now that the Dolphins are grooming their quarterback of the future, Tua Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa had injury issues that abruptly ended his 2019 season at the University of Alabama. Considering that the Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with their top pick this past April, their financial investment in him can only pay off if Jackson, Kindley, Hunt and others are able to keep him healthy.
The progress made by the rookie linemen is even more impressive when considering the roadblocks that have been created by the coronavirus pandemic.
That issue has resulted in all preseason contests being canceled for the 2020 season, which may make it harder to gauge just how ready the linemen are for the start of the campaign.
The Dolphins will get their 2020 season underway on Sept. 13, when they’re scheduled to face the New England Patriots.
