The Miami Dolphins have made some important changes to their coaching staff already this offseason. New Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry will be tasked with improving things up front for Tua Tagovailoa.
Dolphins are hiring Butch Barry as new OL coach, per league source. Was Denver OL coach last year. Has worked in SF, Green Bay, Tampa, UM. Replaces Matt Applebaum
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) February 8, 2023
Barry was hired to replace former offensive line coach Matt Applebaum in Miami. Before working with the Denver Broncos for a portion of the 2022 NFL season, Barry worked with the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and University of Miami.
Unfortunately for Barry, he didn’t receive a very ringing endorsement from an insider connected to his most recent employer, the Broncos.
His style of offering criticisms without correction didn't go over well here.
Left notes in lockers instead of in-person communication.
Multiple players here suggested he didn't seem to know what he was doing.
Replacing Munchak was gonna be difficult for anyone, but… https://t.co/AS6CIZQATd
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 8, 2023
A #Broncos insider on new #FinsUp OL Butch Barry.
“He's an idiot. Got fired mid season 4 incompetence.
Players hated him. Openly laughed @ him & called him a joke.
After Hackett firing, interim HC Rosberg immediately fired him, players applauded when announced @ team meeting”. pic.twitter.com/i48lpbqDHl
— Orlando Alzugaray Jr (@BigOShow) February 8, 2023
It’s not exactly what anyone working or rooting for the Dolphins wants to hear about a new addition to the coaching staff. That is especially true considering just how important positive offensive line play is for the Dolphins.
Of course, every football team from peewee to the NFL hopes for great pass and run blocking, but it is arguably more important for the Dolphins given the concerns about the durability of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
In all three of Tagovailoa’s seasons in the NFL so far, he hasn’t played in more than 13 games. In the 2022 regular season, Tagovailoa missed four regular season games and the team’s lone playoff game.
Tagovailoa suffered two confirmed concussions during the campaign, and he just recently cleared the league’s concussion protocol. He spent more than a month in the protocol before he was finally cleared.
Though there is confidence that Tagovailoa will be able to return to the field without an increased risk of suffering more brain injuries, there is no question that the team will want to make protecting him a key goal heading into the 2023 campaign.
When it comes to how the offensive line played in the 2022 season for the Dolphins, the unit ranked 10th in the league when it came to allowing sacks with 35. The run blocking was less solid, as the team ranked 25th in terms of total rushing yards in the season with just 1,686.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Dolphins decide to make any further additions and improvements to the offensive line in free agency or the draft later this year.