Dating back years, the Miami Dolphins have evidently operated with the modus operandi that offensive guards typically aren’t worthy of receiving lucrative contracts, based on some comments from reporters Joe Schad and Omar Kelly.
Quick story. I remember after Miami signed Josh Sitton during the Adam Gase era Gase texted me “I finally got you a guard. Are you happy now?”
Sitton lasted one game.
I haven’t been happy with Miami’s guard play since the unicorns. https://t.co/MqnkqjjqR7
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 29, 2024
I was thinking about this last night. There was a Dolphins coach who once told me to stop worrying about guards. He said he could find a guard bagging groceries at Publix. An exaggeration, I’m sure. But his point was don’t pay them. We can mask inside deficiency. https://t.co/YALttKHzPu
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 29, 2024
It’s a philosophical mindset this Dolphins organization has. https://t.co/NTHHkoyogf
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 29, 2024
The Dolphins may believe that it’s a better use of resources to invest in the tackle and center positions.
Miami’s offensive line did a serviceable job of keeping quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of harm’s way during the 2023 regular season. After all, the unit allowed a total of just 31 sacks across 17 games. Only the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills allowed fewer sacks. The Bills got sacked the fewest number of times by opponents last season at only 24.
But some advanced metrics last season indicated that the Dolphins had some pretty notable flaws with their offensive line, and injuries certainly didn’t help. This offseason, the unit also lost some key contributors.
So, all things considered, it remains to be seen if Miami’s offensive line will play at a similar level in the 2024 regular season as it did last season — and it’s also unclear if that level of play would be good enough. But fortunately for fans of the team, they won’t have to wait all that much longer to find out, as the new campaign will begin soon.
The Dolphins will kick off their 17-game slate with a matchup versus the Jacksonville Jaguars — who won nine games during the 2023 regular season — on Sept. 8. That will be a home game for Miami, and the Dolphins were dominant at home last season, as the team won all but two of its nine contests at Hard Rock Stadium. The losses came against the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills.
After playing the Jaguars, the Dolphins will take on a fellow AFC East team in the Bills on Sept. 12 in what will be another game at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami is certainly hoping to begin the season with a bang and get off to a quick start.
