Kelly: Dolphins offensive line is no laughing matter

Miami Herald

a day ago

There's nothing funny about the Miami Dolphins' mismanagement of its offensive line through the years.
There are very few common threads we can weave together about the many eras of the Dolphins since the team's last playoff win in 2000.
The first is that South Florida's NFL franchise is fundamentally opposed to quarterback battles, no matter who is leading this organization.
And the other common thread about this franchise is that the Dolphins have annually struggled to put together a competent offensive line, with few exceptions.
And those exceptions just so happen to coincide with Miami's playoff berths in 2008, the last time Miami won the AFC East, 2016, 2022 and 2023.
Unfortunately, the offensive line I've watched closely this training camp might have the worst depth I have seen since Miami's 1-15 season.
If there's one area that served as general manager Chris Grier's blind spot as a talent evaluator it has been his struggles putting together a respectable O-line, and I can predict already this unit — as is — will lead to the unraveling of this 2025 team unless every starter stays healthy for the entire season.
The Dolphins O-line simply doesn't have enough depth on it to keep Tua Tagovailoa, the NFL's most fragile quarterback, healthy for 17 games and produce a respectable running game in 2025.
This franchise has had the worst luck when it comes to keeping offensive linemen healthy, and this camp has been no exception.
Seven offensive linemen signed to the training camp roster have been sidelined by injuries so far, and Miami hasn't played a game that matters yet.
And if we're being honest, even before O-linemen such as Andew Meyers and Austin Jackson started getting shelved by injuries, the second and third units were viewed as the weakest on the team.
Their performance in practices and games has been so bad we'll be celebrating Liam Eichenberg's return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list whenever that happens because he might just be Miami's top backup at all five spots.
That's right Eichenberg, who has struggled in his 52 NFL starts for the Dolphins, might be viewed as the savior for this troublesome offensive line.
It's that bad.
'It's easy to measure a running back on production, but ultimately when you're talking about running the football, we have to create consistent lanes for him,' offensive coordinator Frank Smith said when asked about Jaylen Wright's 1.5 yards-per-carry average in two preseason games Miami's played. 'Collectively we didn't execute against looks we have to be better running the ball against.'
Grier has traded a late-round pick for an offensive lineman four times in his NFL tenure as Miami's top talent evaluator, and he should consider doing the same this year seeing as how everyone in the organization's job is on the line here.
Reinforcements are needed if this team wants a chance to produce a winning record.
Seeing Jackson, who has been shelved two weeks with a lower extremity issue, walking on his own Tuesday was encouraging.
Watching Patrick Paul blossom as the team's starting left tackle in his second season is exciting.
Witnessing the power that James Daniels plays with is enticing.
But this unit is two plays — or better yet, two injuries — from being a disaster that handcuffs Miami's offense, like last year's unit did, after Grier laughed at the media for its concern about fragile state of the 2024 O-line.
Sadly, very little has changed eight months later.
'In Detroit we were controlling the line of scrimmage and controlling the pocket,' Smith said, comparing the preseason game against Chicago with last Saturday's contest against Detroit. 'Their ability to get to the quarterback was less [pressure] than we were getting in Chicago. That allows for quarterbacks to really learn under duress.'
Imagine a season where Miami's quarterbacks aren't forced to operate under consistent duress.
Imagine Tagovailoa with an extra second to throw the football. That would give Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle opportunities to get open downfield, and Tagovailoa time to find them.
Picture the Dolphins with a rushing attack that mirrors what Miami had in the 2023 season, when Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane led the NFL's second-best rushing attack, a unit that produced 2,308 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.
That was the primary reason the Dolphins had the NFL's top-ranked offense that season, and every coach has pointed out getting back to being a balanced offense is the recipe for success in Miami.
But do the Dolphins have the O-linemen to pave the way?
Only time, injuries and the moves Grier makes to improve this unit in the coming weeks will determine that.