SFJ's Fins Spy Report

[SoFlaJets]

Fins looking for franchise left tackle

By Greg A. Bedard

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Once again, the Dolphins head into the NFL Draft searching for the franchise left tackle they have been without since Richmond Webb packed his seven Pro Bowl appearances and trudged off to join the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001.

And Miami likely will keep looking, because like the polar ice caps, the number of stalwart left tackles appears to be vanishing. Rapidly.

"I think back to when I played in the 1980s, and I thought of six guys right away that were great and in their prime," said Hall of Fame Bengals tackle Anthony Munoz. "Now you've got Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace. That's about it. And those guys have been in the league at least 10 years and talking about retirement. Who's going to take their place? I don't see it."

It's not like teams haven't been trying. Since Ogden was taken by Baltimore in 1996, and Jones (Seattle), Pace (St. Louis) and Tarik Glenn of the Indianapolis Colts were taken the following year, 28 tackles were selected in the first-round of the NFL Draft. Of those, only nine are currently playing on the left side.

One of those players who has failed to make the transition is Dolphins right guard L.J. Shelton, a first-round selection of the Arizona Cardinals in 1999. He was moved to guard after four games last season, which made him the sixth player - seven if right tackle Vernon Carey is counted - who couldn't fill Webb's shoes.

"It's hard to play for a long time at the level of play required at that position," Shelton said. "It's hard to find 6-foot-7, 330-pound guys just in the general population, let alone with the ability to block Jason Taylor on every down."

Taylor, and his blazingly-fast brethren at defensive end/outside linebacker, do have something to do with the deterioration of the left tackle. Those players who rush the passers have evolved. Tackles have failed to adapt.

"Offensive tackles have been getting bigger and bigger every year," said Floyd Reese, the former general manager of the Tennessee Titans and current ESPN analyst. "Defensive linemen, especially defensive ends, they are still 265, 270 like they were 10 or 12 years ago - only they're quicker. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on here, but I think sometimes we out-think ourselves."

Reese said he sees the league coming around to the thinking that left tackles should be every bit the athlete defensive ends are.

"We talked about it for years," Reese said. "Historically, your tackles were always the biggest guys on the line and guards were a little bit smaller. And yet when you look at the people you block on a play-by-play basis, your defensive tackles are giants and the defensive ends are gazelles. It's almost as if it should be switched, where the guards are the 340-pound guys."

The change in thinking seems to be starting. Two of the top three left tackles available in this weekend's draft, Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) and Joe Staley (Central Michigan) are converted tight ends.

Jamie Dukes, a former center with the Falcons, Packers and Cardinals, thinks teams should be looking at the other side of the line as well.

"I think you're beginning to see a proliferation of defensive linemen or tight ends who weren't good enough athletes to play that position and got moved," said Dukes, the NFL Network analyst. "That guy has above-average athleticism. You're ahead of the game if you have that. You can work with those guys."

However, Dukes said it's essential that players, especially those who change positions, get better instruction. The lack of fundamentals is another reason why drafted tackles quickly fizzle out, according to Dukes.

"Playing offensive line is a craft. And left tackle? I call it the freeway. There's just a whole 'nother level of expertise that you need out there," Dukes said.

And a lot of teams - including the Dolphins - are thirsting for that knowledge.

"You don't have to spend a lot of time evaluating cornerstone left tackles - you know it when you see them," said Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller. "Those are the kind of guys you get them and don't mess them up. They jump out at you. If we can find somebody like that, I guarantee you we'll do our best to get them."

With the current league-wide shortage at left tackle, "if" seems to be - for now - the operative word.

[JetCane]

[Kentucky Jet]

Fins looking for franchise left tackle

By Greg A. Bedard

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Once again, the Dolphins head into the NFL Draft searching for the franchise left tackle they have been without since Richmond Webb packed his seven Pro Bowl appearances and trudged off to join the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001.

And Miami likely will keep looking, because like the polar ice caps, the number of stalwart left tackles appears to be vanishing. Rapidly.

"I think back to when I played in the 1980s, and I thought of six guys right away that were great and in their prime," said Hall of Fame Bengals tackle Anthony Munoz. "Now you've got Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace. That's about it. And those guys have been in the league at least 10 years and talking about retirement. Who's going to take their place? I don't see it."

It's not like teams haven't been trying. Since Ogden was taken by Baltimore in 1996, and Jones (Seattle), Pace (St. Louis) and Tarik Glenn of the Indianapolis Colts were taken the following year, 28 tackles were selected in the first-round of the NFL Draft. Of those, only nine are currently playing on the left side.

One of those players who has failed to make the transition is Dolphins right guard L.J. Shelton, a first-round selection of the Arizona Cardinals in 1999. He was moved to guard after four games last season, which made him the sixth player - seven if right tackle Vernon Carey is counted - who couldn't fill Webb's shoes.

"It's hard to play for a long time at the level of play required at that position," Shelton said. "It's hard to find 6-foot-7, 330-pound guys just in the general population, let alone with the ability to block Jason Taylor on every down."

Taylor, and his blazingly-fast brethren at defensive end/outside linebacker, do have something to do with the deterioration of the left tackle. Those players who rush the passers have evolved. Tackles have failed to adapt.

"Offensive tackles have been getting bigger and bigger every year," said Floyd Reese, the former general manager of the Tennessee Titans and current ESPN analyst. "Defensive linemen, especially defensive ends, they are still 265, 270 like they were 10 or 12 years ago - only they're quicker. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on here, but I think sometimes we out-think ourselves."

Reese said he sees the league coming around to the thinking that left tackles should be every bit the athlete defensive ends are.

"We talked about it for years," Reese said. "Historically, your tackles were always the biggest guys on the line and guards were a little bit smaller. And yet when you look at the people you block on a play-by-play basis, your defensive tackles are giants and the defensive ends are gazelles. It's almost as if it should be switched, where the guards are the 340-pound guys."

The change in thinking seems to be starting. Two of the top three left tackles available in this weekend's draft, Joe Thomas (Wisconsin) and Joe Staley (Central Michigan) are converted tight ends.

Jamie Dukes, a former center with the Falcons, Packers and Cardinals, thinks teams should be looking at the other side of the line as well.

"I think you're beginning to see a proliferation of defensive linemen or tight ends who weren't good enough athletes to play that position and got moved," said Dukes, the NFL Network analyst. "That guy has above-average athleticism. You're ahead of the game if you have that. You can work with those guys."

However, Dukes said it's essential that players, especially those who change positions, get better instruction. The lack of fundamentals is another reason why drafted tackles quickly fizzle out, according to Dukes.

"Playing offensive line is a craft. And left tackle? I call it the freeway. There's just a whole 'nother level of expertise that you need out there," Dukes said.

And a lot of teams - including the Dolphins - are thirsting for that knowledge.

"You don't have to spend a lot of time evaluating cornerstone left tackles - you know it when you see them," said Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller. "Those are the kind of guys you get them and don't mess them up. They jump out at you. If we can find somebody like that, I guarantee you we'll do our best to get them."

With the current league-wide shortage at left tackle, "if" seems to be - for now - the operative word.

Great read! I enjoyed reading it. Very informative.

[joewilly]

good article. Notice how athleticism is becoming a real factor than just size.

another reason I think d'brick will excel in time. smart, dedicated & athletic

[faba]

Whoever is Miami's QB is hoping for the same thing-protection from the left hand side.