“The starting point of any deep ball, any three-step drop, anything that we’re doing, the focus has been on protection and how can we protect the quarterback better,” Philbin said. “One of the major problems, we feel like, and the reason we haven’t scored the points you need to score to consistently win in the National Football League is we haven’t protected the quarterback well enough. That’s the starting point.”

Philbin, at this early point of free agency, thinks the Dolphins have done well in reconstructing an offensive line that returns Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey but needed to find four starters entering the off-season.

“I think we’re much closer,” Philbin said. “I think we’re definitely close. I think if you look at Branden Albert, we studied the tape, there’s some really good clips of him on the back side in Kansas City, and on the front side, doing things on outside zone plays that you want an offensive tackle to do.”

Albert, a Pro Bowl selection for Kansas City last season, got high praise from Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

“He’s one of those guys he’ll shore up that left spot for Joe,” Reid said. “He won’t have to worry about it run or pass game. And then he’ll be great for that room. As good a players as he is, he’s a great man.”

Philbin said the Dolphins would continue to use a zone blocking scheme under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and offensive line coach John Benton. Smith, who played for St. Louis the last two seasons and Houston as a rookie, is familiar with the zone blocking concept.

“Shelley got most of his early coaching in that system in Houston,” said Rams coach Jeff Fisher.

General manager Dennis Hickey, whose team has the No. 19 pick in the draft, said signing Albert and Smith is only the beginning of rebuilding the offensive line.

Saw a few guys making a very good case for Morgan Moses at 19 on twitter today. I realize people will come out and say he's more of a 2nd round talent but it sounds like he is legit.

The argument was that people just assume Zack Martin can play RT when there is not too much evidence he will thrive there. Moses on the other hand did a great job. Unless New York (Giants), Pittsburgh or Baltimore view him as a must have RT he should be there at 19.

Saw a few guys making a very good case for Morgan Moses at 19 on twitter today. I realize people will come out and say he's more of a 2nd round talent but it sounds like he is legit.

The argument was that people just assume Zack Martin can play RT when there is not too much evidence he will thrive there. Moses on the other hand did a great job. Unless New York (Giants), Pittsburgh or Baltimore view him as a must have RT he should be there at 19.

I like trading back and taking Moses. I think Martin is going to the Ravens at 17.

If Hickey is really about what he says then he'll pick bpa and that woint be Moses unless they trade down which I think they really want to do

Notre Dame Players are way over rated. That goes for Martin.

Hard to tell who Hickey sees as BPA. All we go off of is what the draft guys are saying so at face value it seems like Moses is a huge reach.

But then I look at last year when the Giants took Pugh at 19 and Chicago took Kyle Long at 20, two guys who most probably didn't see as BPA when the likes of Tyler Eifert, Shariff Floyd, Xavier Rhodes and Cordarrelle Patterson were still on the board.

Again, I agree with you at face value. It would appear Morgan is a very late 1st or early 2nd round guy. But these guys made a pretty decent argument about how much value he brings and how well he improved. It would not shock me if he was the pick.

Nebraska G Spencer Long met with the Dolphins last week, according to insider Adam Caplan.
Rumored to be targeting a RT in the first round, the Dolphins are well aware that their beleaguered offensive line will need more help than that in this draft. With that in mind, Long (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) could be a nice third-day pick. Long is a brawling road-grader that will need to improve his pass protection, something he was doing before a knee injury in mid-October ended his season. "I just feel bad for the guy," offensive line coach John Garrison said at the time. "A guy that works his tail off. He’s a great leader for us."
Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter

Jammer I'd still like to give Davin Joseph a shot, but I guess he must not be healthy enough.

is anyone else really considered about Miami having 2 rookies start on the o-line

Don't worry Jammer, we will have 2nd year vet Dallas Thomas lock down a spot for the next decade!!

Jammer I'd still like to give Davin Joseph a shot, but I guess he must not be healthy enough.