Armstead is a huge exclamation mark in the biggest hole on the roster
Miami dolphins fans are understandably excited by the addition of blazing Tyreek Hill and the possibilities of combining him with Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki. This franchise has been starved of a potent offense for so long that ravenous fans are drooling to see the Dolphins 2022 passing attack. BUT, this goodie bag of skills talent will only go as far as the offensive line takes them. The Phins 2021 offensive line was historically bad and the primary reason why the team flopped last year. This is why offensive tackle Terron Armstead IS the biggest addition this offseason and the player fans should be most excited about.
Armstead will be the wind under this o-line’s wings
Armstead was coming off his third pro bowl last season and would have collected his fourth if not for a season ending injury. He’s that good. On the flip side, a Dolphins offensive linemen hasn’t even produced a single pro bowl since Brandon Albert in 2015! Miami was so devoid of talent on the offensive line last season that they had to bring two tight ends on the field 62% of the time in their 12 personnel package to bolster the poor blocking. The rest of the league ran 12 personnel 23% of the time, so we brought three times the help as every other team in the NFL and still ranked last in the league on offensive line.
Let that mind-blowing ugliness sink in for a moment.
Last season LT Eichenburg and LG Jackson had to double the same guy and still lost more often than I could count. The offensive line was such an obvious weakness that Titans played their small nickel defense nearly the whole game against the Phins in mostly two tight ends sets on a rain-slicked field…
…and Tennessee was still able to stop the Phins run game when it counted!
If healthy and on the field, Terron Armstead will make the offensive line and with them the whole offense do a 180 degree turn.
O-line isn’t flashy, but it makes the NFL world go round
O-line isn’t flashy and doesn’t get much time on the highlight reels, but the running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks are made by the grunts that clear the way. Still, if you look closely, some offensive linemen are so good that their play is pretty. Armstead is a ultra savvy, smooth and nimble blocker who will rarely if ever need help. All the help will flow down the line because of Armstead’s talents and Miami won’t need 12 personnel to make up for poor blocking. He’s not Orlando Pace or Johnathan Ogden good, but he damn good.
In the video below I did a film study on Armstead in the 2020 Divisional playoff game against the Bucs to give fans a glimpse at how good he is. At the 8:14 and 11:15 mark I show the two film clips. I’ll bet with the best pay per head that you’ll be impressed by Armstead’s play.
Add in Connor Williams and Robert Hunt to the mix and this unit looks to be the best unit we’ve had in a long time. Albert, Tunsil, Pouncey, Bushrod, and James were a good group in 2016–when they were healthy. This unit looks like it could match that one… and depending on the growth of Eichenberg and Jackson, maybe even surpass it. And that’s something to get very excited about! Go Phins!!!
