Early Starting O-Line has Bushrod and Tunsil as guards.
This Starting O-Line is obviously an early projection.
Omar Kelly posted a tweet about the starting O-Line, “I heard the Dolphins O-line will likely look like this: Albert, Tunsil, Pouncey, Bushrod, and James. We’ll see.”
I’ll go so far as to say, this will likely be the week one starting line-up, unless there is an injury, signing or a major surprise of someone stepping up. No, I don’t have “super-secret, inside sources”, but given the value of Albert, Tunsil, Pouncey, and James, they are destined to start unless something very bad happens. And as far as Bushrod goes, he is the only linemen Gase has experience with. This relationship combined with Gase lavishing praise on Bushrod and going hard to acquire him, all but assures that the RG spot is his to lose.
In essence, it would be four tackles and a center as Miami’s starting line. Is that a bad thing? I’d be worried if this were a man scheme that focused on drive blocking, but with the Zone-stretch, this line-up will do just fine and will be a large upgrade from last year’s disaster.
Starting O-Line with Tunsil and Bushrod at guards will be a huge upgrade from 2015.
Obviously, Tunsil is a LT, but with him playing LG it’s still the same kick step and that’s the hardest aspect for most to adjust to. And as far as Bushrod, he played up and down the line last year in practice, according to Gase, who had a bird’s eye view. So, as the head coach and mind behind the offense, if he feels good about, I don’t have much to argue with. Ultimately, if he can’t evaluate a player he spent a whole year with, then it doesn’t take a master sportsbooks to bet Miami will have much bigger issues down the road to worry about.
Also, the Zone-Stretch should favor these rangier, more agile players in the role of guard. The Zone-Stretch uses angles and agility to be effective, as well as set up a wash for the cut-back on runs. Also, the pass blocking job for guards is much easier than at tackle, so there isn’t much of an issue to be concerned with here as well.
The only real issue I see is Tunsil’s strength when he does need to drive block. But, there again, the the LG doesn’t usually play a dominant role as a drive blocker anyway, so it shouldn’t be an end-all, be-all concern.
Some might feel like Miami needs to acquire another guard – I get it. But, Bushrod’s biggest knock was his inability to handle speed-rushers. Now that he is moved inside, his biggest weakness is reduced and the weakest link in the chain is strengthened. Could this line-up flop? Sure! But, I don’t think there is anyway, if all remain healthy, this line-up could ever end up like last year’s train-wreck. But, in the end, the proof is in the pudding! Go Fins!!!