Things could go much better in the future than a lot of fans are thinking right now. There has been one crap storm after another. I think the Dolphins are due for some good fortune. The general consensus is that the Titans are going to release RT David Stewart. Stewart was one of the best RT's in the NFL for several years, and he even had one ridiculous year where he gave up no sacks and only a handful of pressures all year. He would be a risky sign, but I for one think he just had bad year full of injuries and can come back healthy and continue to play at an elite level for a couple more years. Coming off injuries and at 32 his price should be very reasonable. Eugene Monroe may be much more likely to hit free agency than a lot of people think. The franchise tag is out of the question for the cap strapped Ravens. Even if they released Ray Rice and Terrell Suggs it would still be difficult to cover the tag and bring back the other 5 UFA's they don't want to lose. http://www.spotrac.com/free-agents/nfl/baltimore-ravens/ The rumor is the Ravens are hoping to sign Monroe to a 8 mil a year deal. Even that would probably mean letting Graham and Ihedigbo walk. It is a foregone conclusion that Oher will walk but they desperately want Arthur Jones and Dennis Pitta to return, and they would like a couple other guys back as well but it isn't possible. I believe the desperate Dolphins would offer a good deal more to Monroe than the Ravens could.(I would throw caution to the wind in this case) The other good news is that almost all the other teams with some cap space aren't in need of a LT. The AZ Cards aren't in any position to get in a bidding war and the Jags just traded him so forget that. The Browns and Eagles and other teams with cap room have good to great LT's under contract. Sign center Dominic Raiola to a two year deal and move Pouncey to RG, then draft LG Xavier S'ua-Filo in the 2nd after trading down from the #19, then OT James Hurst (with the 3rd from trading down),C Gabe Ikard in the 5th and OG Spencer Long in the 6th(obtained from trade down) and the Dolphins could go from having one of the worst OL situations in their history to having one of their best. Why move Pouncey?? Because some of us believe that he could be an even better zone blocking RG than he is OC; and because the free agent OG market is horse crap this year, whereas we might just get a smokin deal on a center that could be solid for a year or two while a rookie like Ikard gets stronger and develops. If the Dolphins release or trade Patterson,Matt Moore, Nate Garner,Trusnik, Daniel Thomas, and Jimmy Wilson it would clear enough cap to cover all three OL FA signings and Monroe's six year deal could be structured to have the cap hit come later on after Ellerbe and Wheeler are released in 2015. There would still be plenty of cap left to sign Grimes and some other mid tier free agents but Starks and Soliai would probably be walking, which IMO, was their desire anyway.
I can't see the coaching staff move a Pro-Bowl center over to guard. I sometimes wish that they would move Pouncey to guard because I feel that he gives away the snap count when he bobs his head right before the snap, but I can't see the coaching staff make that move. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if I am wrong though.
The biggest reason Dolphin fans can hang onto optimism - Ryan Tannehill is on the roster and QB is the most important part of every team. If he continues to progress, Miami can be successful even with a boob as an owner and a castaway at GM.
I think the fact that there are options available bodes well for the phins....a Solid FA market for lineman and a good number of draft prospects in the same area could do wonder to reshape this area.
I don't think moving Pouncey to Guard is a move you make if you're predominantly playing in a zone scheme. A good center is more important. If you switch to more of a man-oriented scheme(which may be a possibility with Bill Lazor) then I think it does make sense to move him to a Guard position. I'd tend to think it would be Left Guard just 'cause, but Lazor doesn't seem to discriminate between pulls/traps from Right/Left.
I said RG because that is what Pouncey played in college, and Xavier S'ua-Filo played LG at UCLA. I think Pouncey would be effective on either side. What would be better is if all of a sudden Dallas Thomas became what a 2nd year, 3rd round OG pick should be; ready for prime time. The list of Jeff Ireland's screw-ups is so long it will probably take another 4 years to fully recover from his incompetence. As far as center goes, I am watching very closely to see what kind of deal Alex Mack gets this year. If he gets Ryan Kalil money,(over 8 mil a year) and Pouncey has another great year next year, Pouncey's price could become untenable. I think Gabe Ikard is the perfect choice at this time for the Dolphins. He has everything to his game except he struggles against the more powerful DT's; however he handled Louis Nix this year very well. He needs a year to get stronger and he could be on his way to greatness.
