http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins28sbjul28,0,7612930.story Every little step counts when you're an offensive lineman, and bad ones often can be costly. At least it was for Jake Long on Sunday. Long took too wide an angle trying to contain speedy outside linebacker Charlie Anderson during an 11-on-11 scrimmage-like situation. That mistake allowed Anderson to use his arm to get Long off balance, creating an alley for him to get past the No. 1 pick, pressuring quarterback John Beck.
Gotta love those growing pains, sometimes they're akward and not pretty. I'm hoping Long will be like Satele and start hitting his stride around Week 6.
Like the offense in general, this line will need to be set and just get reps. Unlike defense, which is much more read and react, the offensive side of the ball require rep after rep to get thier timing and assignments down. Hopefully it all comes together rather quickly. I would hope, at least the offensive line starters will have been selected by the first preseason game (at least 4 out of 5) and all 5 by the 2nd game.
I believe this is the youngest OL in the league. If they struggle as a unit in the 3rd preseason game, I'll worry a lot more than seeing them struggle as a unit in the 3rd day of training camp...
Anyone want to lay odds about how long before we'll see someone start that yearly tradition of deeming our rookies a bust. I mean how many reports of Jake Long taking some lumps in practices as he grows before that first shell is launched by some fool? Couple more tid bits about Long messing up on one play in practice and it'll rear its ugly head. I'm not worried about this OL as of yet. There's some talent here now and it's just going to take a little time.
Jake Long is a bust !!!!!1!!111! j/k Coral, I get your point. I guess I'm surprised at the tone of this article. We should expect growing pains, we're starting 3 new players with another (Vernon Carey) switching positions. It'll take a while for everything to work out, but I have the feeling by the end of the season the O-Line will be one of this team's strengths.
Just had a thought...maybe we should continually rotate all five positions on the line to make everyone think their job is in jeopardy. Then, after all the preseason games we can throw the starters together and they'll all be better off for the struggle...
That was pretty much the only knock that I ever really heard on him...speed rushers give him trouble. I hope he gets better at it, before Miami starts making a run at the playoffs. I guess he has a couple of seasons to get better.
Agreed and yes I read somewhere that they are the youngest by over a full year than the next youngest.
