The acquisition of Terron Armstead this offseason supplied the Miami Dolphins the cornerstone left deal with they should fortify the offensive line and permit new coach Mike McDaniel’s offense to flourish.
The 31-year-old bulldozer within the run recreation with three Professional Bowls to his credit score, who additionally brings a veteran presence to an in any other case younger offensive line, is ideal in that position. As he has his observe workload rising deeper into coaching camp, Armstead is approaching a stage of preparedness to return on his surgically repaired knee in time for the common season.
However a priority with Armstead is how a lot time he has missed on account of harm in his profession. Since turning into a full-time beginning left deal with for the New Orleans Saints in 2014, Armstead has missed 38 video games, together with 9 final season with knee and elbow illnesses.
What occurs if he has to overlook time with the Dolphins?
The Dolphins’ depth at deal with has appeared troubling in coaching camp. Second-year participant Larnel Coleman, a 2021 seventh-round decide, and Greg Little, traded for in coaching camp of 2021, are the backup tackles on the depth chart with Austin Jackson the starter reverse Armstead at proper deal with. Jackson and beginning left guard Liam Eichenberg have expertise at left deal with over the previous two seasons, however transferring them would additionally create one other gap on the road.
Little missed Saturday’s preseason recreation and was once more held out of Tuesday drills, deemed “daily” by McDaniel with an undisclosed harm. That left Coleman to play 93 p.c of offensive snaps within the exhibition towards the Buccaneers at left deal with. In the meantime, Kion Smith performed 76 p.c of offensive snaps at proper deal with after Jackson made his exit.
Each Coleman and Smith allowed essential sacks of third-string rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson that halted drives within the first half of Saturday’s motion. It leaves many questioning if Coleman can step up if known as upon.
“I’ve seen him as having an excellent camp, and I see him being able to proceed the method and have a fair higher camp. But it surely’s been removed from good,” McDaniel mentioned on Tuesday of Coleman’s efficiency in an elevated position each on Saturday and thru a lot of camp as Armstead has been labored again slowly.
“I used to be pumped with him getting on the market and what he did through the recreation. We’ve defined to him what he can do to enhance and, hopefully, that’s what that is all for.”
Coleman has had an extended journey again from being stashed on injured reserve his total rookie season after present process surgical procedure on a knee final preseason.
“It sucked, sadly,” mentioned Coleman, “however coming into this 12 months, I used to be identical to, ‘You already know what? I bought to provide it my all.’ I’m feeling 110 p.c higher, so I used to be itching to get again on the sector.
“I had by no means missed a season earlier than. It was actually my first time. It was actually unlucky, however I had my teammates there and all the things to maintain my spirits up.”
As Armstead has watched Coleman and Little, the previous second-round decide of the Panthers in 2019, again him up in practices all through camp, he sees them enhancing.
“They’ve made big strides,” he mentioned final week in Tampa. “These two I’d say, respectively, have made probably the most strides on this brief time frame in camp.
“Greg is robust. He’s younger, however he’s a veteran. He’s performed numerous soccer. He’s skilled. Larnel has numerous instruments. Nice instruments — his size, his energy, he’s an clever participant. Simply making an attempt to scrub up method issues and getting these guys snug and assured with the scheme to allow them to play quick.”
McDaniel would have an intriguing determination if he has to search out an harm alternative for Armstead at left deal with this season. He’d be ready to both preserve the remainder of the road the identical or transfer Eichenberg or Jackson out to left deal with whereas most likely incorporating both Michael Deiter or Robert Jones into some shuffle of positions on the road.
“Left deal with is an attention-grabbing one as a result of, with the sting rushers which can be on this league, you'll be able to go from sack-fumble to completion-explosive [play] as a result of there may be a lot area,” he mentioned Sunday. “I might say from a place to begin, I might attempt to not transfer a starter out of their place to cowl up one other place. However I wouldn’t say that may be an absolute as a result of you need to suppose by, know the professionals and cons, and type of deal with it the most effective you'll be able to.”
Eichenberg mentioned Tuesday he’s undecided what transfer offensive coaches would make in such a state of affairs.
“Hopefully, we don’t get in that scenario,” he mentioned. “I feel we have now nice depth. I’m fairly snug with the fellows we have now within the room. I imagine in each single one in all them, and I’m excited for them.”
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