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Miami Dolphins Offensive Line Rankings

How will rookie Jonathan Martin adjust to playing right tackle? Will the entire line succeed in the zone blocking scheme?
How will rookie Jonathan Martin adjust to playing right tackle? Will the entire line succeed in the zone blocking scheme?

Evan Silva, over at RotoWorld, ranked all 32 offensive lines in the NFL, yesterday. He tried to project exactly how well every team's line would play in the 2012 season, based on last year's performance and any additions the team has made this offseason. He also looked at the players a team has, as well as the blocking scheme they use, to try to project the best lines in the NFL.


Related: Miami Dolphins Rookie Minicamp - Day 1 Report

For the Miami Dolphins, the outlook is not that great. Silva projects the Dolphins as the 22nd ranked offensive line in the league.

Of the rating, Silva writes:

22. Miami Dolphins

LT:
Jake Long*
LG: Richie Incognito*
C: Mike Pouncey*
RG: Artis Hicks
RT: Jonathan Martin

Top reserves: OT Lydon Murtha, G/T John Jerry, C/G/T Ryan Cook, T/G Nate Garner, OT Will Barker.

Overview: The Dolphins are administering a dramatic philosophical change under rookie coach Joe Philbin. Newly a zone-running team, Miami is moving away from the power-blocking identity that brought them Long and Jerry as early-round draft picks, and Incognito as a free agent investment. While Long and Pouncey are good enough football players to succeed in any system, the rest of this group will likely experience initial chemistry woes. Martin is playing right tackle for the first time in his life. Incognito has always been a man-blocker. 33-year-old journeyman Hicks looks like the early favorite to start at right guard just because he's a veteran of the scheme. Look for plenty of 2012 bumps in the road as the Dolphins' offensive line takes time to find its bearings.

* - Returning Starter

I can't really argue with Silva at this point, because we have not see the Dolphins in the zone-blocking scheme. The line could very easily dominate using it, but it could, as Silva writes, have plenty of bumps in the road as they get used to it.

What do you think of the grade? Will the Dolphins adjust to the new blocking scheme and succeed, or will we see a slow start to the year for the front five?

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