The Phinsider - Mike Pouncey injury: Torn hip labrum lands Pro Bowl center on PUPA Miami Dolphins community, established November 18, 2006https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49617/phinsider-fav.png2014-10-06T17:47:21-04:00http://www.thephinsider.com/rss/stream/56990462014-10-06T17:47:21-04:002014-10-06T17:47:21-04:00Pouncey taking snaps at guard
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey could be making a position change as he returns to the team following a hip injury.</p> <p>Three-and-a-half months after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his hip, things look to be falling into place for <span>Mike Pouncey</span> to return to the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a>' starting lineup this Sunday as they host the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a>. The bigger question may be, where will Pouncey play?</p>
<p>A Pro Bowl center in the NFL, Pouncey played guard for most of his college career at the University of Florida, and feels that right guard is his natural position. With Miami needing assistance at guard, could the team be considering inserting Pouncey at guard, leaving veteran center <span>Samson Satele</span> in the lineup next to him?</p>
<p>According to Pouncey, that is exactly what head coach Joe Philbin is doing.</p>
<p>"<a target="_blank" href="http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article2536948.html">Guard's my position</a>," Pouncey told the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson Monday. "I was kind of forced to play center when I got drafted. Guard's been the position I've played my whole life. Whatever position I'm playing, I'll help the team. It's coach Philbin's decision."</p>
<p>Pouncey went on to tell Jackson that he took first team snaps at both center and guard during the day's practice. "They're going to put the best five guys on the field to help this team win," Pouncey said.</p>
<p>Satele said last week that he knew when he signed with the Dolphins that he was signing to be the interim center for the team until Pouncey returned, but that he also wanted to "make it as hard a decision as I could for [the coaches]." He accomplished that, and could actually end up keeping his starting job if the Dolphins think Pouncey at guard and Satele at center helps the offensive line the most.</p>
<p>Philbin's philosophy has always been to play the best players, keeping versatile players who can play more than one position so he has the flexibility to shift lineups if needed. If the best offensive line for Miami is Satele at center, Pouncey at right guard, <span>Daryn Colledge</span> at left guard, <span>Ja'Wuan James</span> at right tackle, and <span>Branden Albert</span> at left tackle, then that is likely how the team will lineup.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/2014/10/6/6926235/mike-pouncey-practicing-at-both-guard-and-center-for-dolphinsKevin Nogle2014-09-16T16:07:18-04:002014-09-16T16:07:18-04:00Mike Pouncey returns to practice
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<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey practiced today with the team.</p> <p>The Miami Dolphins got some good news today when Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey returned to practice for the first time since the team's minicamp in June. Following that event, Pouncey was forced to undergo hip surgery to repair a torn labrum, an injury he sustained sometime during the team's offseason workout program, but had tried to play through.</p>
<p>Pouncey spent the preseason on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list as he rehabbed from the surgery. The team decided to put him on the 53-man roster, rather than move him to the Reserve/PUP list, at the start of the regular season, assuming his recovery would be faster than the six weeks the PUP would have made him inactive.</p>
<p>The recovery timeline for Pouncey's surgery was originally placed at three months, which would be next week. With only one day of practice since June, it is not likely Pouncey will be ready to play this week as the Dolphins host the Kansas City Chiefs, though he has not been ruled out of the game as of yet. A more realistic goal, and Pouncey's original target for return, will be next weekend in London against the Oakland Raiders.</p>
<p>Miami needs the offensive line help as fast as they can get it right now. Starting right guard Shelley Smith was forced to leave the Buffalo Bills game with a knee injury. Dallas Thomas replaced Smith, and should be considered the starter heading into this weekend's game. Rookie guard Billy Turner, who has missed time due to a toe injury, also returned to practice on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Miami faces the Chiefs at 4:25pm ET Sunday.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/2014/9/16/6248301/mike-pouncey-practices-for-first-time-since-minicampKevin Nogle2014-08-26T09:00:12-04:002014-08-26T09:00:12-04:00Mike Pouncey has injured hip re-evaluated
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey had his surgically repaired hip re-evaluated on Monday. The meeting was "favorable," according to a report.</p> <p>One player was missing from practice on Monday for the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a>: <span>Mike Pouncey</span>. The Pro Bowl center, who has been on the team's Active/Physically Unable to Perform list all summer, was in New York to have his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-0826-20140825,0,5141668.story">surgically repaired hip re-evaluated in hopes of receiving clearance to begin practicing</a>, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly and Chris Perkins report. The exact details of the evaluation were not disclosed, but the meeting was said to be "favorable."</p>
<p>Pouncey tore the labrum in his hip during the team's offseason workout program. He intially attempted to play through the injury, continuing to workout during Organized Team Activities and the veteran minicamp; he was forced to undergo surgery after minicamp, when it becmae obvious the hip was not healing.</p>
<p>The status of the Pro Bowler is critical for the Dolphins this week, as they try to shape their 53-man regular season roster. The first round of cuts, moving the roster limit from 90-players down to 75, must be completed by 4pm ET today. The NFL Preseason schedule will conclude on Thursday, with every team playing the last exhibition game that day, followed by the reduction of rosters from 75- to 53-players on Saturday. Pouncey, by having spent the summer on the PUP list, can be transferred to the Reserve/PUP list if he does not receive medical clearance, freeing up a roster spot for a healthy player. That move, however, will shelve the team's starting center for a minimum of the first six weeks of the season.</p>
<p>In Pouncey's place, the Dolphins are currently playnig <span>Samson Satele</span>, who Miami signed near the beginning of training camp. A former second-round pick for the Dolphins, Satele has filled in well during the Preseason games, but the Dolphins would clearly like Pouncey back as soon as he is ready, and the team doctors determine there is no risk of reinjury. Pouncey's goal has been to stay off the PUP, and be ready to play within the first month of the season, possibly even opening week against the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a>. Starting the season seems like a longshot at this point, with Pouncey having yet to take part in a practice, but it is beginning to appear that Miami may have their starting center back sometime in those first few games.</p>
<p>The Dolphins play the Patriots at home on September 7, followed by a road trip to the <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Buffalo Bills</a> in Week 2. Week 3, September 21, agains see Miami home in Sun Life Stadium, this time hosting the <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas City Chiefs</a>. The club heads to London for a September 28, Week 4 contest against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Raiders</a> before their Week 5 bye week. </p>
<p>If Pouncey were to land on the PUP list, he would miss all of those games, plus the Week 6 match-up with the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a> in Miami. </p>
<p>Miami's team doctors will now review the evaluation of Pouncey's hip, and determine the next step in the recovery process. How "favorable" that meeting in New York really was will be determined then. From there, it becomes a matter of making sure Pouncey is in game shape before sticking him back into the starting lineup.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-dolphins-injuries/2014/8/26/6069001/mike-pouncey-injured-hip-re-evaluation-has-favorable-resultsKevin Nogle2014-07-24T18:20:58-04:002014-07-24T18:20:58-04:00Pouncey, Moreno to Active/PUP list
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<p>The Miami Dolphins opened training camp today by putting two players on the physically unable to perform list.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a> reported for training camp today, with players arriving at the team facility this morning. This afternoon, the club officially placed running back <span>Knowshon Moreno</span> and center <span>Mike Pouncey</span> on the Physically Unable to Perform list.</p>
<p>Teams must place a player on the PUP list prior to their taking place in any practices during training camp. For the Dolphins, that first practice is tomorrow, meaning today was the day to make the moves happen. There are actually two versions of the PUP list, the "Active/PUP" and the "Reserve/PUP." The active version is the one used during the preseason, and it allows players who are unable to start training camp to sit out until they are medically cleared to practice. At that point, the player can immediately be removed from the list and return to practice.</p>
<p>Placing a player on the PUP list in training camp does not open a roster spot on the team's 90-man roster.</p>
<p>The reserve version of the list is the regular season PUP list. A player placed on this list is out for the first six weeks of the season, with no practice or game appearance allowed. Between the first day after Week 6 and the first day after Week 11 of the season, a team has to make a decision on what to do with the player, using one of three options. They can (1) place the player on injured reserve; (2) return the player to practice; or, (3) release the player.</p>
<p>The bonus of the Reserve/PUP list is, any player on it does not count against a team's 53-man roster limit. It gives a team a way to stash an injured player, without ending his season by placing him on injured reserve, while he rehabs an injury.</p>
<p>Once the player returns to practice in that decision window, the team then has a three-week window to decide if they will place him on injured reserve or put him back on the 53-man roster.</p>
<p>Finally, and this is the important piece when it comes to players like Pouncey, and to some degree Moreno, if a player practices during training camp or the preseason, he is not eligible for the Reserve/PUP list. That's why placing a player on the Active/PUP list today is critical for being able to hold on to him without using a 53-man roster spot if he is not able to return when the season starts.</p>
<p>The Dolphins are not expecting a long rehab for Moreno, who had to have<a target="_blank" href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/23/5836104/mike-pouncey-injury-knowshon-moreno-surgery-miami-dolphins"> knee surgery this offseason</a>. He should be able to be removed from the Active/PUP at some point during camp. Pouncey, on the other hand, is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thephinsider.com/miami-dolphins-injuries/2014/7/23/5931531/mike-pouncey-injury-to-keep-him-out-first-eight-weeks-according-to">expected to miss an extended period of the season</a>, after having to undergo hip surgery to repair a torn labrum. Placing him on the Active/PUP today allows the team the freedom to put him on the Reserve/PUP when the season begins.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-dolphins-injuries/2014/7/24/5934887/dolphins-place-knowshon-moreno-mike-pouncey-on-pup-listKevin Nogle2014-07-23T18:45:05-04:002014-07-23T18:45:05-04:00Mike Pouncey could miss half of 2014 season
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<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann</figcaption>
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<p>According to a report from the Miami Herald, Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey could miss the first eight weeks of the season.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> could find themselves without Pro Bowl center <span>Mike Pouncey</span> longer than originally expected. Pouncey tore the labrum in his hip during Organized Team Activities this offseason and, after initially attempting to play through the injury, was forced to have surgery following the team's veteran minicamp. The initial prognosis was Pouncey could miss three months, which would mean he could be back as early as late September.</p>
<p>According to a report from the Miami Herald's Adam Beasley, however, it is beginning to look like <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/23/4250714/possible-setback-for-miami-dolphins.html" target="_blank">Pouncey may miss up to half the season</a>.</p>
<p>Beasley cites a source familiar with Pouncey's surgery as telling the reporter that rehab will likely take four months, not the previously believed three. That would push Pouncey's return from late September to late October. "Eight weeks is probably what we're looking at," the source told Beasley Wednesday, discussing how many weeks into the season it could be before Pouncey returns.</p>
<p>In terms of actual games, the Dolphins could be without their starting center seven games, thanks to a Week 5 bye.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-dolphins-injuries/2014/7/23/5931531/mike-pouncey-injury-to-keep-him-out-first-eight-weeks-according-toKevin Nogle2014-06-30T07:00:04-04:002014-06-30T07:00:04-04:00Miami to bring in four OL for workouts today
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Miami Dolphins are set to meet with several free agent offensive linemen today as they look to fill Mike Pouncey's position on the starting lineup.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a> Pro Bowl center <span>Mike Pouncey</span> is expected to miss at least three months, and possibly six, after having to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. Pouncey was injured during the team's Organized Team Activities this offseason, trying to play through the injury into minicamp.</p>
<p>With Pouncey out, the team will have five new starting offensive linemen when the season opens in September. Who will join <span>Branden Albert</span>, <span>Ja'Wuan James</span>, <span>Dallas Thomas</span>, and <span>Shelley Smith</span> as the early leaders for the top spots on the depth chart? It appears the Dolphins are looking outside the franchise for the answer.</p>
<p>As was reported in multiple media outlets, including here on the Phinsider, the team will host at least four offensive linemen for a workout today. Included in that group are former Dolphins center <span>Samson Satele</span> and guard <span>Daryn Colledge</span>. The other two names expected to come to Miami today have not been disclosed, though the team has traditionally announced free agent visits once they are completed.</p>
<p>As our own KIH004 wrote over the weekend:</p>
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<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/28/5852996/miami-dolphins-to-bring-veteran-offensive-lineman-daryn-colledge-in">Colledge is 32 years old and a veteran player who has been active for every game of his 8 year NFL career</a> after being drafted out of Boise State in the second round by the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a> in 2006. He has 124 career starts to his name and while he has mostly started at left guard, he has some starting experience at every position on the offensive line except center, though he has played a handful of snaps at center due to in-game injuries. That type of experience at 4 out of 5 offensive line spots makes him a versatile option, and his 5 years spent with the Green Bay Packers including when Joe Philbin was the offensive coordinator means Colledge is well known to the current Dolphins head coach and thus could be expected to adapt to the Dolphins zone-blocking scheme reasonably well.</p>
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<p>KIH004 also took a look at Satele:</p>
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<p>Satele was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2007 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL draft</a> using the pick the Dolphins acquired in the <span>Wes Welker</span> trade to the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a>. However, the Dolphins as a whole had a not so great season in 2007, to put it mildly, and a new regime was hired for the 2008 season. Satele struggled at times as a sophomore, and given that the new regime wasn't responsible for drafting him, they were comfortable with giving up on him in exchange for a 6th round pick from the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Raiders</a> in the 2009 NFL draft (that later became former backup OL Andrew Gardner) and for a swap of fourth round picks (that later became current starting WR Brian Hartline).</p>
<p>In Oakland, Satele showed some improvement and had his best season in 2011, when he was rated as slightly above average by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Satele then left Oakland in free agency after his career-best season to join the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indianapolis Colts</a> in 2012 after the Colts decided to move on from longtime former Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday. The Colts signed Satele to a 3-year deal worth $10.8 million, hoping the veteran center could help rookie quarterback Andrew Luck's transition to the NFL while still being young enough at age 27 to potentially play with Luck for several years.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, as a member of the Colts, Satele played poorly, consistently ranking among the worst at his position by PFF's metrics the past 2 seasons, and he has struggled with injuries, missing 8 games over the past 2 seasons. Unsurprisingly, the Colts decided to cut Satele in the 2014 offseason rather than keep him for the final year of his deal, and the Colts have not made any attempt to bring him back even at a reduced salary.</p>
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<p>Obviously, the Dolphins are looking at players who are not likely to come in to the team and suddenly become Pro Bowl players. The team is simply looking for a stop-gap to hold the line until Pouncey is ready to return. The Dolphins could also look at players already on the roster, including <span>Sam Brenner</span>, <span>Nate Garner</span>, <span>Samuel Longo</span>, and <span>Tyler Larsen</span>, to fill in as the starter, with a veteran providing depth.</p>
<p>Whatever the final decision, there is no doubt the Miami offensive line, a unit that allowed a franchise-record 58 sacks last year leading to this season's massive rebuild, too a major hit with the injury to Pouncey. Hopefully, one of the four veterans visiting the team today will be able to at least give the team some flexibility and insurance until the Pro Bowl center is ready to get back on the field.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/30/5856000/dolphins-visiting-with-offensive-linemen-todayKevin Nogle2014-06-29T13:01:50-04:002014-06-29T13:01:50-04:00Phins to have 4 total OL free agents visit Monday
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<p>A day after 2 reports of former Packer and Cardinal Daryn Colledge coming to visit the Dolphins on Monday, the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reports the Dolphins will have 4 total free agent offensive linemen visit on Monday, including former Dolphin Samson Satele</p> <p>Early Saturday, news broke from two different sources that the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a> <a href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/28/5852996/miami-dolphins-to-bring-veteran-offensive-lineman-daryn-colledge-in" target="_blank">had decided to bring </a>in veteran free agent offensive lineman <span>Daryn Colledge</span> in for a visit on Monday. Given that the Dolphins had offered a contract to every veteran free agent that had visited the team under new General Manager Dennis Hickey, from <a href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/3/5/5472610/miami-dolphins-hope-to-make-dqwell-jackson-starting-middle-linebacker" target="_blank">D'Qwell Jackson </a>to <a href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/3/14/5509726/cortland-finnegan-joins-miami-dolphins-with-two-year-deal" target="_blank">Cortland Finnegan</a>, it seemed that with apparently only Colledge being brought in for a visit that an offer for him was very likely.</p>
<p>However, late last night, a member of the Dolphins organization reached out to Barry Jackson of <i>The Miami Herald</i> to tell him that the team was in fact bringing in <b>four </b>veteran offensive linemen to visit on Monday, not just Colledge. The source <a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2014/06/dolphins-summon-former-dolphin-samson-satele-for-workout.html" target="_blank">confirmed </a>Colledge was coming in for a visit and chose not to reveal the names of 2 of the players, but admitted that the fourth visitor on Monday was former Dolphin center <span>Samson Satele</span>.</p>
<p>Colledge's background <a href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/28/5852996/miami-dolphins-to-bring-veteran-offensive-lineman-daryn-colledge-in" target="_blank">was described </a>in a previous article, but Satele is a new name to be linked to the current Dolphins regime. Satele was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2007 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL draft</a> using the pick the Dolphins acquired in the <span>Wes Welker</span> trade to the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a>. However, the Dolphins as a whole had a not so great season in 2007, to put it mildly, and a new regime was hired for the 2008 season. Satele struggled at times as a sophomore, and given that the new regime wasn't responsible for drafting him, they were comfortable with giving up on him in exchange for a 6th round pick from the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Raiders</a> in the 2009 NFL draft (that later became former backup OL Andrew Gardner) and for a swap of fourth round picks (that later became current starting WR Brian Hartline).</p>
<p>In Oakland, Satele showed some improvement and had his best season in 2011, when he was rated as slightly above average by <i>Pro Football Focus</i> (PFF). Satele then left Oakland in free agency after his career-best season to join the <a href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indianapolis Colts</a> in 2012 after the Colts decided to move on from longtime former Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday. The Colts signed Satele to a 3-year deal worth $10.8 million, hoping the veteran center could help rookie quarterback Andrew Luck's transition to the NFL while still being young enough at age 27 to potentially play with Luck for several years.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, as a member of the Colts, Satele played poorly, consistently ranking among the worst at his position by PFF's metrics the past 2 seasons, and he has struggled with injuries, missing 8 games over the past 2 seasons. Unsurprisingly, the Colts decided to cut Satele in the 2014 offseason rather than keep him for the final year of his deal, and the Colts have not made any attempt to bring him back even at a reduced salary.</p>
<p>Like I wrote in the article about Daryn Colledge, if an NFL player is unemployed in late June, he's probably not great.</p>
<p>The advantages of Satele are that he's been viewed as a better fit for the zone blocking scheme rather than the man-blocking/"power" scheme that he's been asked to play in for several years in his career, and if he's healthy, he could be poised for a bounceback year in 2014 as part of the Dolphins zone-blocking scheme. He's a veteran with 98 NFL starts at center, which is the position the Dolphins are currently thinnest at, and before his injury-riddled seasons the past 2 years, he had developed into a consistently average center.</p>
<p>The disadvantages are that he has played <i>quite </i>poorly the past 2 years, and the fact that the Colts haven't brought him back even at a reduced contract, instead preferring to cut him outright and move on, is a sign that his former team was skeptical about his chances of having a bounceback year.</p>
<p>So Daryn Colledge is more versatile, more durable, and has played under Philbin while a member of the Packers. Meanwhile, Satele's big advantage is that he's very experienced at center, while Colledge has never started a game at that position - he's only filled in for a few snaps at center when his team's starting center has been injured.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/29/5854770/miami-dolphins-also-to-bring-in-samson-satele-plus-2-more-veterans-onKIH0042014-06-28T18:41:09-04:002014-06-28T18:41:09-04:00Phins book veteran Daryn Colledge for Monday visit
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<figcaption>Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The former Green Bay Packer and Arizona Cardinal likely will receive an offer, if recent history is any guide</p> <p>After <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Dolphins</a> Pro Bowl center <span>Mike Pouncey</span> suffered <a href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/23/5836104/mike-pouncey-injury-knowshon-moreno-surgery-miami-dolphins" target="_blank">an unfortunate hip injury </a>during OTAs that will require surgery with a 3 to 4 month recovery time, the Dolphins began <a href="http://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/25/5842764/dolphins-beginning-search-for-mike-pouncey-replacement" target="_blank">quietly considering </a>their options, either sticking with in-house options or going the free agency route.</p>
<p>It appears that this Friday, they chose to go the free agency route since both <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonPhilCole/status/482614445966102528" target="_blank">Jason Cole </a>(formerly of Yahoo Sports) and the <i>Miami Herald</i>'s <a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/2014/06/dolphins-roster-battles-um-advances-talks-with-cowboys-stadium-um-adds-player-heat-chatter.html" target="_blank">Barry Jackson </a>have reported the Dolphins are bringing in veteran offensive lineman <span>Daryn Colledge</span> in for a visit. Jackson notes that the Dolphins under Dennis Hickey have made a formal offer to every veteran free agent that has visited, and if that pattern continues, Colledge (who has <a href="https://twitter.com/caplannfl/status/465984085325021185" target="_blank">drawn interest </a>from the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Eagles</a> this offseason) will likely receive an offer during his visit as well.</p>
<p>Colledge is 32 years old and a veteran player who has been active for every game of his 8 year NFL career after being drafted out of Boise State in the second round by the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a> in 2006. He has 124 career starts to his name and while he has mostly started at left guard, he has some starting experience at every position on the offensive line <b>except</b> center, though he has played a handful of snaps at center due to in-game injuries. That type of experience at 4 out of 5 offensive line spots makes him a versatile option, and his 5 years spent with the Green Bay Packers including when Joe Philbin was the offensive coordinator means Colledge is well known to the current Dolphins head coach and thus could be expected to adapt to the Dolphins zone-blocking scheme reasonably well.</p>
<p>As you might expect for a player that is unemployed in late June, he does have some drawbacks. After signing a big free agency contract with the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a> in 2011 after the Packers won <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl" class="sbn-auto-link">the Super Bowl</a>, Colledge's performance began to decline from top 20 at his position per <i>Pro Football Focus</i>' (PFF) rankings to roughly league average. He had a below-average season last year for the Arizona Cardinals, who decided to cut him at the end of the season after Colledge had completed 3 years of his 5-year deal. He's generally been a better run blocker than pass blocker in his career by PFF's metrics, but the past two years, he hasn't been particularly good (or bad) at either.</p>
<p>However, Colledge is one of the best veteran interior offensive linemen available at this point due to his significant starting experience, history of durability, and ability to play at multiple positions on the offensive line. The Dolphins depth chart at interior offensive line has plenty of potential but very little NFL starting experience without <span>Mike Pouncey</span>. Veteran backup <span>Shelley Smith</span>, sophomores <span>Sam Brenner</span> and <span>Dallas Thomas</span>, as well as rookie <span>Billy Turner</span> have a combined 12 career NFL starts between them. <span>Nate Garner</span> has proven himself to be an admirable backup who has filled in as a starter 19 times in his career, but with Pouncey missing anywhere between 1 to 2 months of the regular season, the Dolphins would be incredibly vulnerable if a second interior offensive lineman (particularly Nate Garner) were injured during a game.</p>
<p>If the Dolphins sign Colledge, he should be relatively inexpensive - again, he's been sitting on his couch the entire offseason so far - and the signing would add more veteran depth to a position group weakened by injury. Most importantly, potentially signing Colledge now gives him time to learn the Bill Lazor playbook and get into football shape after missing offseason workouts so far as an unsigned free agent.</p>
<p>If Colledge is signed, my prediction is that veteran Nate Garner is the Dolphins starting center for the several games that Pouncey misses, with Sam Brenner filling the backup center role and Colledge being used as a backup OG/OT. Garner started the 2 games at center last season that Mike Pouncey missed due to his episode of gallbladder infection requiring hospitalization, and Garner did extremely well in pass protection against the Panthers and Chargers, allowing no sacks, QB hits, or QB pressures according to PFF - though Garner did struggle as a run-blocker against Carolina's talented defensive tackles. However, other possible lineup options include Colledge as starting center, Brenner as starting center, or even Shelly Smith as starting center (he took snaps at center during minicamp) with Colledge replacing Smith as the starting right guard.</p>
https://www.thephinsider.com/2014/6/28/5852996/miami-dolphins-to-bring-veteran-offensive-lineman-daryn-colledge-inKIH004