Long might boost O-line's chemistry

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/563161.html

Long might boost O-line's chemistry

BY JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

When the Dolphins drafted Jake Long with the first overall pick in April, it didn't simply upgrade one of the team's most important positions -- left tackle. It also, in turn, upgraded the tackle slot on the right side, too.

Long's arrival allowed Vernon Carey to shift back to his more natural role on the right side, which appears to be helping the entire chemistry of the unit. This weekend's minicamp began to illustrate the theory.

''With Vernon, he's a big, strong guy, and the right tackle is a more powerful position,'' coach Tony Sparano said.

``I think that's a little easier transition, certainly, for him to go from the left side to the right side.''

Carey's shift to the right side, however, is possible only if Long develops fast enough on the left side to make an immediate impact this season.

So far, he is at least making a good impression on Sparano, who is an offensive-line guru.

Sparano said he already is starting to see reasons why the team invested so much in him with the first pick.

''I see Jake on some perimeter-pull stuff where he can get out, and he gets out in space, and you see him move his feet and do some things that way,'' Sparano said. ``I've seen him kick-step in these practices right now to a wide end and do some things that way, but he's got a long way to go.

``He's knows he's got to grow in the true speed of the game when you get in game situations.''

MORE LEADERSHIP

Also along the offensive line, Justin Smiley saw work at the left guard spot this weekend, which is being done as a way to provide more leadership on that side.

Once newly added Steve McKinney can fully rehabilitate his knee, however, he likely will slide into the spot.

In the meantime, Trey Darilek is getting first-team reps at the right guard spot.

PROGRESS REPORT

Sparano called the weekend's minicamp -- which consisted of five practices -- an overall success. That's good news, the coach said, since he initially was slightly let down with the rate of progress after Saturday morning's workout.

''I walked off the field [Saturday], and I was a little bit disappointed, to be quite honest with you,'' Sparano said.

``I thought maybe we took a step backwards, and then I went to the film, and I started watching the film of [the later] practice, and after I finished watching, I said, `Wow, we really got better today.'

``And the reason we got better was because there was true give and take [Saturday] in the morning practice in all the critical situations. Now we're getting to the competition part that we really want to get to, and that's really what we are trying to build.''