UConn's Donald Thomas shows some punch at right guard

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins01sbaug01,0,6110171.story

UConn's Donald Thomas shows some punch at right guard

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

August 1, 2008

DAVIE - Akin Ayodele had the honor of giving Donald Thomas his first "welcome to the NFL rookie" moment, and speech.

Thomas was pulling on a block during a team portion of Saturday's opening practice and Ayodele put his shoulder into the rookie guard's chest.

Accompanying the hit were those infamous hazing words, the one that announces a newcomer has arrived, finally hit the big time, and is in for a major challenge to survive, if not flourish.

"I was like, 'OK, that's what it's all about,'" Thomas said with a chuckle. "I feel it now!"

Thomas said he knows loudmouth Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter is eventually coming to give the rookie his personal welcome. The way Thomas has been playing lately, Porter will have plenty of opportunities in practice seeing as how both he and Thomas are presently serving as starters.

That's right, the former Connecticut walkon ... the project the Dolphins selected in the sixth round ... the offensive lineman expected to need a season or two to blossom is already running with the big dogs.

Thomas has been working as the Dolphins' starting right guard for four days and counting. He unseated veteran Trey Darilek after three practices and has been holding off fellow rookie Shawn Murphy, a fourth-round pick who struggled mightily holding his ground during Thursday's session.

"I think the coaches see something in me, that I may be a starter somewhere down the line and want to get a chance to evaluate me now. I'm trying to make the best out of the opportunity," said Thomas, who is 6 feet 4, 310 pounds, and can bench-press 515 pounds.

Thomas always knew he was strong, but after playing only four years of organized football this All-Big East first-team selection had no idea his core strength would translate so seamlessly on football's biggest stage.

"Big and strong" were the words nose tackle Jason Ferguson, an 11-year veteran, used to describe Thomas.

"I call him heavy chest," Ferguson continued. "His punch is really brutal. When he came in I said to coach, '66 [Thomas's number]. Yeah that's a strong guy right there.'

"I think he's the guy to help Samson [Satele] out," Ferguson admitted. "If he works with his feet, learns what he's doing, and gets in his books he'll be good."

That's just about word for word what Thomas' training-camp roommate, starting left guard Justin Smiley, has been telling the rookie ever since he fretted about being named a starter the night before he was set to the take the field with the first team.

Thomas said each day the game is slowing down a bit. Not a lot, but just enough for him to show off his mean streak.

"I like to get after it," said Thomas, who never played high school football, and said he was discovered on a intramural basketball court by Connecticut's football players and encouraged to try out.

"I like being in the trenches. I like to stay in that box. I'm real strong in there," Thomas said. "I definitely have to work on pulling. That's where I struggled at a little bit in college, and I'm working on that now because things go a lot faster when you're pulling now in the NFL."

Coach Tony Sparano said he's searching for a guard that can "keep the quarterback's feet clean."

Sparano's referring to opposing defense's preference to pressure quarterbacks up the gut of the offensive line, which requires them to attack the guards, who need to hold their ground.

"You will get perimeter pressure, but pressure up the middle threatens the quarterback in a hurry, and keeping his feet clean means that he has the ability to anchor, he has the strength to sit some things down in there and challenge some of these three-techniques [linemen] in our league that are big, strong guys," said Sparano, a former offensive line coach. "He also has to be able to move guys. You generate your power inside out, not outside in."

Thomas is generating his power from his early success, and he's hopeful that he can keep stacking them up each day.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

If Donald Thomas ends up starting, he needs to stay on the right side where Vernon Carey can mentor him. 

Justin Smiley should then be moved to the left where he can mentor Jake Long.