Dolphins Notebook: Jake Long gaining fans on offensive line

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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/06/08/0609_fins_notes.html

Dolphins Notebook: Jake Long gaining fans on offensive line

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Sunday, June 08, 2008

DAVIE — Dolphins guard Justin Smiley knows a dominant offensive lineman when he sees one.

Smiley believes he lined up next to one this weekend - rookie left tackle Jake Long - during the team's mini-camp.

Smiley, who played the past two seasons in San Francisco with future Hall of Famer Larry Allen, doesn't think it'll be long before the rest of the NFL sees what he sees in Long.

"Even though we were in shorts, you can tell he's a special player," Smiley said. "He's going to be a perennial Pro Bowler."

Long's agility, quickness and conditioning at 6-feet-7 and 315 pounds blew away Smiley, a fifth-year pro who signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the Dolphins in March.

"Look at him, he weighs 320 and he has abs," Smiley marveled.

Head coach Tony Sparano offered a mixed review of Long.

Sparano, who coached Dallas' offensive line the past three seasons, said the first pick in the NFL Draft moved well in space and was able to get out wide to pick up defensive ends, but "he has a long way to go."

Sparano said Long's biggest challenge, like most rookies, would be matching the speed of an NFL game.

"You get in game situations and how that changes at our level is really something I think that will test him," Sparano said.

Coaches moved Smiley from right guard to the left side on Saturday and Sunday to put an experienced player next to Long. Long lined up next to rookie fourth-round pick Shawn Murphy on Friday.

Sparano said the Long-Smiley pairing isn't permanent.

"It might not be that way tomorrow," Sparano said. "It might not be that way in two weeks, but it's that way right now."

More than six weeks before the start of training camp, the Dolphins' offensive line is set, other than at the guard spot opposite Smiley.

Long, Smiley, center Samson Satele and right tackle Vernon Carey are waiting to see who grabs the final spot.

Trey Darilek (DAR-zhuh-lick) lined up on the right side the past two days and has played every offensive line position this off-season. Darilek didn't make an NFL team the past two seasons, but played 15 games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005.

Hill on the mend: Safety Renaldo Hill said his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee is on schedule.

"Training camp I'll be ready to go," he said.

Hill started 23 straight games for the Dolphins before injured his knee on Oct. 21 against the New England Patriots. Hill landed awkwardly while defending a pass to wide receiver Randy Moss.

Hill was back on the field all weekend, but has not been cleared for contact drills.

"I'm just trying to play fast and read my keys and get my field recognition down," Hill said. "That's the biggest thing."

Wilford excused: Wide receiver Ernest Wilford participated in the team walk-through Sunday but received an excused absence for the remainder of practice because he had a flight to catch.