It’s ideal to see Tua Tagovailoa pairing up on a couple deep throws for Tyrek Hill.
Touchdowns, like the two Hill caught from his new quarterback during Thursday’s final minicamp practice, sell tickets.
That’s what the media wants to see during these pad-less practices, and what fans want to hear on the dog days of June because it means Miami Dolphins offense is expected to be dangerous, and it’s refreshing.
But a player who can make a constant offense to the Dolphins – if not by force – is missing.
That is why everything we have seen this off-season is incomplete, fragmented as the most important off-season addition has yet to take the field with its teammates.
Taron Armstead, a three-time pro bowler the Dolphins signed a five-year, $87.5 million deal, with hopes that he will fix Miami’s most troubled unit from last season (or the past decade), one-off Has not participated in season practice. So far.
The veteran left tackle is in rehab with a knee injury that forced him to miss the final four games of the 2021 season, and miss all of Miami’s off-season field work. Armstead has made 93 NFL debuts since becoming the first stringer for the Saints in late 2013, but has also been sidelined for 38 games since then.
“I’m getting ready for training camp so we can hit the ground running,” said Armstead, who had off-season surgery on his right knee in January.
So far it has been Larnell Coleman, Greg Little and rookie Kellen Dish filling in left tackle while the 30-year-old corrects his body.
His absence has resulted in a lot of pressure coming from the left, so it’s hard to assess how well the Dolphins’ offense could go as Armstead has not been able to bring his physicality and athleticism to the man standing in front of him. ,
And keep in mind that the Dolphins are building a run-heavy, play-action based offense, and Armstead hopes to be the engine driving it.
“The offensive line is a tough job. You’re tasked with things that are difficult to accomplish, especially against the people you’re playing against,” Armstead said, referring to the battles that take place in the NFL trenches. Said 300-pound men wrestle on the line of wrestle. ,
“But this offense allows you to have a direct impact on a lot of plays and walk away from a play and feel like, ‘I made a play,’ like ‘I caused that run.
That’s why Armstead sees himself as “a playmate” and is being paid like one because he has the ability to make a running lane, and provide the extra second or two needed to read his quarterback. Which makes for a big passing drama.
The Dolphins are hoping that Armstead is the type of genius, and the leader who helps the talent around him step up his game, and so far it has happened.
“He’s a consistent guy and an amazing player,” said Conor Williams, who signed with Miami as a free agent this off-season and settled at center. “Everyone is already leaning on him.”
“He knows what’s going on,” said fellow linesman Robert Hunt. “He’s seen a lot of things and a youngster can help us by being a room-to-room vet.”
New coach Mike McDaniel has already praised the offensive line they’ve inherited, saying they’re one of the most athletic groups in the world during his career as an NFL coach.
And Armstead supports that strong accolade by saying two linemen in particular have the potential to be NFL standouts.
“You see people like Rob Hunt and Austin Jackson are extremely explosive. They jump off the movie. They are tapping into what they are becoming as players, as professionals. It is exciting,” Said Armstead, who was captain for five seasons at New Orleans. “The plan we’re running allows you to show those abilities, use that athleticism and explosiveness.”
The Dolphins are hoping they can use Armstead in the same way that McDaniel used Trent Williams with the San Francisco 49ers over the past two years.
Sometimes the 49ers would put Williams in motion to create a running lane along the second level block, or drag him from left to right.
But to get there the Dolphins will need to work at it, with Armstead practicing on the line to prove that it’s possible to make a tremendous run game.
“I look forward to getting into this offense and planning because it fits my skills so well,” Armstead said. “I’m excited. I’ll keep saying that word because I really am.”
,
