The Miami Dolphins’ prized free-agent acquisition this offseason, Terron Armstead, hasn’t but been obtainable to work with the offensive line via organized staff actions and minicamp, however that hasn’t stopped him from making an impression in guiding the staff’s younger linemen he’ll have alongside him this fall.
“Terron has definitely helped a lot of our guys,” mentioned third-year guard Robert Hunt after Tuesday’s OTA session. “He’s after apply working with some guys. He’s within the assembly room telling us what we are able to do, what he’s seeing.
“He’s been doing this for a while. What he has said, we definitely take heed, and we listen to it because he’s done it. He’s been an All-Pro. He’s been a Pro Bowler. He’s been everything that we want to be in life. Everything Terron says, we’re taking it in. We’re listening.”
At the beginning of OTAs, Armstead, the left sort out who has been a Pro-Bowl choice thrice with the New Orleans Saints, was seen working after apply with Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones, each rookies final 12 months seeking to make a leap of their second skilled seasons. Hunt mentioned Armstead has helped him with technical features of line play.
Armstead, who will flip 31 days earlier than coaching camp opens, feels it comes pure to him to assist out the children.
“I’m always just looking to help any way I can. I’m at these guys’ service,” he mentioned final week. “I’ve been a captain for the last five years in New Orleans, so it’s just a part of who I am as a player. If I get knowledge and information, I’ve just got to share it.”
The true check of an offensive line, particularly the way in which it run-blocks, shall be as soon as full pads come on a number of practices into coaching camp, however Hunt nonetheless feels the depth from the group in offseason exercises.
“I think we are trying to hit,” Hunt mentioned. “It’s crazy to say that, but I think everybody’s working. That’s what I can tell about this team. The guys are working without pads on. You can tell. Guys are definitely fitting their gaps right. Guys are coming off the ball, flying off the ball. We’re doing it in a controlled manner.”
It’s important for the unit to be forward of the sport this offseason because it transitions to the outside-zone blocking scheme, which Hunt has loved.
“We’re trying to make everybody defend the whole field,” he mentioned. “We’ve got them guessing. I love it. This is the type of offense I ran in college.”
Armstead, who’s rehabbing off an offseason process performed on his proper knee, mentioned the scheme is permitting the Dolphins’ returning linemen to play the fashion that most accurately fits them.
“You see guys like Rob Hunt, Austin Jackson, [and they are] just extremely explosive, like they jump off the film,” he mentioned. “So those guys are just tapping into what they are becoming as players, as pros. It’s exciting.”
Scarlett including versatility
Dolphins exterior linebacker Brennan Scarlett mentioned he has been practising some with the defensive position via OTAs and minicamp.
A rotational defender who joined the Dolphins final season, Scarlett mentioned placing his hand within the floor is one thing he was requested to sparingly in 2021, but it surely wasn’t one thing he was coaching for via that offseason and coaching camp. It popped up for sure matchups.
Working on it this far forward of the season for a protection that returns principally each key contributor may very well be advantageous for the 6-foot-4, 263-pound seventh-year veteran out of Stanford.
“Any time I have the opportunity to expand my versatility, I look at it as an important opportunity, one that I take seriously,” Scarlett mentioned. “Putting my hand in ground, working some 5-technique and some 3-technique and also working out on the edge. I played off the ball too. I played split-out. I played in the middle, pretty much every position in the front seven. I pride myself on the ability to do that.”
In his first season in Miami, Scarlett had 19 tackles, primarily an early-down exterior linebacker and particular teamer who performed in 13 video games, beginning 4. He had a fast turnaround at any time when he would discover out he’s serving to on the defensive position on a given week.
“Most of that came up last year in the heat of the moment, kind of found out on Monday type of situation and then played on Sunday,” he mentioned. “I’m lucky this year to have the ability to get the reps and the time and work the footwork, feel the blocks, anticipate what I’m going to see instead of just it happening. It’s going to be to my advantage.”
Scarlett was glad to have the ability to re-sign with the Dolphins this offseason after spending his first 5 seasons with the Houston Texans, the place he principally performed on the sting but in addition performed some center linebacker.
“I love being here in Miami,” he mentioned. “Great energy, the fan base. Obviously, the city’s great, and I think we have a really talented team. We had a young team last year that now is an older team, and I think we have a lot of competitive guys and guys who really want to win. That’s who, ultimately, I want to surround myself with.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com