PHINMANIACS.COM
Menu

Why aren’t Billy Turner and Shelley Smith seeing much playing time? 

10/22/2014

 
Written by Steven Wilson | Twitter: stevenjwilson11

It was weird seeing fourth-year pro Mike Pouncey playing guard last week in Chicago. But that’s the easy transition for a team that has historically been decimated interiorly on the offensive line. In Pouncey’s place was born-again Dolphin Samson Satele – an eighth-year vet who’s natural position is center.

That leaves rookie Billy Turner and free agent addition Shelley Smith on the outside looking in. Neither even dressed for last Sunday’s win in Chicago.

“Typically, if you’ve looked at the history since I’ve been here, we’ve been dressing seven linemen for games almost exclusively,” Head Coach Joe Philbin said. “There might have been one occasion where we had eight, one or two (games), based on some other guys [that] were injured. It’s really just simple that those were the seven guys that we had dressed the other day that we feel gave us the best chance to win the game. It’s really [nothing] more than that.”

In his fifth-season – first with Miami – Smith has appeared in just two games this year, but was a healthy scratch against the Bears. Turner – who was drafted just a couple weeks after Smith signed – is still waiting to see the field for the first time.

“Again, it’s not an indictment on those guys necessarily,” Philbin continued. “It’s just that’s the decision I came to as who would give us the best chance to win.”

Although both reserve guards have dealt with their fair share of injuries through the first six games, Philbin admits they have talent and that he’s not opposed to starting rookies.

“When I was the offensive line coach in ’06, I think we had 38 starts out of rookies when I was an offensive line coach, which I think is the highest, you can go back and check, but it’s about as high as there is,” stated Philbin. “I personally don’t have any hesitation. I’ve done it before. I would do it again.”

On May 12, 2014 the Miami Dolphins moved up in the third round to grab Turner, who became the highest selected North Dakota State player since 2002. At North Dakota State University, he started in 56 of the 58 games he played in his career. He was a two-time consensus All-American and was part of three straight NCAA Division 1 FCS National Championship teams. Although Turner was originally a tackle in college, the Dolphins moved him inside to play guard.  

Despite Turner not being able to crack the starting lineup, Miami’s Head Coach is currently starting a rookie at right tackle. Ja’Wuan James – a first-year player from Tennessee – has started all six games protecting quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s throwing side.

“I’ve done it before,” concluded Philbin. “I’m 99-percent sure that 38 starts for rookies in an offensive line is awful high. I’ve done it and I have no opposition to it whatsoever.”

Comments are closed.

    Latest Dolphins News

    Story Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014


    RSS Feed

Picture
  • Home
  • REESE'S SENIOR BOWL PROSPECTS
  • Miami Dolphins Articles
  • PhinManiacs on YouTube
  • PhinManiac Phun
  • About Us
  • PhinManiacs PodCast Network
  • Player Profiles
  • Player Highlight Videos
  • PATCHVIBES
  • Home
  • REESE'S SENIOR BOWL PROSPECTS
  • Miami Dolphins Articles
  • PhinManiacs on YouTube
  • PhinManiac Phun
  • About Us
  • PhinManiacs PodCast Network
  • Player Profiles
  • Player Highlight Videos
  • PATCHVIBES