Left guard left unfilled for Dolphins

By Adam Best  |   Friday, July 06, 2007  |  Comments( 11 )

Miami Dolphins
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After giving the offensive line an overhaul this offseason, it seems as if Miami Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron has remodeled the unit more to his liking.

Tackle L.J. Shelton, center/guard Rex Hadnot and tackle Vernon Carey were the major line contributors who were retained. Guards Bennie Anderson, Kendyl Jacox, Jeno James, Seth McKinney, Toniu Fonoti and tackle Damion were all either released or allowed to move on to different teams. Veterans Chris Liwienski (guard) and Mike Rosenthal (guard/tackle) were signed to compete for starting spots and provide depth. The Dolphins also drafted two promising young O-line talents -- Drew Mormino and Samson Satele, both of whom can play center and the guard positions.

Four of those players have all but been penciled in as O-line starters. Hadnot and Shelton are the expected starters at right guard and right tackle, Satele is the expected starter at center and Carey is the probable No. 1 left tackle. Potentially, the talent is there to form a pretty good group, but one piece is still missing -- left guard.

Three candidates could potentially fill the void: Liwienski, Mormino and guard Pete Kendall, the disgruntled New York Jet.

Pete Kendall

Kendall, an 11-year veteran, has started 45 of the past 48 games for the Jets. Prior to that, he was a starter more often than not during his tenures with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks. While Kendall becoming a Dolphin is an intriguing possibility, there's only a so-so chance that Miami will acquire him. The odds of the Dolphins adding him become further reduced when you consider that he's currently on the roster of the division rival Jets, with whom Kendall has a contract dispute. Nonetheless, the Dolphins made a trade with the New England Patriots earlier this offseason, so never say never. If Kendall becomes a Dolphin he would be the favorite to start at left guard.

Chris Liwienski

The best way to describe Liwienski is solid but not spectacular. He's a savvy, battle-tested, eight-year veteran who started six games for the Cardinals in 2006 and a bunch of contests for the Minnesota Vikings over the years prior to that. In addition to his experience, he also has a connection to Cameron, who coached Liwienski at the University of Indiana prior to his pro career. That being said, Liwienski has more experience than Mormino, and also should have a better understanding of Cameron's offense. Other than his connection to Cameron, Liwienski's only real advantage over Kendall is that he's currently on the roster.

Drew Mormino

While Mormino is an intriguing prospect who has impressed this offseason, making him an immediate starter might not be in Cameron's best interests. The most worrisome fact about Mormino is that three other fellow O-line starters from Central Michigan were also drafted, each in earlier rounds. More often than not, college linemen on either side of the ball can benefit from playing alongside other talented players. Still, he's a tough, smart kid who has seemed to impress both Cameron and offensive line coach Hudson Houck thus far. The problem with playing an inexperienced guy like Mormino is that he has limited upside. With his lack of size, strength and athleticism, his ceiling just isn't that high. Starting Mormino on a line that has undergone significant changes is a recipe for disaster. Both Kendall or Liwienski would likely perform much better as the starter at left guard, especially during the early part of the season. If Liwienski -- or even Kendall, if he's acquired -- fails, the Dolphins can always turn to Mormino further into the season.

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