Might Faneca be an attractive option for the Dolphins?

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, January 09, 2008  |  Comments( 7 )

Miami Dolphins
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The Miami Dolphins are going to need at least one experienced offensive guard in 2008, and it doesn't look as if the draft will be much help.

According to most projections, the current crop of future pros should be loaded with promising offensive tackles (Jake Long of Michigan, Sam Baker of Southern Cal, Ryan Clady of Boise State, Michael Oher of Ole Miss, Alex Boone of Ohio State), but no guards are projected to go in the first round.

At any rate, Bill Parcells is much more likely to take a defensive lineman -- either Glenn Dorsey of LSU or Chris Long of Virginia -- with the team's top-of-the-draft marquee pick. Miami also has a couple of second-round picks, but it has needs that could trump that of offensive guard. Much also depends upon how Ronnie Brown's injured knee responds to treatment and how sold Parcells is on John Beck as the quarterback of the future.

Miami started Rex Hadnot at right guard in 2007 and platooned Cory Lekkerkerker and Chris Liwienski at the other spot. Hadnot, who lost his center job to rookie Samson Satele in training camp, is now a free agent.

Therefore, given the fact that the Dolphins have at least $25 million in cap room (more, if they let Hadnot walk), what about Alan Faneca?

True, he's up in years, a 10-year veteran. But if Faneca decides to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers -- and there's every indication that he will -- what better place for him to play out the string than in South Florida?

The Steelers' offensive line wasn't up to its usual standards this season, but the 6-foot-5, 307-pound Faneca was still its mainstay. Although he did allow a career-high seven sacks, he started every game and paved the way for Willie Parker's 1,000-yard rushing season. More impressively, he wasn't flagged for holding all season.

By contrast, Miami had 91 penalties for over 700 yards in 2007, and the O-line contributed its share.

Best of all, though, Faneca knows what it's like to win. A leader in the Pittsburgh locker room, he made it clear at the beginning of this past season that he was dissatisfied with Steeler management and wasn't coming back. Then, he just stopped talking and played as hard as always.

Another possibility, if Faneca turns out not to be an option, is another proven winner -- Ryan Lilja of Indianapolis. The Colts signed him to a one-year, $1.3 million contract last season, and the Dolphins will have to do a lot better than that.

Either Lilja or Faneca would go along way toward upgrading the Dolphins, both in the trenches and in the locker room. There is also the option of drafting the best available offensive lineman in the second round, guard or tackle, and moving bodies around until all the positions are covered. Or, the Dolphins could sign Faneca or Lilja along with Hadnot.

Based on 2007, Liwienski and Lekkerkerker are not the best option.
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