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To the left, to the left, to the right, to the right

So with the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins have selected Jake Long, offensive tackle, Michigan. The 6′7″, 315 pound All-American and his $57.5 million contract will anchor the left side of the Miami offensive line for the next five years. But what will happen to the Phins’ 2004 first round pick, Vernon Carey?

Carey spent the first two years of his career at right tackle and was ungodly. In 2005, he played in all 16 games, starting 14 of them. He was on the field for all but one offensive snap in Miami’s last 11 games. That year, the Dolphins ranked seventh in the league in yards per carry (4.3) and fourth in sacks allowed (26). In 2006, he started every game at right tackle only missing one of the year’s offensive snaps. The Dolphins once again averaged more than 4 yards per carry (4.2). It was the first time in franchise history that they had done so in back-to-back seasons. But, believe it or not, Carey’s most successful season was 2007 when Cam Cameron moved him to left tackle. Once again, he started every one of the Dolphins’ 16 contests. Miami gave up 42 sacks, tenth most in the league but only six of them came courtesy of Carey. Which is why he should stay put this season and Long should move to right tackle.

By keeping Carey on the left side of the line, the Dolphins would maintain the superb protection he provided them with last season and the same protection that would otherwise be provided by Long, who is being projected by many draft experts to be a better right tackle than left tackle. If he wound up in St. Louis, Atlanta, Kansas City or New York, that is where he was going to be playing. Miami already has a mainstay at center in Samson Satele. All Bill Parcells would have to do then to give the Dolphins a dominant, top tier offensive line? Play around with the guards a little bit.

The usually reliable Adam Schefter is reporting that the Dolphins will move Carey back to right tackle this season but it just doesn’t seem very Parcells-like to start a rookie at left tackle, leaving his quarterback susceptible to the blind side blitz. If Parcells really is sold on Long’s future as a left tackle, Carey should be shifted to left guard. As Robert Gallery and Leonard Davis have proven, that move usually works out for the best. However, by no means should Carey go back to the right side.

Stay tuned to The Phish Tank for live coverage of the 2008 NFL Draft all weekend long.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm and is filed under NFL Draft. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.