The Miami Dolphins aren’t saying who will start at right guard against the New York Jets on Monday night.
After losing starter James Daniels on his third snap of the season to a pectoral injury that sent him to injured reserve, the Dolphins turned to fifth-year lineman Kion Smith to take over and make his first career NFL starts. But Miami coaches benched Smith in the second half of a Week 3 loss to the Buffalo Bills, turning to former 49ers and Titans starter Daniel Brunskill to take over.
But Brunskill struggled too, leaving the Dolphins with no clear answer at the position heading into Week 4.
“Ultimately, you’re working through all the scenarios that best can put us in positions,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said Friday. “I think that you just want to make sure that for us, we’re having the right guys, right situation, and we want to put guys at the best position to be successful. I don’t think it’s necessarily a competition; we’re just trying to work to find the right fit.
“I think we’re going to work the process all the way through the week to make sure we have what decision we’re going with for Monday night.”
The third option for the Dolphins is former New England Patriots first-round pick Cole Strange, who was scooped up by Miami off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad after Week 1. While Strange was active in the last two weeks, he hasn’t yet played a snap with the Dolphins.
It seems, though, that the decision for Week 3 will be either Kion Smith or Brunskill against the Jets.
“We thought Daniel’s (Brunskill) veteran presence would be able to help us,” Frank Smith said of the decision to bench Kion Smith. “It was a decision made at the moment that we thought would help. Ultimately, we talked with Kion (Smith), he’s a great guy and he understands and he’s preparing. We’re all working together to make sure we can be on the same page and be successful Monday.”
Smith has a 35.2 grade from Pro Football Focus so far this season and has been credited with allowing three pressures in 104 pass blocking snaps. While Brunskill has a much higher run blocking grade from PFF and a 53.7 grade overall, he allowed two pressures in only 16 pass blocking snaps.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins not saying who will start at right guard in Week 4
Reporting by Adam Stites, Dolphins Wire / Dolphins Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
