MIAMI _ The Dolphins already have clarity on a few players who entered the season needing to prove worthy of being retained when the team is ready to contend again. Receiver DeVante Parker, tight end Mike Gesicki, and defensive back Eric Rowe top the list of players who have staked that claim.
But there are well over a dozen other Dolphins who still must make a compelling case to be projected for significant roles in 2020. And no position has more of those bubble players than the offensive line, a unit that has been competent at times and overwhelmed at others.
"You can't wave a magic wand and have (expletive) Superman out there," offensive-line coach Dave DeGuglielmo said Tuesday when asked about one of those players, Julien Davenport. "Anthony Munoz isn't going to wake up and stroll into my meeting room."
Four more games are needed to assess at least five players on this line. The Dolphins, for example, know that rookie guard Michael Deiter will be on their team next season. The question is whether he can be projected as a clear-cut, unquestioned 2020 starter heading into the offseason.
Asked if Deiter appears to be a long-term NFL starter, DeGuglielmo said: "I can't make assessment on anybody yet because he's a rookie. I don't think you can ever say anyone is a long-term anything."
OK then. So do you know what you have with Deiter? "I have a guy playing left guard through 12 games," he said. " ... I don't want to overinflate his production or lack of production in one game or another. It takes awhile for us to get a good read. On offensive linemen, it's different."
DeGuglielmo again withheld praise when asked how Deiter has played. "He's a rookie trying to find his way in this business," the coach said. "He's had experience blocking some of the toughest guys. Hopefully, it will serve him well going forward."
The lack of praise for Deiter was interesting when juxtaposed against DeGuglielmo's plaudits Tuesday for Jesse Davis and Daniel Kilgore, two veterans who also face questions.
There's no doubt Davis will be on the team in 2020, and he's a likely starter. The question is whether Miami leaves him at right tackle or moves him back to guard.
DeGuglielmo said Davis looked like a big-time, legitimate NFL right tackle on Sunday against Philadelphia and that it was his best game to date.
The Dolphins _ if they choose to go younger at center in 2020 _ can clear out Kilgore's entire $3.6 million cap hit (and $3.1 million salary) by releasing him. But it doesn't sound like DeGuglielmo will advocate that when his views about Kilgore, 31, are eventually solicited by Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier.
"Dan has done a good job," DeGuglielmo said. "The middle of our pocket looks different. Examine how the middle of our pocket looks on a play-by-play basis. Danny is a key component making sure that middle is solid. "
The Dolphins want to give Davenport a look to see if they have a potential starting tackle _ which seems increasingly unlikely _ or a No. 3 tackle. In just four games _ including the past two at left tackle _ Davenport has allowed 21 pressures, five sacks, and seven hits.
"He's had his hard moments and had really good moments at the end of that game (Sunday)," DeGuglielmo said. "Davenport wasn't the only problem the other day. We're equally to blame, myself included. We've got to find a way to get guys in the right position."
Meanwhile, right guard Shaq Calhoun has four more games to prove he's worthy of consideration for a starting job in 2020. Calhoun, considered one of the best undrafted interior linemen this past spring, has been uneven in two consecutive starts.
"He's a quick player; he can move very quickly for his size," DeGuglielmo said. "In this day and age, you need guys that can move. You're playing against really athletic defensive linemen. Obviously, there's some deficiencies in all of our athletes up front, and he's no exception. He's got some size issues and some anchor issues he needs to work on. He's one of those program kind of guys you want to see if we can help develop. Drills very well. Has volumes of notebooks filled throughout the season. Takes more notes than anybody."
These final four games will be especially meaningful for at least three other offensive players: Durham Smythe (needs to prove he's worthy of being projected as the No. 2 tight end in 2020) and running backs Patrick Laird and Myles Gaskin, who both have a chance to show the Dolphins they're worthy of rotation jobs next season.
Smythe was considered an elite blocker at Notre Dame. How has his NFL blocking been?
"As blocker, he's had his ups and downs but more ups," tight-ends coach George Godsey said. "This year, he's put on 20 pounds from the end of last year; that's helped him. He's had a good year. Like to see him play more if we could. Sometimes, we end up getting in a passing game and Mike's (Gesicki) been out there."
With Kalen Ballage limited by an Achilles' injury, the Dolphins want to see what they have in Laird and Gaskin. Laird has 16 carries for 36 yards and 12 catches for 109 yards. Gaskin has seven carries for 30 yards and 13 yards on three receptions.
Gaskin "is fast; you would love to get him in space because of his shiftiness and speed to see if he can do something to make people miss," running-backs coach Eric Studesville said. "He catches the ball much better than I thought he would have."
