Why Billy Turner Is Miami Dolphins' Best Bet at Right Guard

There are plenty of reasons that Billy Turner could, and should, end up winning his battle for a starting spot at right guard.

One of the first of those reasons could be because he's not Dallas Thomas.

Both Turner and Thomas played tackle in college, with Thomas entering the NFL in 2013 and Turner entering the league in 2014. Both men took a redshirt year as rookies, with Thomas playing two snaps in the 2013 regular season and Turner playing 17 snaps in his first season in the league.

The Miami Dolphins appear to have at least some level of confidence that Turner can be an upgrade over last year, when Daryn Colledge was the primary left guard. They drafted Jamil Douglas in the fourth round of this year's draft, and the Arizona State rookie could feasibly start in his first year in the NFL—he's the first true fit in a zone scheme the Dolphins have drafted at guard.

But they let both Colledge and veteran center Samson Satele walk in free agency. Satele's departure prompts a move back to center for veteran Mike Pouncey, but vacates the spot he filled last year at right guard. That appears to be where Turner will slot in.

Thomas has had multiple opportunities to claim the starting job for his own over the past two years, but has failed to do so, being beaten out by Colledge in 2014 after (essentially) taking a redshirt year in 2013. Thomas allowed seven sacks in 2014 at right tackle, according to Pro Football Focus, and although he didn't allow any sacks at guard last season, he just hasn't shown the consistency to warrant a spot.

Neither has Turner, but he never had a chance in seeing such a limited role as a rookie. 

When it comes to his skill set, Turner is a fit at guard. NFL.com's Nolan Nawrocki described him as "aware [enough] to handle stunts" and as possessing "a nice combination of foot quickness, punch strength and nastiness," which all sound like traits necessary to playing guard in the NFL. If he's going to make the successful transition, those traits will be his building blocks. 

There's a lot at stake here; quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been the league's most heavily sacked quarterback over the past two seasons, with 104 sacks in that span, and the Dolphins are ostensibly leaving Tannehill's fate in the hands of a rookie and one of two converted tackles.

"We believe these guys have talent," general manager Dennis Hickey said of Thomas and Turner, via Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "They just have to take the next step. Our coaches have to get these guys to take that next step."

It doesn't have to be that way. The Dolphins also have veteran linemen J.D. Walton, Jeff Linkenbach and Jacques McClendon who could all potentially compete for starting spots. The three were signed to one-year deals this offseason, and any of them could potentially be inserted into the starting lineup if neither Turner nor Thomas shows the necessary improvement.

Despite the presence of the three veterans, Hickey thinks the two young guns could be the answer if they can only improve their consistency.

"Both are big guys, athletes who are light on their feet and have length," Hickey said. "It's just a matter of improving their consistency in their play. With fairness to Dallas, we have to have him play in one spot, at guard."

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, both Turner and Thomas have taken steps forward at organized team activities—though those steps forward could be characterized more for a lack of missteps than proving oneself as a formidable option:

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Speaking of Ryan Tannehill's health, there was no grand moment of embarrassment for the offensive line—particularly the guards—today. Dallas Thomas was fine. Billy Turner was fine. For Thomas, that was an improvement over last Monday's open OTA. Rookie Jamil Douglas did take some first-team snaps over Thomas. Veteran Sam Brenner did get a handful of first-team snaps over Turner. Coaches are just mixing and matching at this point.

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It will be difficult to make concrete statements of support for one potential starter over another at this stage in the offseason program, when players still haven't even practiced in full pads and begun hitting one another.

But based off of Thomas' past struggles and Turner's potential, there's reason to believe last year's redshirt rookie could be this year's key starter on the offensive line at guard.