Report: Fins Warned Jerry About His Weight
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The 2013 Miami Dolphins offensive line is set at two positions, left guard and center. The Dolphins hope to be set at a third position, right guard, but it all rests on how much John Jerry wants the job.
According to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, the coaching staff of the Dolphins have told Jerry that he needs to keep weight off and come to camp in shape if he wants to be stay a member of the Miami Dolphins.
"It'll be interesting to see," Philbin told Salguero. "I know the big thing we said to him when he left is we want to see how much you weigh when you come back for the offseason program."
Jerry is a former third-round draft pick of the Dolphins and played the most snaps of any offensive player last season. But, his conditioning has been a constant issue as his weight has fluctuated possibly as high as almost 400 pounds.
Officially, the Dolphins list him at 345 pounds, which would be a good starting weight for him to come back to the facility at this year. Jerry could possibly drop to as low as 335-340 to increase his speed, which is needed for the zone-blocking scheme the Fins utilize.
If Jerry can't keep his weight under control, the Dolphins already have at least one contingency plan. The team signed Lance Louis this week who started for the Chicago Bears before suffering a knee injury last year.
When healthy, Louis could be a solid starter again for the Dolphins if need be.
Either way, the Dolphins still are looking at right tackle options including former UM star Eric Winston. The former Cane has been openly asking the Dolphins to sign him, but the Fins have been reluctant at best and may be waiting to see if the price comes down on Winston significantly.
If not, the team can look at the NFL Draft where a plethora of offensive line talent will likely be available when the Dolphins go on the clock at number 12 in the first round. The Dolphins could also choose to load up on linemen in the second and third rounds as well.
But, as the San Francisco 49ers proved last year, investing first-round picks in offensive linemen can often pay off in big ways if things fall into place with a good coaching staff and other players.
