Chris Perkins: Dolphins’ Austin Jackson confident he can handle starting right tackle duties

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Austin Jackson’s confidence level is high. The Dolphins’ starting right tackle said so himself after Friday’s preseason opener against Atlanta.

And if you can take Jackson at his word, you should feel OK about his ability to secure the starting job and, more importantly, protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side this season.

“I think my best quality is I’m able to get ready for anything, no matter the situation, especially with football,” Jackson said after the Falcons game. “I’m always able to prepare myself and keep myself prepared.”

The Dolphins are hoping Jackson’s confidence turns into justification of a 2020 first-round pick. The verdict is still out on that one.

In other words, there’s a lot riding on Jackson’s confidence turning into good play.

On Friday, Jackson’s first live action since November, he did OK. But he needs to be better. He had at least one mental error. Coach Mike McDaniel said he was excited Jackson had that mental error on a run play.

“The first thing I told him was like, ‘Dude, I was so fired up for an M.E., and I meant it and the reason why was because we really collectively as a coaching staff try to go along the journey with the player, and this dude has gone all-in. And what happens when you go all-in and you’re putting your best foot forward you tend to care a lot.

“One of the functions of him playing, which were several, is you get that feeling of competitive tackle football and what happens when something doesn’t go right. And what happens is he kept his technique, he ended up responding immediately and had some really good pass protection and run blocks. That’s what you’re looking for to make purpose of these exhibition games.”

Jackson, who played beside right guard Lester Cotton, played the Dolphins’ first two possessions, a total of 14 snaps, before being replaced by Cedric Ogbuehi, the 2015 first-round pick by Cincinnati who played 19 snaps. Later, James Tunstall, the undrafted rookie out of the University of Cincinnati, took over at right tackle and played 33 snaps.

The Dolphins’ first play of the game against Atlanta saw running back Myles Gaskins go right for a modest 3-yard gain. Jackson helped lead the way.

On second down, Jackson was good in pass blocking. On the next play, a first down run left by Gaskin, Jackson also executed a good block.

On and on it went for the eight-play possession that ended in an interception.

Jackson, a projected starter who — granted, was playing against backups — was good.

Jackson had some pass protection issues on the first down of the next possession. And he whiffed on a 1-yard loss by Gaskin to the right later in the possession. That wasn’t good.

During this week’s joint practices with the Texans at Houston, Jackson will probably spend some time blocking defensive end Will Anderson Jr., the No. 3 pick of the NFL draft out of Alabama.

It’s not yet known how much time Jackson will get in Saturday’s game against the Texans, but considering he only played two games last season (the opener against New England and the November game against Houston) due to ankle injuries, he probably needs the work more than other starters.

It’s a mild surprise the Dolphins didn’t do more in the offseason to secure a starting-caliber right tackle to at least give Jackson training camp competition.

But general manager Chris Grier, who selected Jackson, and McDaniel, whose prized quarterback, Tagovailoa, missed about five games last season due to concussion issues, both express confidence Jackson can handle the job.

Jackson has no doubt he’ll meet the challenge.

“I had a whole year to recover and watch a lot of film to grade myself, so (my) confidence level is high going into the season,” Jackson said.

For now, Jackson stands as kind of the swing factor for the Dolphins’ three first-round selections of the 2020 draft, two of which didn’t have the fifth-year options on their contracts secured. You can already know which two were omitted.

Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, the 30th selection, has been a disappointment so far.

Tagovailoa was a strong pick, but there’s a belief by many Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert would have been a better pick.

So if Jackson isn’t up to the task, you could eventually argue the Dolphins’ made the wrong choice on all three of their 2020 first-round picks.

Just as worrisome is you could also argue the Dolphins have put Tagovailoa, and their entire season, in jeopardy by not having a reliable right tackle to protect Tagovailoa’s blind side.

Viewed under that lens, Jackson might be just as valuable as Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, one of the team’s best on and off the field.

Jackson maintains he can meet the challenge. The Dolphins hope he’s correct.