After starts and stops, Liam Eichenberg, Dolphins confident this year will be different

MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins offensive linemen Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson are separated by one year and two dozen draft slots.

They’re linked by much more.

Both were high draft picks expected to go a long way toward filling the team’s longstanding need at tackle. When those plans didn’t pan out, both saw time at guard, creating the need to sign Terron Armstead in free agency last year, although Jackson has since moved back to right tackle. Both also suffered injuries keeping them out an extended time. And they’re the most-criticized offensive linemen by Dolphins fans.

That hasn’t stopped the Dolphins from expressing confidence that 2023 will be different for both. That those injuries merely delayed them as they were on the brink of breakthroughs.

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If the Dolphins go 2-for-2 with those expectations, great.

But what if they go 1-for-2?

That still would give them four quality starters on the line, which in an era of free agency — just look at Armstead leaving the Saints — should be enough to elevate the line higher than it has been in ages.

Liam Eichenberg also dabbles at center

So what about Eichenberg?

He’s favored to be Miami’s starting left guard in his third season after the Dolphins traded up to take him in the second round in 2021, costing them an extra third-rounder in the process.

With summer around the corner, though, it’s that time when teams experiment and use players out of position to prep them for emergencies.

Which is a long way of saying the phrase “center Liam Eichenberg.”

Yes, Eichenberg has dabbled in the middle on days when Connor Williams hasn’t worked out with the team. Williams clearly owns the job and even offered Eichenberg advice.

“Just get the ball to the quarterback,” Williams said.

OK, maybe it’s not the most earth-shattering revelation about the position, but every bit helps. How much prior time had Eichenberg spent at center?

“Uh, none,” he said.

As if to put out fires before even a spark appears, Eichenberg added, “Just training at multiple positions. Just trying to get a better understanding of the offense. And you know, doing what the team needs me to do.”

Left guard clearly is Eichenberg's day job

There isn’t any doubt what the team needs most. It needs Eichenberg to own the left guard job.

“I’m going to compete every single day to start at left guard,” Eichenberg said. “You know, I’ve just got to keep improving.”

Toward that end, Eichenberg said his footwork is better and he’s “a lot” stronger. He agreed he was on the right track going into the Lions game Oct. 30, when he suffered a knee injury.

“Things started to click a little bit better for me, kind of understanding how I need to play at guard,” said Eichenberg, who missed eight games, including the wild-card loss in Buffalo.

Eichenberg knows playing guard with a tackle’s mindset won’t work.

“Just sitting back like a tackle, you just can’t do that,” Eichenberg said. “The biggest thing I need is to kind of take the fight to the defensive line and establish that pocket more.”

In the eyes of Pro Football Focus, Eichenberg has a climb ahead of him. PFF rated him 75th out of 77 guards and placed him in the bottom five in both run blocking and pass protection.

General manager Chris Grier said earlier this offseason that he’s optimistic we haven’t seen the best of Eichenberg or Jackson.

“This would be the first offense they will be in for two years in a row,” Grier said. “Liam showed some really good signs of playing well for stretches after adjusting to the system and being asked to do stuff he had never done before. We actually joked before one of our games when he got hurt, a coach and a GM of another team came over and was like, ‘Man, losing Eichenberg hurt, because he said he’d been playing really well for you.’ So it’s encouraging to hear that from others.”

Eichenberg said he’s “100 percent” convinced he will be a quality starter in the NFL.

“I think I’ve improved every offseason so far,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to the season.”

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at  hhabib@pbpost.com and followed on Twitter  @gunnerhal.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins, guard Liam Eichenberg expect this year to be different