Chris Perkins: Dolphins great and Hall of Famer Larry Little weighs in on Miami’s offensive line

When I need to know about guard play, I go straight to the top Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame guard Larry Little.

We always have good conversations.

So, on the doorstep of free agency (March 12) and the draft (April 24), the two times the Dolphins can load up on their struggling guard position, I called Little to get his thoughts on the Dolphins guard play.

Do Littles thoughts mirror the Dolphins thoughts, meaning they seek athletic, agile offensive linemen, including guards, to run their outside zone scheme? Well see.

As usual, Little, who attended Miami Booker T.

Washington High School and then Bethune-Cookman before his distinguished Dolphins career (1969-80), had insightful observations.

He didnt have a whole lot specifically to say about left guard Robert Jones and right guard Liam Eichenberg, the potential free agents that most fans blame for most of the offensive lines troubles.

But Little has definite thoughts on others, and guard play in general.

Lets start with the good stuff.

Little likes offensive line coach Butch Barry.

Ive met the offensive line coach, Little began, and what I understand from talking to people in the organization is that the offensive line coach they have now is a pretty good offensive line coach.

Hes gotten the most out of what he has.

Little made another observation.

Ive seen some improvement with some of these guys over the years, especially since hes been here, Little said.

And Little liked ex-Dolphins guard Robert Hunt, who departed for Carolina in free agency last season.

Little liked Hunts physicality and his ability to position himself to make blocks.

He was a mauler type of guard, Little said.

A lot of these guys out now, theyre trying to position themselves and not getting in position to block the defensive lineman or the linebacker.

A guy like Robert Hunt, before he left, he was a baller.

I mean, this guy was really, really good.

And I didnt pay that much attention to the guards like I did back in the day.

But I do know when I saw him play, you know, he was an outstanding football player.

In general, Little thinks the Dolphins shuffle their guards too much.

It seems to me, too, that they keep sticking different guys in there expecting him to do the job, he said.

You have to give a guy time to develop.

Little, who played part of his career at right guard alongside Hall of Fame center Jim Langer and left guard Bob Kuechenberg, who many say should be in the Hall of Fame, said communication among the interior offensive linemen shouldnt be undervalued.

And this is what we had, Little said.

We coordinated well with the center.

We had different calls that we made.

The center would make a call, and we would understand the call that he was making.

Or we would make a call and the center would understand the call that we were making.

It takes continuity actually.

Thats the bottom line.

Working with the center.

Little said the basics of guard play hasnt changed much, even though the game has changed a lot since he played.

You have to have quickness to get up to the linebackers, he said.

These guys are so big nowadays, they dont have that kind of quickness to get up to the linebackers if they have to block him.

And the linebackers are faster.

But you still need strength.

You have defensive tackles that are nothing but bull-rushers, he said.

Theyre going to try to push you back into a quarterback.

At guard, youve got to learn how to sit down, get lower than him to keep you from getting pushed back.

As I listened to Little talk about continuity, communication, quickness, and strength, it occurred to me the Dolphins havent had those qualities at guard the last few years.

But it also occurred to me they could start attaining such guards this offseason through free agency and the draft.

Its not a lost cause.

I also thought it was telling that when I asked about Dolphins guards, the first name Little mentioned is Hunt, the guy who is no longer on the team.

Im not using Littles thoughts as a condemnation of the past.

Thats a waste of time.

Im using Littles thoughts as a path to success in the future.

Hopefully, the Dolphins will do the same..

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