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Dolphins Have To Make Tough Decision About Wheeler

The Dolphins have a problem at linebacker, especially at the strong-side position manned by Philip Wheeler. 

The problem isn’t Wheeler (although that’s arguable) but with the nagging injury he is dealing with on his right thumb. 

Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel reports that Wheeler has been struggling with the injury for the last two weeks, and only recently were his other fingers exposed from the cast. 

Tackling is hard to do with only one arm (and at times Wheeler makes it look like it’s tough with two arms). If Wheeler is still struggling with the cast on his arm, it could cause more problems for the Dolphins linebackers. 

However, Kelly also points out that the Dolphins do have options if Wheeler is a no-go on Sunday. Jelani Jenkins, Jason Trusnik and Jonathan Freeny are all possibilities. 

If healthy (which right now is a huge question mark), preseason star rookie Chris McCain might also be an option. 

It’s a decision the Dolphins will have to make on game day, and it will greatly impact the defense. 

Smith To Start at Right Guard

The biggest preseason battle for the Dolphins was at the right guard position between free-agent pickup Shelley Smith and second-year player Dallas Thomas. 

During the preseason it looked like Smith was dominating that battle. That has been confirmed by head coach Joe Philbin, who, as Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post reports, named Smith the starter. 

Daryn Colledge won the starting left guard job as well, and according to Abramson, Philbin said this about the two players: “Now, it is all about performance. You have to go out each and every Sunday and perform at a high level, and this is Week 1. I’m very confident. I think they deserved it and earned it.”

For right now, these are the two best players for their respective jobs. Smith was a lot better than Thomas, while in Colledge’s case, it was a matter of rookie Billy Turner not being quite ready for the job yet, despite playing well in the preseason. 

Brandon Gibson Is Ready For a 2014 Comeback but Is Not Yet at 100 Percent

One of the darkest parts of Miami’s 2013 season was losing wide receiver Brandon Gibson halfway through the season in an October game against the Patriots. 

Gibson is now ready to begin his 2014 season against those same Patriots. 

However, don’t expect him at 100 percent, as Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald writes: “Just because he’s well enough to return to action doesn’t mean he’s 100 percent.”

Don’t be too scared off by that declaration though, as Gibson told Beasley, “We’ll see how I get moving the next couple of months. But for me, I’m out there and I’m able to do what I can do.” 

Gibson added, “We’ll see when the season’s over how I make out. My thing is to make sure I’m on the field as much as possible and be there for my team.”

Gibson had a good preseason, catching four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown while also displaying his own rendition of the “shmoney dance.” He looked ready when on the field, if not 100 percent. 

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