Jun
12
It’s fair to suggest that the Miami Dolphins struck gold with their first-round pick in 2014 thanks to the selection of right tackle Ja‘Wuan James.
It’s also fair to suggest that James still has a lot to improve after a very uneven rookie season.
Those improvements will be made by James, who will be Miami’s most improved starter in 2015.
James’ 2014 season started off very good, with plenty of high marks from Pro Football Focus. After Week 2, PFF named James as the sixth best offensive tackle in the league (Branden Albert was ranked first) with a grade of 4.1.
It was a fair ranking for James, who played the first eight games of the season at right tackle and averaged a grade of 0.2 (in total he graded out at 1.6 in that time).
In Week 10 against Detroit, James was moved to left tackle to replace Branden Albert, who wound up being knocked out for the season. This is where the decline started.
In James’ last eight games at left tackle, he graded out at minus-30 and only graded positively twice after he had graded positively four times in his first eight games. He’d finish with a grade of minus-28.4.
Pro Football Focus
Albert’s injury not only affected James, but also had a domino effect on Miami’s entire offensive line, as Dallas Thomas was inserted at right tackle while James played left tackle. Thomas was a Jonathan Martin-like disaster at tackle, which qualifies as the understatement of the season.
So far 2015 is looking better. Miami’s guards should be upgraded as Dallas Thomas is competing with rookie Jamil Douglas for one guard spot while Billy Turner (drafted in the third round in 2014) will take up the other guard spot.
There’s also the possibility of the recently released Evan Mathis coming to Miami as well. Per Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post, the Dolphins are likely to be one of his potential suitors.
Even without Mathis, Miami’s offensive line is expected to improve, and James’ improvement is a major part of that.
James’ good play at right tackle to start the 2014 season is one reason that gives hope. Head coach Joe Philbin pointed out in a press conference last season one of James’ best attributes, and a big reason why he should improve:
“I think Ja’Wuan, the thing that’s really impressive is he’s never been flustered one minute since he’s been here. He’s picked up the system extremely well. He’s got a lot of room for improvement, but I certainly like what he’s doing.”
James has also shown himself to be at his best in run blocking, where he graded out at 0.3. With his already-solid run blocking and the improvements that come with being in the league for a second year (including in pass-blocking situations), there’s no reason to think that James can’t improve.
Most importantly, James will start at right tackle once again, where he played his best in 2014.
The only question around James is will he be able to avoid the rookie wall that he hit in 2014, which coincided with his move to left tackle.
If he’s able to do that, he’ll be the most improved player not just on the offensive line, but on the team.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus.
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