The Sports Xchange

DAVIE, Fla. — Through the first four days of Miami Dolphins training camp, including two practices in full pads, the defense is ahead of the offense. Coach Joe Philbin also admitted his troubled offensive line might have some protection issues.

“If you had to say what was a general reaction,” Philbin said after watching his offensive linemen take a beating Sunday, “I would say that we have to be a little firmer (with the) pocket.”

Miami has issues at both guard positions. At left guard, Dallas Thomas is being pushed by rookie Jamil Douglas, and at right guard, Billy Turner is being pushed by Jeff Linkenbach and Sam Brenner.

Talks are ongoing between the Dolphins and free agent guard Evan Mathis, the Pro Bowl player who was with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, but nothing seems imminent.

Miami’s problems at guard threaten to derail a promising offense. Pressure up the middle is doing damage in drills and 11-on-11 in the passing game. Miami’s run game, despite facing tackle Ndamukong Suh every day, looks respectable. However, the guard problem remains among the Dolphins’ top worries.

–Left tackle Branden Albert, who tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee last season, participated in some walk-through speed drills Sunday, increasing the hopes that he could be ready for the Sept. 13 opener.

Usually Albert is inside the facility doing rehabilitation work during that time of practice. The fact that he was in full pads, even though he didn’t make any contact, was promising.

Albert, a Pro Bowl player in 2013 for the Kansas City Chiefs, is among Miami’s best players, and his return could salvage a floundering offensive line that already has questions at both guard positions. So far left tackle Jason Fox looks like a decent as a replacement for Albert, but considering Albert is among the NFL’s best at his position, quarterback Ryan Tannehill probably would feel much safer with Albert protecting his blind side.

–Dolphins owner Steve Ross, who dealt with the league and a Wells Report regarding Bullygate in 2013, gave commissioner Roger Goodell a vote of confidence with the way he handled the Deflategate situation.

“I have a lot of confidence in Roger and the league office,” Ross said. “I’ve dealt with him, as you know, with a little controversy not too long ago, and they’re very objective. I don’t have all of the facts, I don’t think any of us really have all of the facts, but I think the league takes everything into consideration, and I have a lot of faith in what the league rules.

“When it happens to you, everybody is always upset, it’s a natural reaction. I have a lot of confidence that the league has done the right thing. They have the facts, and I think Roger (Goodell) tries to treat everybody fairly.”

–Middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard is making a move toward overtaking Koa Misi for the starting job. If that happens, look for Misi to move back to strong-side linebacker. That would reduce Chris McCain to a situational pass rusher.

There are still questions about the tackling ability of the linebackers. The unit was a major reason Miami finished 24th in run defense last season at 121 yards per game. Weak-side linebacker Jelani Jenkins (110 tackles last season) seems the only sure thing among the starters in the Dolphins’ 4-3 scheme.

The linebackers are considered the weak link on a defense that features what should be one of the best defensive lines in the NFL and a secondary that includes Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes.

–Veteran cornerback Brice McCain might be overtaking Jamar Taylor as the starter on the right side. McCain, whom many thought would be a nickel back when he signed as a free agent from the Pittsburgh Steelers during the offseason, seems more active and athletic than Taylor.

Interestingly, Miami is experimenting with Taylor at nickel, a position he played briefly last season but never played previously at any level.

–Miami’s defensive left side is loaded. Among tackle Ndamukong Suh, end Cam Wake and cornerback Brent Grimes, there are 11 Pro Bowls and a whole lot of nightmares for opposing offenses.

With such star power, it is doubtful anyone will have sustained success going to the left side of the Dolphins’ defense. However, Wake wants to dissuade offenses from going to the other side.

“No, they have to run left every single time, throw left every single time,” he said. “Please quote that, pass it on to all the (offensive) coordinators in the rest of the league.”

–Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is having a strong training camp through four days. He has thrown only one interception, and his deep passes, a sore spot last season, seem clearly improved.

–Running back Lamar Miller (1,099 yards rushing in 2014) is increasing his lead over the field for ball-carrying duties. That is good and bad. Miller, in the final year of his contract, has added seven pounds and is up to 223. He hasn’t lost any speed and seems poised for another big season.

However, the Dolphins ideally want him to average maybe 13-15 carries a game. And none of the other backs is making a strong move toward picking up the other carries. LaMichael James and Damien Williams are the best of the rest so far, but rookie Jay Ajayi made his presence felt in the two full-pads practices.