The Dolphins plan to use tackle Laremy Tunsil at guard this year, since they already have a pair of starting tackles. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Tunsil will be a starting guard.
Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post explains that Tunsil hasn’t been guaranteed a starting job.
“That’s how we’re rolling. You have to earn your spot,” coach Adam Gase said regarding Tunsil, via Abramson. “I don’t think you’ve really seen anybody get plugged in and get anointed anything. Everybody is battling. That’s what we want. We want competition and we want guys to earn their spots.”
It’s a good approach. Rookies who get handed things often struggle to justify themselves. Forcing a rookie to work his way up the depth chart removes the sense of entitlement, and also can give the player a sense of confidence -- as long as he believes that the competition he won was genuine.
Tunsil should be able to win a genuine competition with Dallas Thomas, who wasn’t good last year. If Tunsil can’t fairly and squarely beat out Thomas, the Dolphins and Tunsil may have a real problem.