Michael Deiter has technically never earned a starting spot with the Miami Dolphins.
In his rookie season his status as a 2019 third-round draft pick got the former Wisconsin standout elevated up the depth chart quicker than he deserved, placed into the starting lineup as a left guard before he was ready, and that forced promotion led to his position coach [Pat Flaherty] being fired one week into training camp — a day after he said Deiter wasn’t ready.
Deiter struggled as a starter that season for seemingly the worst line in franchise history, and was subsequently replaced in the offseason with draftees, and moved to center, where he sat and watched for all but one game of his second season.
Fast forward to the 2021 season and Miami let veteran center Ted Karras leave as a free agent, signed veteran starter Matt Skura, but didn’t let him compete with Deiter for the center spot during training camp.
Skura got cut at the end of camp as Miami traded for Greg Mancz to serve as the backup. Deiter started the first three games of the season before suffering a foot and calf injury that sidelined him for nine weeks.
In that time the Dolphins needed to use three centers just to make it through Deiter’s absence, and Miami’s coaches later acknowledged that lackluster play from the center position was holding the offense back. When Deiter returned for the final five games of 2021, he delivered an uninspiring performance for yet another disappointing Dolphins offensive line.
That is the story arch of Deiter’s NFL career.
“I’m excited that I have a chance to come out here and compete and play for the Dolphins another year. That’s all I can focus on,” Deiter said following Wednesday’s training session. “I just need to get ready to compete again this year.”
But with who?
If the Dolphins’ rebuilt offensive line fails — yet again — I’d put my money on center being the reason why, and that’s because Deiter hasn’t proven he’s an NFL starter yet.
And what’s troubling is that the Dolphins haven’t added any legitimate competition for Deiter this offseason. Not in free agency, and not in last week’s draft.
It’s not too late to do so, considering some quality centers are still available as free agents. Many of which will likely continue their search for work until training camp opens in late July.
But what would be the harm in adding a player like J.C. Tretter now, giving the 31-year-old equal time to learn this new offense, and forcing Deiter to outperform the eight-year veteran, who has started 90 games and was a leader for one of the NFL’s best run-blocking offensive lines for the past four seasons?
There is none. Yet general manager Chris Grier hasn’t done it yet.
“Just because the draft is over doesn’t mean we are going to stop looking to improve the roster,” Grier said last week. “We’ll keep working through that all spring and through the summer.”
Maybe the plan is to move another lineman — Solomon Kindley, Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg or Greg Little — to center like Miami did with Deiter two years ago, and have them battle it out. Maybe the Dolphins are just being hush-hush about that master plan, or the experimentation going on.
Let’s hope that’s the case because I find it problematic that Deiter’s the only person on Miami’s roster that doesn’t have a legitimate backup, and the only player outside of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa who will seemingly be gifted his starting spot — again.
This can’t be a wise approach, even with a new coaching staff.
Miami shouldn’t be waiting until they see these offensive linemen in pads before concluding, “We have a problem!” like they did last year late in training camp when it trade for Little and Mancz before the regular season started.
Has Grier not whiffed enough while trying to rebuild this offensive line? Deiter’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, so this can’t be about the financial investment made.
Is this about Grier proving he wasn’t wrong in his initial evaluation of Deiter? That would not be the right approach considering his recent track record with offensive linemen.
I’d be hedging my bets at center if I were the Dolphins. If Deiter’s going to be the 2022 starter at that important position, let’s hope it’s a role he actually earns.
