Shelley

Smith

A sixth-round pick in 2010, Smith has yet to appear in an NFL game. He spent 2011 on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

Smith started six games -- four at left guard and two at right guard -- for the Rams last season, and he and Williams rotated in place of an injured Harvey Dahl at right guard for the final three weeks in 2012. Second-year OG Rok Watkins would also seem to be in the conversation for the starting left guard job.

Dahl will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, and head coach Jeff Fisher said that either Shelley Smith or Chris Williams will start at right guard for the final two weeks. Pro Football Focus graded Dahl out as an above-average guard this season, and he is signed through 2014.

After placing Harvey Dahl (torn biceps) on injured reserve prior to Week 16, Smith played 31 snaps while Williams played 24 last week against the Bucs. Both players held their own but weren’t overly spectacular. The offensive line sits atop the positions to address for the Rams in the offseason.

Garland is battling Shelley Smith, who signed a two-year, $5.65 million deal in March. That money would suggest Smith is the heavy favorite, but he bombed for the Dolphins last season. An ex-defensive lineman, Garland has only 47 snaps of experience, but is a fit for new coach Gary Kubiak’s zone-blocking scheme.

Smith visited Seattle earlier this week, but left without a contract. Smith has also received interest from Denver. It’s no coincidence that all three of these clubs run zone-blocking schemes. Smith can start in a ZBS.

Smith’s strength is run blocking, so it makes sense to use him on the strong side next to rookie RT Ja’Wuan James. From left to right, Miami’s projected first-team line is LT Branden Albert, LG Billy Turner, C Mike Pouncey, RG Smith, and RT James. Turner is trying to hold off Nate Garner and Dallas Thomas for snaps.

Converted-guard Shelley Smith has struggled with errant snaps and was benched in favor of Nate Garner after two more fumbled snaps Wednesday. If Smith’s struggles continue, the Dolphins could turn to Garner or free agent Samson Satele. The Dolphins’ offensive line remains a mess.

The lack of cohesion was unsurprising considering Smith was not informed of his position switch to center until two days before camp. Still, with Mike Pouncey sidelined until midseason, it’s an issue the Dolphins need to work out. The rest of the “rebuilt” line did not fare much better during the practice, with bookend tackles Brandon Albert and rookie Ja’Wuan James getting beat regularly.

Smith has “never played center at any level,” but the Dolphins are prioritizing run blocking on the pivot with incumbent C Mike Pouncey sidelined until midseason. Daryn Colledge is expected to fill the left guard spot, with Nate Garner, Dallas Thomas, and rookie Billy Turner competing opposite him. The Dolphins’ starting tackles are Branden Albert and first-round pick Ja’Wuan James.