Opportunities are awaiting young Dolphins linemen

By BARRY JACKSON

bjackson@MiamiHerald.com

The Dolphins have high hopes for their rookie and second-year linemen. Fact is, they better.

Consider the Dolphins began '06 training camp with seven defensive and seven offensive linemen with starting experience. This year, it would be three on defense (if out-of-sight Dan Wilkinson doesn't return) and four on offense. Gone are Kevin Carter, Jeff Zgonina, David Bowens, Damion McIntosh, Jeno James, Bennie Anderson, Seth McKinney.

That means opportunities await rookies Samson Satele and Paul Soliai, and second-year players Frederick Evans, Rodrique Wright and Joe Toledo. So what's the deal with these guys? Here's some of the buzz:

• Defense: GM Randy Mueller said Evans ''proved last year he's an NFL player, and hopefully Rodrique will, too.'' Zach Thomas raves about their work ethic; Keith Traylor loves Wright's pass-rushing skills; and Jason Taylor said: ``I don't think they can be good. Fred and Rod can be great.''

Evans, from Texas State, might have been the Dolphins' best rookie during training camp in '06, and some internally thought he should be playing. But he played in just one game. This spring, he was inspired by Taylor's text message: ''Your scholarship is over.'' Evans also is taking snaps at defensive end, where Akbar Gbaja-Biamila is Miami's only experienced backup.

Wright, sidelined last year by a rotator cuff injury that dropped him to the seventh round, weighed 316 as a senior at Texas but is now 294: ``It's a world of difference. I'm quicker off the ball and my strength is better. I have the total package.''

ESPN's Mel Kiper predicts Soliai could play ''a lot'' in '07. ''A big body in the middle is really important to this defense,'' Mueller said of Soliai, who gained 120 pounds (to 340) since his freshman year at Utah. ''We were really surprised he was'' available in Round 4. ''He's going to be a force in this league,'' draftnik and former Browns scout Russ Lande predicted.

In training camp, Kevin Vickerson (in NFL Europe) will join Evans, Wright and Soliai in competition to back up Vonnie Holliday and Traylor.

• Offense: Rex Hadnot's move to guard makes Satele the favorite at center ahead of Jonathan Ingram (his last NFL game was in '05, with K.C.). Lande said Satele, picked 60th overall, is undersized for a center (295 pounds) and sometimes was ''tossed to the ground'' at Hawaii. But scouts like his toughness, athleticism and quick feet. Line coach Hudson Houck has made major changes to his technique.

The Dolphins project former Vikings starter Chris Liwienski as a starting guard, although one Cardinals insider said he demonstrated last year he's backup material and subpar in pass protection.

Toledo -- who missed his rookie season because of a knee injury -- has lost ground after missing recent workouts with soreness in the foot he broke last season in a team sauna. He hopes to return by Friday's minicamp. Also competing: sixth-round guard/center Drew Mormino.

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