Hadnot No longer Center

Cameron switches Hadnot to right guard

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted May 26 2007

DAVIE · The evolving and revolving Dolphins offensive line took another spin when coach Cam Cameron announced incumbent starting center Rex Hadnot is now the starting right guard. "Rex Hadnot can be as good a guard as I've been around, and that's a big plus for us," Cameron said after Friday's practice session, which was closed to the public. "If that light comes on there, look out, because we'll have us a heck of a player at right guard." Hadnot, 25, has plenty of experience at guard, including his first three seasons at the University of Houston as well as most of his first two seasons with the Dolphins. Hadnot was moved from right guard to center for the final three games of the 2005 season, before starting all 16 games there last year. At its current makeup, all five positions on the offensive line will be filled by different players from last year's season-opening starting unit. Hadnot joins left tackle Vernon Carey, who played right tackle last year, left guard Chris Liwienski, right tackle L.J. Shelton and either rookie Samson Satele or Johnathan Ingram at center. Shelton was moved from left tackle to right guard for the final 11 games last year. Hadnot, who has missed a few practices with a sore back, is attempting to plug a hole occupied by four different players last season: Bennie Anderson, Kendyl Jacox, Damion McIntosh and Shelton. Hadnot's shift back to guard creates an opening for Satele, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound second-round pick from Hawaii. He anchored a line that led the nation in total offense, passing offense and scoring last year. Cameron praised Ingram, 26, an undrafted college free agent who toiled in the Kansas City Chiefs' organization since 2003. He played in four regular-season games, all in 2005, and started at center his final two years at San Diego State. Dolphins offensive line coach Hudson Houck wants his linemen to learn multiple positions. Cameron said the 6-2, 325-pound Hadnot was a little large for center but the right body type for guard. Cameron also said Hadnot will still be making several calls from the guard slot. "The center's still going to make the calls, but, hey, our center, whoever that winds up being, will be the first guy to make the wrong call, and the guard can say `Hey, hey, hey,' and they'll switch it," Cameron said. "And, along those lines, in the shotgun, it's a huge bonus for when that center has his head between his legs in the shotgun, the right guard can become his eyes. And so now he can make the calls on the shotgun." Cameron has given Liwienski the starting nod at left guard after a brief competition with Dan Stevenson. "Liwienski's given us a steady veteran -- comes to work every day, is a pro, knows how to play the game," Cameron said. "He's played on some winning teams." Liwienski, 31, came in as an unrestricted free agent from the Cardinals in March. He was a key member of the Vikings' line that protected quarterback Daunte Culpepper from 2000-04 when he earned his three Pro Bowl berths. Harvey Fialkov can be reached at hfialkov@sun-sentinel.com