The LA Chargers are hosting the Miami Dolphins in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the Week 1 slate. Both of these teams made the playoffs in the AFC in 2022 and squared off on primetime. Brandon Staley and the Chargers got the better of that matchup.
While Mike McDaniel is downplaying last year's loss to the Chargers, the fact of the matter is that the Bolts enter this matchup in a better place than last season. Los Angeles was playing a lot of second and third-stringers in that Miami game. That is not going to be the case this year.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins could be dealing with injuries of their own. Star left tackle Terron Armstead has not practiced at all as of Wednesday and McDaniel has been non-committal about whether or not he is going to play. Not only could Miami be without its starting left tackle but it appears that the team is gearing up to start someone who the fanbase is not confident in at all at left guard: Liam Eichenberg.
Updated Miami Dolphins Depth Chart pic.twitter.com/VGesnFYdlG
— Neal Driscoll (@NealDriscoll) September 5, 2023
Dolphins starting Liam Eichenberg against the Chargers would be a mistake
You know that it is probably bad news when there is a flock of Dolphins fans who have expressed their outrage on social media about Eichenberg being listed as the starting left guard. Just look at the replies to the post above, they are all centered around the dissatisfaction with Eichenberg being listed as the LG1.
There is still time for Miami to change course and start Isaiah Wynn at left guard and that is probably the best direction the team can take, especially if Armstead is not playing. Wynn played well in the preseason and Eichenberg has been really bad in his short NFL career.
Eichenberg allowed 27 quarterback pressures in 409 pass-blocking snaps last season, per Pro Football Focus. His 96.3% pass-blocking efficiency rate was the eighth-worst among the 52 guards with at least 400 pass-blocking snaps. PFF gave him the second-worst pass-blocking grade, only behind Houston's Kenyon Green.
So why would Miami even entertain the idea of Eichenberg starting? Miami drafted him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. As NFL teams have shown us time and time again, highly drafted players often get a longer leash than they deserve.
Chargers fans should be hoping that this depth chart stays true and that Eichenberg indeed starts at left guard for Miami. If it is him and a backup left tackle next to him then it is going to be a long day for Tua Tagovailoa.