Dolphins Fire OL Coach Applebaum
Stop us if you've heard this one before, but the Miami Dolphins are looking for an offensive line coach.
Again.
The revolving door at the position on the coaching staff is moving again with the news that the team has fired Matt Applebaum after just one season on the job.
Applebaum was hired last offseason from the collegiate ranks, coming over from Boston College.
The offensive line showed clear improvement in the 2022 season, allowing five fewer sacks than in 2021 and upping the rushing average from 3.5 to 4.3.
It needs to be mentioned that the Dolphins offensive line had better personnel this past season after the additions of Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead and center Connor Williams via free agency.
Applebaum becomes the fifth assistant coach fired since the Dolphins' playoff loss against the Buffalo Bills, as he joined defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, outside linebackers coach Ty McKenzie, assistant linebackers coach Steve Ferentz and safeties coach Steve Gregory.
In addition. defensive assistant Patrick Surtain left to become DB coach at Florida State.
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THE DOLPHINS O-LINE IN 2022
In evaluating Applebaum's performance in 2022, it's only fair to consider the injuries on the offensive line.
Starting right tackle Austin Jackson played only two games because of ankle injuries, left guard Liam Eichenberg was limited to 10 games, and Armstead missed four games because of a wide variety of injuries.
Because of injuries, the Dolphins ended up using four different starting right tackles during the season — Jackson, Greg Little, Brandon Shell and Robert Hunt for the playoff game.
The running game was spotty, but a lot of it had to do with the Dolphins focusing on their passing game.
The running game played a big role in the victories against the Cleveland Browns and playoff-clincher against the New York Jets and it was the biggest reason the Dolphins had a chance to beat the Bills at Highmark Stadium in December.
While it was Applebaum who held the title of O-line coach, offensive coordinator Frank Smith also did a lot of work with the guys up front.
UNSTABLE DOLPHINS POSITION
When he was hired last offseason, Applebaum replaced Lemuel Jeanpierre, who was retained to serve as Applebaum's new assistant.
With Applebaum gone, the Dolphins will begin the 2023 season with a new offensive line coach for a seventh consecutive year.
This regrettable run began in 2017 with Chris Foerster, who then was followed by Jeremiah Washburn in 2018, Dave DeGuglielmo in 2019, Steve Marshall in 2020, Jeanpierre and Applebaum.
Pat Flaherty was hired to coach the O-line in 2019, but he was gone just days into the starting of training camp.
Ideally, whoever the Dolphins hire to replace Applebaum will be around more than just one year.
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