Aaron Brewer is seeing signs that could change the conversation around Jonah Savaiinaea.
That matters in Miami, because Savaiinaea’s rookie year was a mess. The second-year guard was one of the lowest-graded players at his position in the NFL last season, and even on his best days, he was still far from good. The Dolphins invested in him, expected more, and came away with a player who looked overwhelmed far too often.
Now, though, there’s a different tone around him. Miami shifted him back to the right side of the line, and that adjustment has apparently unlocked real progress. Brewer said the growth has shown up across the board.
"Jonah (Saviianaea) I feel is better in all areas: pass game, run game. IQ of the game," Brewer said. "I feel like he developed a lot."
The Dolphins have clearly seen enough improvement to keep things simple this preseason. Savaiinaea barely played, sitting out games with most of the other starters, which suggests Miami didn’t feel he needed extra reps before the regular season.
There’s also been a noticeable change in how he’s playing. Savaiinaea is bringing more force now, something that was missing last season.
That lines up with the way the Dolphins are approaching their line under the new regime. This group isn’t being asked just to survive blocks for a few seconds anymore; the tone is different now.
Brewer has noticed more than just Savaiinaea, too. Rookie Kadyn Proctor has caught his attention after arriving with questions from the media about the consistency of his work ethic. Brewer said Proctor has shown he can handle both run and pass protections, but he also made it clear that the real evaluation comes now that the games count.
"We will get a better idea of where he is at."
Brewer also had plenty of praise for Proctor’s tools.
"That's an athletic big dude," Brewer said. "You don't see people that big be able to move how he move."
For Miami, the offensive line remains a major swing factor. Patrick Paul is set on the left side, Austin Jackson is on the right, and Brewer brings a steady presence at center. That leaves the guards as the biggest question marks, and that’s where Savaiinaea and Proctor have the most to prove.
Both are built for power football, and that fits what Miami wants to do when it’s time to go after defenders. The line should get better as the season goes on, but the biggest issue is straightforward: the Dolphins have to stay healthy.
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