Apparently the Miami Dolphins and other league experts are starting to wonder if top draft pick Jake Long would be better suited to play right tackle instead of left tackle.

Nobody is doubting that Long will be a solid-to-excellent tackle wherever he ends up. But NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock says Long struggled in college some against the top speedy pass rushers with NFL skills while projecting that he can be a star road grader of a right tackle. He went as far in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel as suggesting that the Dolphins keep Vernon Carey at left tackle for awhile as Long adjusts to the rigors of the NFL.

Zoneblitz endorsed taking Long as the top pick in April, figuring that if there is no clarity as to who the top pick should be it’s hard to go wrong solidifying yourself in the trenches. And while it would be better if Long developed into a franchise left tackle, if he’s better on the right side and solidifies himself as a stud run blocker, the Dolphins will still be better off.

If it fits his comfort zone better, then go ahead and start him on the right side for a year or two. If it looks like he gets the footwork down over the next couple years he can always move to the left side. But in all likelihood, with the collection of Josh McCown, Chad Henne and John Beck at quarterback, the Dolphins aren’t going to be winning a lot of games through the air anyway, if at all.

So let Long gain some confidence while helping Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams eat clock on the ground. He’s still likely to be the best offensive lineman this team has had since Richmond Webb left after the 2000 season.