Dolphins part ways with offensive line coach Matt Applebaum

The Dolphins have parted ways with offensive line coach Matt Applebaum, a league source confirmed Thursday.

According to Outkick.com, coach Mike McDaniel has begun a search for Applebaum’s replacement and already has interviewed Dan Rouchar, who was the Saints’ offensive line coach from 2017 through 2020 and was the team’s run game coordinator and tight ends coach the past two years.

Other candidates are expected to be interviewed.

The Dolphins hired Applebaum from the same position at Boston College and retained the 2021 offensive line coach, Lem Jeanpierre, as his assistant coach.

Players say that offensive coordinator Frank Smith also was very involved in the team’s offensive line coaching this past season. Smith previously was an assistant offensive line coach with the Saints.

One Dolphins lineman said in December that Applebaum, Jeanpierre and Smith seemed to complement each other well, offering different perspectives and input to the team’s linemen.

But McDaniel preferred to find someone else to lead the offensive line room.

The Dolphins’ offensive line improved significantly last season, thanks largely to the addition of Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead and center Connor Williams and the growth of right guard Rob Hunt.

The Dolphins’ front office smartly added veteran Brandon Shell in September and he gave the team solid work at right tackle while Austin Jackson was injured.

Miami allowed only 25 sacks, which was seventh-fewest in the league. Tua Tagovailoa receives some credit for that because of his quick release.

But the Dolphins’ 4.2 rushing average ranked 23rd in the league and Miami had the league’s fewest rushing attempts.

The Dolphins’ next offensive line coach will be their 10th in nine years. Brian Flores shuffled through four offensive line coaches in three years; the first of them, Pat Flaherty, was fired the first weekend of training camp in Flores’ first season.

Another, Jim Turner, lost his job in the Bullygate scandal. Another, Chris Foerster, was dismissed in 2017 after video surfaced of him reportedly using cocaine in his office.

Applebaum is the fifth confirmed Dolphins coach to be let go following this past season, joining defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, outside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie, safeties coach Steve Gregory and assistant linebackers coach Steve Ferentz.

Applebaum’s dismissal hasn’t yet been announced; the other four dismissals were announced.

According to a source, special teams coach Danny Crossman remains with the Dolphins.

Miami is hiring veteran NFL coach Vic Fangio as its defensive coordinator, with an announcement expected at some point in the next two weeks.