Coaches still don’t know what to do with Dion Jordan
This is becoming a common theme now going on year 3, that this coaching staff still can not figure out where to best utilize Dion Jordan’s skills. It would be one thing if Jordan was undrafted or picked up in free-agency to provide depth on the team, but the team deliberately traded up in the first round of the 2013 draft to select Dion Jordan as the third overall pick in the entire Draft, so this is becoming an annoying broken record that the coaching staff can not figure out where to play him on defense. Well now entering year three most sports gambling fans will agree that time is quickly running out, and this up coming season is the make or break for Jordan’s future career with the Dolphins, so its time for both the coaches and Jordan to figure it out.
The underlining issue is that Jordan describes himself as a defensive end, however the Dolphins are pretty stout at defensive end with Wake, Vernon, and Shelby, all players that have outperformed Jordan and are well ahead of him on the depth chart. That is not necessarily a knock on Jordan, considering that Wake is a multi-year pro bowler, Vernon has been knocking on the pro bowl door the last two seasons, and Shelby has been above average whenever he has had the opportunity to be in the game. Also when Jordan has played he has been productive and has even played well in pass coverage and the special teams units. However, with that being said the coaching staff needs to either get more creative or move Jordan to the linebacker position in order to give him more playing time.
What makes this even more confusing is that the Dolphins are noticeably weak at the linebacker position, so it truly begs the question, why not switch Jordan to one of the linebacker positions? This could arguably kill two birds with one stone, by getting Jordan on the field more, and if he can continue to improve and produce impact plays than he could be the long term solution that Miami is desperately looking for at one of the line-backing positions. At least the coaching staff toyed with the idea last season, where they started Jordan at the strong side linebacker position in the season finale.
Could the season finale have been a preview of things to come for Jordan playing strong side linebacker this upcoming 2015 season? I would like to think so, however Philbin just announced to the media that the Dolphins will be focusing on continuing to develop Jordan as a defensive end for next season. Philbin’s argument is that “we want to get his training there on the line to improve so he can continually develop his pass rushing ability. If we play him at linebacker, move him there full time when is he going to practice rushing the passer?” My answer to Philbin is even if Jordan is lined up as a linebacker, that does not mean he can not have plays designed for him that would allow him to blitz and rush the passer.
A team can never have enough quality pass rushers, and there is no reason not to try to get all your quality pass rushers on the field at the same time. In addition Jordan has exhibited an ability to cover tight ends and even wide receivers in coverage, so the talent is there, now the coaches must find a way to get Jordan on the field at all cost, because you can not trade up to the number 3 position in the draft and in year three still not find a way to get him on the field. What does the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans think about moving Jordan to one of the full-time linebacker positions for next season?
Stephone Anthony LB Would make Great addition to Miami Dolphins Secondary: Round two draft picks with great upside!
https://youtu.be/NRcYu-RD68Q?t=106
Rookie fail? No draft class had fewer snaps in 2013 than the Miami Dolphins
December 31, 2013 | Filed in: 2013 Regular season.
Success in the NFL Draft can make or break a NFL team, and no draft class was less productive in 2013 than the Dolphins.
The Dolphins spent the most money of any team in free agency but failed to make the playoffs. Linebackers Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe were especially disappointing. A couple of stud rookies might have made a difference this season. Miami again has the 7th-most cap room with about $28 million to spend, so it will be interesting to see if the Dolphins spend big again or try to build a draft class that can have a more immediate impact.
Here are the NFL rookies with the most snaps this year. The list is, not surprisingly, dominated by offensive linemen. But it comes in a year when Miami really could have used help on the line. When the Dolphins traded up for the 3rd overall pick, it was assumed they’d draft LT/RT Lane Johnson. But they picked Jordan, and Johnson ended up with the fifth most snaps.Left tackle David Bakhtiari, a fourth-round draft choice by Green Bay, ended up with the third most snaps of any rookie
Everyone is just ready to give up on him. Cameron Wake took several years to get good enough to even get in the NFL. He has shown flashes and actually covered gronk and Megatron. How many players at any position can say that. The coaches don’t use him enough or correctly. How about on passing downs putting DJ on one side and Vernon on the other with Wake rushing up the middle beside Suh. Or put him in as a blitzing linebacker. A lot of options but this year he has to do something. No more excuses for him or the coaches. Can’t just trade him though. Wake is getting older and we need someone other than Shelby to take his spot
I agree with you Travis, he has shown quite a few flashes and like you said he was able to cover two of the most uncoverable players in the entire NFL. Sink or swim, just put him in the game and let the kid play, the coaches need to take the training wheels off already
I also wouldn’t put much faith in what Philbin said the other day. This is the time of year for smoke screens. I for one am not ready to give up on the kid because like you said in the article, the talent is there. The fact that he hasn’t quite put it all together is the only reason this kid is not on the national stage. But I keep thinking about the upside. What kind of player would we have if all of a sudden, this season he started getting more time at LB, DE, and DT next to Suh, like Pernel McPhee for the Ravens last year and actually started producing? We’ve seen him cover the elite guys mentioned both in red zone situations and down the field pretty succesfully. He is an elite talent, but there was always gonna be development, it was on his scouting report. We need this season to really know. All of that being said though, he needs to show, coming into this season, the kind of work ethic that might make us all forget about this past season mishaps that cost his development, and the kind that might afford him extra reps at different positions. But if he gets into any more trouble off the field, then I would ship his ass out for whatever I could get, because he himself should know that this year is make or break for him and that he has some wrongs that he needs to right. It would show he has no heart, at a position that I would say is about 20% technique, 30% talent, and 50% heart.
I agree with everything you said Diego, mainly that the talent is there and that he needs to put in the work and dedication this off-season and not have any types of issues and than the coaching staff must find anyway possible to get Jordan on the field. Sink or swim, we invested to high a pick, plus a trade for the pick, to not give this guy more snaps.
I am over Jordon I don’t think he was first round material. we wasted a valuable pick on him. I say if nothing else maybe Philly will trade us the OLman for him. win/win
If the coaching staff doesn’t know what to do with him, then the personal staff should-TRADE, get our third round pick back or better, or use w/14th pick and move up in round one. I do not quite think that he is done, but this is his last year w/the Fins to show or go!
DJ is a pure unadulterated BUST. Ive said it all along. He’s a one trick pony as an OLB, and weak setting the edge vs run at DE. He’s a simple hand in the dirt pass rusher at DE, period.
Call Chip Kelly, maybe he’ll take him back, but I doubt it.
Jordan has injury first season, suspended 4 games last season, with a full camp, he,LL be a beast at LB with Sugs on the line behind CAM
Trade him
He’s not worth a #3 pick
Maybe Eagles will give us a second round pick for him and we can get a true linebacker
This guy is a failure and will continue to be one under Philbin
Too expensive also for what he produces
I for one am done with him
Everyone says he has talent except Philbin and so if Philbin is not leaving then get something for him we can sure use another second rounder