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?