Decent write up about the picks: http://withthefirstpick.com/2013/05/12/2013-nfl-draft-breaking-down-the-draft-the-miami-dolphins/
Very good write up, spot on regarding Jordan and excellent comments about the other picks. The writer brought up Jordan's performance against USC and made some good points- there's some good film available to show what he's referring to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdpzGUxkek4
There wasn't a time in that game where DIon put his hands above his shoulder length, no trying to get his hands up to swat passes, nothin, then he aggravated it, and he was toast..not sure there really is anything to take away from that film..except the guy is not getting enough credit for playing with a torn labrum.
Ok, let's look at some 2011 film, pre shoulder injury when he could use his arms without issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNh0SgWe3rc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiEgdcwIu9I As the saying goes, stats lie. Well, youtube can lie as well, especially highlight reels. And that doesn't mean that I don't like Jordan, just that I see some issues that are more apparent in regular game film. First off, in both clips Jordan's speed and overall movement skills- and effort- are very apparent. Jordan is right there with Keke Mingo and Alec Ogletree in terms of a fantastic ability to get from point A to point B is a hurry- this guy is fast. He uses his hands well, good leverage, and in terms of playing in space- to clarify an earlier comment of mine, when an issue comes up as to a DE, as in "Can he play in space?"- what I'm thinking of, for better or worse, is "Can he play OLB?" And I really don't care for projections in that regard- you never know if it will work out or not until they do it. That being said, Jordan is certainly fluid, fast and quick in space, and I think that he'll be excellent in coverage picking up TEs or RBs out of the backfield. Check out the Arizona clip at :42- he's covering a receiver out wide has the speed and movement skills (not to mention intelligence and instincts) to peel off coverage quickly and put some heat on the QB- this is a fantastic pursuit player- again, right up there with Ogletree and Mingo. Jordan is a bullet of the edge, but... Take your pick of the above youtube clips, again from 2011 pre shoulder injury- what you'll see in the 2011 highlights video (go figure) is tantalizing- Jordan's best plays showcasing his speed and the best of the rest of his game. Then go to the Arizona game or any other that I've come across- and what I see far too often is a weak inside power rush from a thin, undersized DE and an outside rush that far too often has this light DE get pushed out wide, neutralized. All that I'm saying is that I see some concerns in a tall, lanky DE who is nonetheless a freaking phenomenal athlete with immense potential. Excellent prospect, but a lot of "if's" attached- if his shoulder heals right, if he can play in space (ie play OLB), if he can put on solid weight, if he can become a much better inside pass rusher and not get stonewalled when he does rush inside, if he can stop from being pushed out wide and neutralized on his outside pass rush. "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts"... Good player, excellent potential, many questions, bottom line. Another way of putting it- he reminds me a bit too much of Mingo in that his best work is done unobstructed, on a straight line, getting from point A to B in a hurry to blow up a play. That's an excellent quality to have, but things certainly change when he has to dance with an OT to make things happen. That being said, I certainly like Jordan better than Mingo or Ansah as a top 10 pick- I'm curious as to who will have a better career, Jordan or Ogletree, who is in his own right just phenomenal imo. As a side note, I'll enjoy taking a look at more film of Anthony Barr later this year and comparing/contrasting him to Jordan as a similar sized DE/OLB with tremendous movement skills- can he set the edge, can he effectively cover TE's and RBs, can he provide an effective inside pass rush, does he get ridden out wide by OT's, can he hold his own on the LOS against much bigger/thicker players? I'm guessing beforehand that Barr is a better prospect than Jordan. I'm happy to have Jordan aboard, but to me personally it was tough to see our 2nd rd pick sent to the Raiders being used on one of my favorite players in the draft- OT Menelik Watson, at a need position for us no less. Take that 3rd spent on another OL, Dallas Thomas, and we could have had any number of quality WRs imo, or DE Alex Okafor. We missed a shot at Alex Okafor by one pick to the Cardinals in the 4th. Devin Taylor and Cornelious Washington were there for the taking later in the draft as per our need for outside pass rush opposite Cameron Wake, Mallicah Goodman as well.
For this athlete and the way he was moving with the injury, I would project three months to get to 100 percent, he had the surgery right after the combine., he should be good to go in a couple weeks, in time for OTA's, and full training camp, I'm not sure if his school commitments will keep him out of those June OTA's, I hope not..he'll at least have two to three months of adding good weight and muscle before the season starts.
First of all, I think this should be the thread where we talk about our prospects leading up to the season..all of them.it has potential and you have given that with some good details.. Agreed on all the movement stuff, It's funny, I hear this here and there but it never crosses my mind and that is, "he's a tall lanky athlete" and is "similar to Mingo.". He's tall, his frame and levers are so long, that I believe there is an illusion taking place, because if you just isolate his movement I don't think the word lanky ever comes to mind..more like he moves like a player so much smaller imo. His build is a future commodity, it has so much potential to add quality weight without affecting speed and balance.. I think just because we selected him at #3, folks are expecting him to be THAT guy, now, when in all actuality, I think we should have some patience, take into account the surgery, the potential to grow physique wise, the fact that he transitioned position at the highest college level, and realize this specimen and football prospect has an easy projection that his game will be much better in two ears than it is now. I had Ogletree overrated when he was being talked about top 10/15/20 player, he dropped to 30 and I don't see the comparison being relevant at the pro level. His pass rush skills... there raw, their explosive, he rips offenders arms away from his body, his get off is explosive, he has a nice spin move in the bag, which I've seen him use very effectively dozens of times that resulted in chaos in the backfield, and one other thing, basically Dions mentality has been..just chase the damn ball, were gonna drop you in coverage, but just chase the ball and use your athleticism.. For to be taught athletic moves as it pertains to pass rushing, you must have all the athletic ability and flexibility to execute the movement that's being taught, we know he has that..But his relentless way of chasing the ball will keep him effective and game changing while he learns a bit from the best.. Dion Jordan every time he gets a chance to talk, talks about how he looks forward to adding some weight to his frame, who better to teach this kid the two things he needs than that freak on our team.
