The Dolphins are determined to make it work with Jordan primarily as a 4-3 defensive end. But the coach who knows him best believes that’s not his best spot. “To me, he’s best as an outside linebacker,” Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti said, “because when he sets the edge with that leverage, and the way he can run, he will keep everything inside. He can be an outstanding rusher off the edge. I’m not saying he can’t play end. [But] he’s best” at linebacker. “Jordan’s not a 4-3 end,” said former Packers, Raiders and Falcons executive Ken Herock, who worked with Jordan before the draft. “His best spot is linebacker and he’ll be a great linebacker. He has all the ingredients -– smooth, fluid, athletic, smart, long arms, can take on tight ends. He’s a better athlete than Jason Taylor. Taylor could never play in space like this guy.” A year ago, Michael Egnew’s blocking was so poor that one defensive player insisted coaches subconsciously would not give as much credit to defensive plays made with Egnew blocking. Now, Egnew has improved to the point where he said offensive coordinator Mike Sherman has commended him for blocks, in front of teammates, during film session. “I’m 100 percent better,” Egnew said. Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...chatter-loria-fallout-heat.html#storylink=cpy
That's the most notable improvement in Egnew's game, his blocking is light year's ahead of where it was (or wasn't!) last year. In preseason it was obvious, but even last week when his block helped spring Miller for his TD, it was clear he's now a factor when blocking. Now if he could only start catching passes like he did in college again....
I am glad Egnew has improved his blocking but he was basically drafted as a receiving TE and he has yet to display catching and route running ability IMO. I have higher expectations for Dion Sims.
Alrighty, I'll do something I rarely do: Give Dio a pass on being one of the least played #1 picks so far. Reason being the Staff has said, repeatedly "we are going to bring him along slowly" Sad news about our home record over the last 10 yrs, simply atrocious, this is why we really need to win today. Homers will say "just bandwagon fans" reality is if one is going to pay hundreds of dollars, one expects to see ballgames won, no wins, no investment.
I'd tend to agree with the Dion Jordan stuff, but I'm not really sure it's all that significant in the base defense. If he holds up adequately in the run game, I'm not sure I care. They're clearly going to be using him quite a bit as a linebacker in Nickel situations, which I think is a bit more significant.
Still waiting for Keith Jackson to make a block. Great receiving TE, but he blocked like Deion Sanders tackled.
Does anyone else think Spo is a bit of a dick for not speaking to the Dolphins players? Or maybe Philbin doesn't believe in gimmicks? Ouch.
I agreed with Nick Aliotti that Dion Jordan seems best used as an outside linebacker. That's how I viewed him coming out. There are warning signs that perhaps the Dolphins' vision for Jordan's development when they took him was not entirely clear, or at the very least not entirely popular. The extension of linebacker Koa Misi, as I said at the time, further complicates the issue. This is especially true given their continued votes of confidence in Olivier Vernon. Those three players do not co-exist and get a lot of snaps. You can already see that, as you look at Barry Jackson's snap data on Dion Jordan compared with other rookie 1st rounders throughout the league. Right now it's Jordan taking a back seat to the other guys. You would HOPE that would flip at some point, but there are reasons to believe there will always have to be one guy taking a back seat to the other two.
I agree as well at outside linebacker, but that's obviously not gonna happen, at various times since being drafted I've noticed that his desire is to be at defensive end and rushing the passer.
