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TJ McDonald

NFL should count the storm "bye" week as a suspended game as a good faith response to us keeping our London commitment. I realize this would open up a can of worms, but so did us losing our first home game.
 
Never quite understood what people are looking at that tells them jones can't play fs. He has the speed he has the range and he's a hitter.


McDonald can definitely hit
 
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He's the definition of a SS ... whether he starts or not makes zero difference but he'll get a bunch of snaps regardless ... should be interesting to see how they plug him in the base, if they decide to.

McDonald is a big, aggressive safety who is best when coming downhill. Very similar to Jones. Allen has left a lot to be desired but at least he has the skillset for the position. I like the nickel possibilities when TJ returns but I don't think the center fielder we're looking for is currently on the roster. Making him cover deep is not what he does best and is in no one's best interest.
 
After this year, McDonald will become known as," Gronk Killer." It is the biggest reason he is here.

His pass coverage grades are much higher than his run support grades. Don't let his size fool you. TJ McDonald can cover.
 
The two safeties will be Jones and TJ. There isn’t a question. They started together in preseason. Burke is all about versatility and getting the best players on the field. If you haven’t noticed our 3 top LBs all played MLB last year.
 
BobDole said:
He's the definition of a SS ... whether he starts or not makes zero difference but he'll get a bunch of snaps regardless ... should be interesting to see how they plug him in the base, if they decide to.

McDonald is a big, aggressive safety who is best when coming downhill. Very similar to Jones. Allen has left a lot to be desired but at least he has the skillset for the position. I like the nickel possibilities when TJ returns but I don't think the center fielder we're looking for is currently on the roster. Making him cover deep is not what he does best and is in no one's best interest.
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The thing is, McDonald isn't ideal if you like to run a lot of cover 3 and he is the high safety. But in theory if your team prefers cover 2 / 2 man under schemes, having 2 "strong safety's" could work out quite well. Because in cover 2 / 2 man under you are cutting the field in half for a safety, instead of asking them to cover the whole middle of the field. I am confident our FO and coaching staff know what they are doing. People were freaking out about the Charles Harris pick (myself included), but then when the live bullets started flying, people started to understand his value. I have a feeling it will be the same with T.J, this team is going places with this coaching staff and FO, I'm very bullish on both.
 
TannDaMan17 said:
The thing is, McDonald isn't ideal if you like to run a lot of cover 3 and he is the high safety. But in theory if your team prefers cover 2 / 2 man under schemes, having 2 "strong safety's" could work out quite well. Because in cover 2 / 2 man under you are cutting the field in half for a safety, instead of asking them to cover the whole middle of the field. I am confident our FO and coaching staff know what they are doing. People were freaking out about the Charles Harris pick (myself included), but then when the live bullets started flying, people started to understand his value. I have a feeling it will be the same with T.J, this team is going places with this coaching staff and FO, I'm very bullish on both.
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Dilly Dilly!
 
I was skeptical about McDonald’s range to play FS. From what I saw, he was physical downhill and playing up in the box, not necessarily supporting deep coverage. But, Gase and the Dolphins think he can do it at free.


Adam Gase said:
The contract indicates how much the Dolphins like the hulking McDonald, who is listed a 6-foot-2, 223 pounds.

Coach Adam Gase seemed excited about McDonald after one of the practices against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“That’s a big man roaming around at free safety,” he said. “When you’re 6’3 and 220 -- I might be being nice there -- but he’ll come downhill and reacts fast and he has no regard for his body. He has got good ball skills. He knows what to do. [He’s a] smart football player.

“With him back there, guys know that he’s roaming around. It’s a little different for him, because last year...he was almost playing linebacker last year. To see him back there and the way he moves around is really impressive for a guy his size.”

For now, safety Nate Allen will be the starter in the back end of the secondary alongside fellow safety Reshad Jones. But it’s assumed McDonald will be the starter once his suspension is lifted before the Nov. 5 Oakland game.

McDonald, a third-round pick of the Rams in the 2013 draft, started 43 games for the Rams from 2014-16. For his career he has 285 tackles, four interceptions and five sacks.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-sp-dolphins-mcdonald-20170902-story.html
 
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TannDaMan17 said:
The thing is, McDonald isn't ideal if you like to run a lot of cover 3 and he is the high safety. But in theory if your team prefers cover 2 / 2 man under schemes, having 2 "strong safety's" could work out quite well. Because in cover 2 / 2 man under you are cutting the field in half for a safety, instead of asking them to cover the whole middle of the field. I am confident our FO and coaching staff know what they are doing. People were freaking out about the Charles Harris pick (myself included), but then when the live bullets started flying, people started to understand his value. I have a feeling it will be the same with T.J, this team is going places with this coaching staff and FO, I'm very bullish on both.
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How they scheme to put Jones and McDonald at the field at the same time in the base is something to keep an eye on. The 2/2 under man could work but they'll still use plenty of traditional looks - and I see Allen getting the call on those. They're not just going to plug TJ into this current iteration of the defense, hopefully.

Personally, I wouldn't mind a ton of big nickel and making the offense guess which safety is roving. That's where his value really shines on this current team imo.
 
McDonald is a starter the moment he's eligible. I give you exhibit A - Rambo from last year. SOB cost me a remote control. Important to have ball hawks and hitters back there, regardless of their specialty. And right now, Allen is by far the weak link on the D side of the ball - not even close.
 
The Dolphin still need an upgrade for a Safety that cover deep. We've already seen a WR run free when the dolphins went cover 1 and neither safety looked interested in running with the deep threat.
 
Go look at TJ McDonald's contract and then tell me Nate Allen will still be on the field.

Nate Allen is terrible.
 
Bowzer said:
You don't think McDonald will start when he is eligible to play?
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He for sure will be the starter opposite Jones. They didn't ink him through 2021 to sit. This kid is a play maker and a thumper. This defense could actually be very very scary.
 
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