Miami Dolphins DT Jordan Phillips must ‘put the bad plays to rest’

[DKphin]

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips battles New England Patriots center David Andrews at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)

DAVIE — There was a stretch of about nine plays bridging the third and fourth quarters last Sunday, when Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips destroyed the guard across from him.
Phillips overpowered him. Phillips ran past him. Phillips was a wrecking ball.
“Jordan played really well last week, first of all,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Thursday. “Jordan is a player that, if you can take his explosive or flash plays, you can make a tape and it’s special. But you can take his bad plays also and make a lowlight tape.”
Oh.
Well, Joseph is nothing if not a direct and candid truth-teller.
Phillips was the 52nd pick in last year’s NFL draft. And at times, he looks dynamite.
At other times, Phillips disappears, or worse, misfits or overpursues on long runs.
“So he’s a young player that’s inconsistent,” Joseph continued. “He’s obviously a big man with talent. If he’s on and doing it right, he can be a special help to us this weekend; but he’s got to put the bad plays to rest. That’s Jordan’s call of duty this week.”
Phillips had 19 tackles and 2.0 sacks as a rookie.
Phillips has 23 tackles and 0.5 sacks this season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Phillips has been Miami’s worst starting defensive lineman this season. Phillips is the 60th-best defensive tackle in the NFL according to PFF.
It’s gone a bit under the rader, but Phillips has actually lost his starting job to Earl Mitchell the past five weeks. And his snap count has decreased in each of the last three weeks, with a season-low 26 snaps on Sunday.
The Dolphins have hoped that Phillips would be motivated by decreased playing time and it appeared to work on Sunday. Phillips played with some passion and enthusiasm, positive steps.
The Dolphins believe that playing alongside players like Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake, Phillips should be more dominant, more often.

http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachp...rdan-phillips-must-put-the-bad-plays-to-rest/

 

[Yessir]

Don't want to depend on Jordan Phillips next season, and Earl Mitchell need to be cut. We need linebackers, but we also need a capable run stuffing 1-tech. Brandon Williams will be UFA this off season. Go go get him.

 

[tommyp]

next year's draft should be lb'ers and OL depth

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Don't want to depend on Jordan Phillips next season, and Earl Mitchell need to be cut. We need linebackers, but we also need a capable run stuffing 1-tech. Brandon Williams will be UFA this off season. Go go get him.

Yes we do. No he doesn't. 2 gap is not our scheme.

Phillips will continue to improve as he has this season. The transition for DTs into the NFL is difficult and generally slow. He's coming along well at an average pace.

 

[Austin Tatious]

I always bring up Soliai and how long it took for him to take off. Phillips is not off that pace.

But, I don't want Phillips' motor and inconsistency to be limiting factors. That's one of Joseph's themes about him and similar to his college rep. Let's hope he puts that to rest.

 

[The Goat]

DT do not necessarily benefit from a star playing next to them in a 4-3 the way a DE on one side benefits from a star DE playing the other side.

Phillips was raw coming in to this league, and this is only his second season.

---------- Post added at 09:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 AM ----------

I always bring up Soliai and how long it took for him to take off. Phillips is not off that pace.

But, I don't want Phillips' motor and inconsistency to be limiting factors. That's one of Joseph's themes about him and similar to his college rep. Let's hope he puts that to rest.

This is my only concern.

 

[Eesti]

Don't want to depend on Jordan Phillips next season, and Earl Mitchell need to be cut. We need linebackers, but we also need a capable run stuffing 1-tech. Brandon Williams will be UFA this off season. Go go get him.

I agree. I've been saying this for years.

No I do not want to depend solely on EM or JP. Cut Mitchell and use that $4M in cap space to sign a better DT. They should have cut Mitchell back in FA and signed someone like Nick Fairley who played on a one year deal for $3M. He's not a big NT but is still better than EM and about the same size.

Signing a run stuffer (as you mentioned) who demands double teams and that frees up LB's and benefits the other D-linemen. It would also allow us to run a more hybrid system. 3-4, 5-2, etc. (Still need LB's but) We have stunk vs the run since Soliai left.

If Phillips turns the corner then he can play on passing downs and still not be forced into a lot of snaps...or play DE in a 3-4.

Brandon Williams would be nice but he may get a contract similar to the one Damon Harrison got last year which was almost $10M per year. That's hard to do when you are paying Suh like we do and with the holes at DE. Still need better edge setters there, IMO. Rumor is that Jared Odrick may be a cap casualty since he is due a roster bonus and has no dead hit in 2017. He only played 6 games this year (IR for shoulder). I love him as a 4-3 DE who can move inside on passing downs. Much better than what we had in Jason Jones. I doubt he commands the 8.5M he got from Jax.

Add a two gapping NT and Odrick and it helps us move towards the 3-4 or 4-3 under. We would still need to add other pieces but...

 

[NorFlaFin]

Some Pot Roast instead of Earl Mitchell would help

 

[hoops]

Brandon Williams is gonna get seriously paid...probably by baltimore

 

[circumstances]

hopefully Phillips has his Soliai moment in year three instead of year four (or this Sunday. That would be even better).

 

[LANGER72]

That Pats player had a big hand full of Phillips jersey...probably no flag on the play.
Phillips is coming along nicely.
He plays tall and has a knack for batting down passes.