Sports Buzz 11/30 -- Dolphins need to re-evaluate how they use Jordan

[AEGBRG]

The third overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft plays just 16 to 30 snaps a game and rarely touches the quarterback in the limited number of times he gets the chance. Dion Jordan has been back for five games since his six-game drug suspension, and the question must be asked: Are the Dolphins making the best decisions to maximize his talents? There are some smart people who believe they are not.

A respected NFL head coach has told confidantes that the Dolphins are misusing Jordan and he would be far more effective playing outside linebacker, according to someone with direct knowledge. In Miami, Jordan could easily slide into the strong-side linebacker slot in its 4-3 defense, a spot held by Philip Wheeler, who has played even less than Jordan recently.

Two NFL people who are friends with Jordan are puzzled by how Jordan is being used, insisting he’s never going to reach his potential as a backup 4-3 defensive end playing limited snaps.“I don’t think they have any idea how to use him; his abilities are limited by putting his hand on the ground [a lot of the time],” said one of those people, who has close ties to the Dolphins. Jordan’s defensive coordinator at Oregon, Nick Aliotti, told me last year that Jordan would be much more effective at linebacker than defensive end.

ESPN analyst Matt Williamson, a former Browns scout whose opinion we trust, put it this way before the season: “Make Jordan your strong-side linebacker, and that allows you to get Jordan, Cam Wake and Olivier Vernon on the field more. Get your best guys out there!

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
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I, along with others on this board, have been saying this for a long time. I wish the coaching staff would get a clue.

 

[Madridista7]

I mean, anybody that watched him at Oregon knows this, or did we just blindly draft him off combine numbers? lol

 

[Sons Of Shula]

He's been used all over the field. DE, DT and LB. And guess what Mr. Matt Williamson of BSPN, there have been multiple occasions on which we've had Jordan, Wake, Vernon on the field at the same time. Also, someone should let that "respected HC" know that Wheeler is not the one holding a spot at the SAM and hasn't seen many snaps since his pass defense debacle vs GB.

Aegbrg, the coaching staff is very much clued in to what is happening with Jordan. It's the outsiders who are clueless and are offering misinformation without actually watching the games and seem to be just peering in thru the box score stats.

Journalists need to re-evaluate their discernment in how they publish public information. Typical garbage from them.

 

[normaldude]

I was saying this last year.

On 11-12-2013, 04:37 PM:

I think we should move Dion Jordan to OLB.

http://www.finheaven.com/showthread...backer-swap/page2&p=1064875462#post1064875462

On 11-13-2013, 12:03 AM:

Dion Jordan needs to get on the field for every down, where he can fly around, and make plays.

As a OLB, he can cover TEs, blitz the QB, and chase down players from sideline to sideline.

http://www.finheaven.com/showthread.php?347365-Playing-Jordan-at-LB&p=1064876083#post1064876083

On 12-01-2013, 04:58 PM:

I think Dion Jordan should play OLB.

http://www.finheaven.com/showthread...er-Vernon-is-GOOD&p=1064900857#post1064900857

 

[maralieus]

They want him to become a jt type guy so they can have a young duo of pass rushers, they have to be thinking about giving up on that though I'd imagine. We'll see

 

[TheWalrus]

I was one of those pushing for him to be a 4-3 DE only because that was the only way to justify his draft stock. 4-3 outside linebackers just don't impact the game enough to warrant the top picks.

At this point though you're just looking to salvage him so I'm all in favor of the move. Unfortunately, Dion spent the entire offseason putting on weight and now looks really sluggish in space. Look at that fumble return he had against Detroit. He looked like he had just finished Thanksgiving dinner.

Next year, though, you go for it, and it should make an already interesting linebacker group even more interesting. Jenkins has looked like a star in the making at times this year and Chris McCain has a similar body type to Jordan but flashes more instincts and aggressiveness. Everyone hates Philip Wheeler but with his cap number there's a good chance he'll be back. Ellerbe is definitely gone, though. And Baltimore will probably sign him on the cheap and he'll go back to playing great. I do think we need to starting looking for a replacement for Koa Misi, though. I like his aggressiveness but he's getting more nicked up every year. And then there's Jordan. Who knows what to make of him? Would it surprise anyone if he got suspended again, or showed up out of shape, or simply dropped off the face of the planet? Not me.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Ladies, stop the bickering. I'm loading pics to show you how he's being used and it goes against all the speculations that are being said in this article.

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Here are just 2 examples that immediately came to my mind from the Buffalo game. Both feature Wake, Vernon and Jordan (as well as Odrick) on the field at the same time. (EAD Williamson)

EX:#1

You can clearly see DJ #95 standing up (hand is obviously not in the dirt) over the B gap (b/w the guard and the tackle) in a 4I+ technique (inside shoulder of the tackle. + stands for strong side where the TE is lined up). You can already see the contradictions to what the article is claiming.

At the snap, Jordan drops back to cover the TE Scott Chandler #84, just as a strong side LB would do as Wake, Vernon and Odrick rush the QB.

As the play developed, you can spot Jordan here dead center left, 8-9 yards off the LOS in pass coverage vs the TE.

EX:#2

Again, Here you can see DJ #95 standing up in the 2+ technique (head up alignment over the guard. + is strong side)

At the snap, Jordan drops back into pass coverage in a man-to-man situation vs TE Scott Chandler #84. Again, typically what a coach would ask of a strong side LB.

Trust me when I tell you these are just a few examples of many in which we are featuring Dion Jordan and attempting to play him at his strengths. His snaps have been somewhat limited but he had a double suspension this year, plus rehab and we have obviously succeeded in fielding a top defense without him. He's working his way back in as the coaching staff begins to trust him more with his assignments. This coaching staff knows what they are doing. This coaching staff knows more than the erroneous reporters and talking heads. And believe or not, this coaching staff knows more than we as fans do. It's absolutely absurd to assume otherwise and hopefully these few examples will open your eyes as to what kind of websites and articles you should bother wasting your time on. Hint: SoapOperaCenter on BSPN (aka Disney Sports channel) is not one of them.

 

[Tiko377]

He shouldev never put on weight imo and our linebackers should be Jenkins-Misi-Jordan next year & Fede/McCain will replace Shelby as the spell DE

 

[Atila]

Everything will be fine. They're trying to consistently work him into a top 10 defense after having missed 6 games. He needs to start earning more snaps at LB considering our talent level there is poor.

 

[Spiff]

Could also be that Dion Jordan just isn't very good and that's the reason why he doesn't see playing time.

 

[Atila]

To that^ point, it makes you wonder why he isn't on the field as a LB more often considering what we are working with. It should be noted we have been playing A LOT of nickle and 2 LB packages and with Jenkins ballin' hard that may be a reason he isn't getting as many reps. I mean, they did mention he is in for 36% of the snaps, so it's not like he is getting NO play - we do sub a lot of players in.

 

[raving]

Great response - typical non-story just stirring up trouble.

Jordan is doing fine on a deep and athletic defense.

Dolphins problems are coaching -as in game management.

We have lost 3 games maybe 4 (Chiefs) due to NOT knowing how to win a game.

IT makes miss Marino even more. People just don't understand how great he was.

He's been used all over the field. DE, DT and LB. And guess what Mr. Matt Williamson of BSPN, there have been multiple occasions on which we've had Jordan, Wake, Vernon on the field at the same time. Also, someone should let that "respected HC" know that Wheeler is not the one holding a spot at the SAM and hasn't seen many snaps since his pass defense debacle vs GB.

Aegbrg, the coaching staff is very much clued in to what is happening with Jordan. It's the outsiders who are clueless and are offering misinformation without actually watching the games and seem to be just peering in thru the box score stats.

Journalists need to re-evaluate their discernment in how they publish public information. Typical garbage from them.

 

[Hayden Fox]

I cannot believe Joe Philbin does not know how to utilize someone's talent. Crazy.

 

[Hayden Fox]

The Julian Peterson is a perfect comparison. Peterson was such a good LB and tough matchup for other teams.

 

[roy_miami]

Ladies, stop the bickering. I'm loading pics to show you how he's being used and it goes against all the speculations that are being said in this article.

---

Here are just 2 examples that immediately came to my mind from the Buffalo game. Both feature Wake, Vernon and Jordan (as well as Odrick) on the field at the same time. (EAD Williamson)

EX:#1

You can clearly see DJ #95 standing up (hand is obviously not in the dirt) over the B gap (b/w the guard and the tackle) in a 4I+ technique (inside shoulder of the tackle. + stands for strong side where the TE is lined up). You can already see the contradictions to what the article is claiming.

At the snap, Jordan drops back to cover the TE Scott Chandler #84, just as a strong side LB would do as Wake, Vernon and Odrick rush the QB.

As the play developed, you can spot Jordan here dead center left, 8-9 yards off the LOS in pass coverage vs the TE.

EX:#2

Again, Here you can see DJ #95 standing up in the 2+ technique (head up alignment over the guard. + is strong side)

At the snap, Jordan drops back into pass coverage in a man-to-man situation vs TE Scott Chandler #84. Again, typically what a coach would ask of a strong side LB.

Trust me when I tell you these are just a few examples of many in which we are featuring Dion Jordan and attempting to play him at his strengths. His snaps have been somewhat limited but he had a double suspension this year, plus rehab and we have obviously succeeded in fielding a top defense without him. He's working his way back in as the coaching staff begins to trust him more with his assignments. This coaching staff knows what they are doing. This coaching staff knows more than the erroneous reporters and talking heads. And believe or not, this coaching staff knows more than we as fans do. It's absolutely absurd to assume otherwise and hopefully these few examples will open your eyes as to what kind of websites and articles you should bother wasting your time on. Hint: SoapOperaCenter on BSPN (aka Disney Sports channel) is not one of them.

I think we were planning on using Jordan as kind of a joker this season all along. And I don't believe the 5-2 we were running was created on a whim, I think we developed that in the offseason specifically to get Jordan, Vernon and Wake all on the field together.

When you trade up to take a guy at 3 you envision you're getting another Cam Wake, not another Koa Misi. And we didn't need another Koa Misi, not bad enough to give up two high picks for one anyway.