Dion Jordan looks like a budding star. A special player. We cannot unlink our complaining about wishing our Oline were better from the choice that was made to select Dion, a D-lineman (with LB abilities), instead of an O-lineman in this year's draft. Dion looks like the next Jason Taylor, yet our Oline is losing us games. Usually hindsight is 20/20 but I have to admit, I still wouldn't pick an OL in the draft if it meant giving up Dion Jordan. He looks like a rare player and I'm glad we nabbed him. I think we ride out the OL roughness this season, then address it heavily this offseason. (Note to Ireland/Ross: spend to the limit this time or I will make sure I don't spend on you). So, if you had a do-over... Dion Jordan or an O-lineman?
I'll say this. One left tackle alone won't save this O-line. It needs an entire overhaul and just the center is spared. Dion Jordan alone makes an impact.
Rookie OT's always struggle, and the Dolphins would be in the same boat with the O-Line. Picking Dion Jordan was the smart move.
Jordan. He's flashed that he's going to be a star in this league. Makes it easier that Johnson has sucked from what I've seen of him for Philly. Plus Joeckel's just been lost for the season, and I don't think Fisher has been playing great for the Chiefs either.
I think this gives us some perspective. Dion was the right choice, despite it raising the odds we had to deal with Martin all year. Clearly this will be a rough year for pass protection. I expect the Dolphins to strongly move to address it this offseason with multiple moves. If not, I will no longer support the team with the same level of buy-in. But today, I still support us taking DJ in the first round instead of a LT.
We would not be a better team with Lane Johnson. In fact, Dion made the play that got us back into the game today. Without him we aren't even in the position we were in. I was floored by him and when Wake gets back on the field...watch out Jeff Tuel.
Without Dion, we aren't in position to make that comeback. Question is, would we need to make that comeback if we had a LT. Judging from the fact that the entire oline is crap, I like Dion. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4
Absolutely not. Last time I checked, Johnson was really struggling in Philly. The Dolphins don't need a top flight LT. They need serviceable linemen who aren't turnstyles and can open up a hole. An elite DT on the other hand can change a game and neutralize a good QB.
I guess the (other) question is, would you rather have Jamar Taylor or Brandon Albert? May or may not have been the agreed upon pick. I think the problem was the new contract, not the trade. And this might not be fair considering these rookie corners are still working back from injury. Would Albert at a 2 or 3 and his contract have been preferable? - sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4 beta -
How even more stupid does Jacksonville look for trading Monroe now? I think their owner took a page out of the Irsay guide book on how to tank a season to get the 1st overall pick.
This is a no brainer. All of the OT's drafted have struggled, especially the one we could have drafted way too high at #3. Jordan is an impact player who is getting better every week. He will be the guy that can take our defense to elite status.
Well let me rephrase, the entire oline is making mistakes. Some more than others. Can't run the ball inside or out. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4
As long as Jeff Ireland is making the picks, does it matter? Was Jordan so dominant today that you really see Jason Taylor? He still hasn't made his 1st sack yet. I don't think anyone has looked at game film at this early point but from just watching game on TV - I got on my scorecard he had 1 tackle, 2 passes defensed, 1 hurry, 0 QB hits. Did you watch game film already and seen some things? Just watching the game nothing jumped out and said, "Jason Taylor" to me, except for his build. The 2 passes defensed were nice but I'm not high on him...right now that is. Lane Johnson, Chance Warmack, Jonathan Cooper and DJ Fluker were all to be had. But once again, you are going to build your O-Line in 2014, you still need a 2nd WR, A Strong Safety and Safety Depth, Possibly a TE (Sign Keller? or at the least need to pick up a good Blocking TE), A Replacement for Daniel Thomas, tons of cornerback depth so 2 backup cornerbacks (that's assuming that Grimes will get contract extension before end of season solidifying the one corner spot.). It's not an exaggeration to say we may need to sign and/or draft up 6 offensive lineman in the offseason, that's unprecedented. The task, needless to say, is daunting.
first sack came in week 1 against cleveland. And though he didn't sack Flacco today, you DID see the Jones pick 6 right? IDK how Flacco got that ball off but Flacco probably really wishes he just ate the sack and took the safety against Jordan. That was a VERY special play. Wake-esque.
The question should be would you have rather had Sebastian Volmer and Louis Vasquez or Ellerbe and Wheeler?
Lane Johnson has been very solid. He has had some problems with penalties on formations but his run blocking has been very good(LeSean McCoy is 3rd in rushing). His pass blocking has been up and down, as suspected of a rookie, but he protects Vick's blind side due to Vick is left handed and I might be wrong but he has only given up 2 sacks and both were early in the season. I'd grade him a B so far with drastic upside, potential pro bowler. Would definitely love to have him. Cooper is incomplete, Joekel had been playing fair. Fischer according to Chiefs, has been playing Solid, except for maybe his run blocking which is a surprise.
Dion may or may not be a star in the future. But in the right now, if I were Ireland and Philbin, I'd be concerned for my job if I don't make the playoffs. Given that, they should have drafted an offensive lineman.
IMO the bonehead move in the offseason was not draft an OL over Jordan but to resign Jake Long. That could have easily been done. Regardless, that would not have fixed what is as big of a problem as Tannehill's lack of pocket awareness and tendency to hold on to the ball too long. In true hindsight, Kaepernick or Wilson would be our QB right now, Bush would be our RB and Long would be our LT.
They did. Thomas who has yet to be seen. I'm not going to place blame on Philbin for this mess. Ireland has been since 2008 and has had plenty of time to build a good OL. What we're seeing isn't even serviceable. We can't even run or pass block. Too many draft picks and FA signings to be this bad.
ahhh good ole reggie. He was something else today without megatron on the field eh? 13 carries for 44 yads (3.4 ypc) and no tds. I remember those days. Rams fans are calling Big Jake "Joke Long" nowadays. Better than Martin, i guess, but wouldn't be helping us much now. Tannehill DOES NOT hold on the ball too long.
Thomas of course has been drafter as a Guard so he'll sit behind Incognito, if he moves to right side to replace Jerry, I have to question Philbin as to why this hasn't been done yet. He played LT in college but has questionable foot speed and I fear they don't want to put him at tackle and be MORE of a turnstile than what's there already. And I don't know why anyone else hasn't brought it up, except for Rich Gannon (surprising) but we could use some Great Tight End blocking to help the O-Line and some better RB protection, little things like those can go a long way to mask some of the O-Line problems. As much as Ireland is to blame, Philbin has to share in some of the backlash.
To me, that's the better question to ask here. Jordon is going to be a beast. Just look at his performance today, and that was without Wake on the field. When wake is back healthy, and Jordan is getting more snaps, our pass rush should be deadly, making our defense all around better. At this point, its a no brainer for me. Given the choice of Taylor, or Albert, Albert all the way, all day long. In the off season, I was quite adamant about not wanting Martin at LT. I wanted us to sign Winston too. I think deep down inside we all knew we coudlnt have left this OL untouched like we did, and have success. Unfortunately that was the play apparently. Jamar Taylor to me so far... I'm not impressed. Sure he's a rook, but we've seen him getting beaten, far more than we seen him make a play. Has he even made a play? Given the choice then, I'd have done it. Given the choice now, no doubt about it.
Short term perspective, for 2013, you say yes, take ALbert. Two years from now I think you'd say the opposite.
As long as that Tackle can block ... sign me up. I preferred one in the draft. That said, I also have to permit that I am happy to have Jordan on this team.
..... and if we had drafted the currently struggling Lane Johnson there'd be a thread about "Would you rather have a rookie impact defender than Johnson?"
Philbin's job isn't on the line. 1. Philbin job doesn't deserve to be on the line. Period. 2. Ross's reputation was damaged when he tried to hire a coach while still employing one. Firing a coach after two seasons, who isn't going 1-15 would be seen as jumping the gun, and Ross's reputation is further damaged and makes Miami one of the more undesirable locations to become a HC. Which means top available coaches pass on us for better opportunities. As for Ireland... Who knows what happens to him. I could see Ross going either way. And as someone else mentioned, the question that should be asked is Jamar Taylor vs. Brandon Alpert. Then again, RG is still a disaster too. As for OP's original question, I like Dion Jordan and am glad we have him. Wouldn't trade him for any of the LT's drafted.
I admit I was upset about the pick.. I was sure we were going to pick a tackle and I cursed the tv.. But I'm pleased with dj so far, he has forced two picks that either won the game or kept us in the game..
Can we please PLEASE define what "too long" is in reference to Tannehill? I don't see him having tons of time to throw, and just not doing it. I mean, Ravens rush four guys, and collapsed the pocket all game. Tannehill didn't seem to have tons of time.
He's not. He's one of the resident comedians. Always has a one line zinger. He's a funny guy. Tannehill has on average less than 3 seconds to throw before being sacked. No idea why Sherman isn't rolling the pocket or moving him around this season instead of keeping him in the pocket so defenses can Tee off on him.
Neither Luke Joekel nor Lane Johnson have been particularly good this season, to the point where Jonathan Martin is pretty much a wash.
I stayed with Jordan for 3 major reasons. 1. The first is that I really felt like Ireland made the right decision there. I really liked Jordan and I felt like finding another pass rusher was the quickest way to improve this team on defense. Yeah the offense could have used a TE and some OL but I didnt think any single player outside of Eifert would have the impact as Jordan who I never really thought we had a shot at. I always believe its about the impact a player can make not just need. Need is for a team 1-2 pieces away not coming off 7-9. 2. The only LT I felt we really had a shot at was Lane Johnson and I didnt have him among the top 5 LT available this draft and I feel even stronger about that now. I might have been ok with Joeckel or Fisher but never really felt like they would be available or in play in a trade up. 3. Lastly, it is my opinion that if you dont have pass rushers on defense then its kind of like not having a QB on offense. You can have great DT's great LB, and great DB's but pass rushers can make average pass defenders look good and make good ones look great. Without pass rushers you can make the best DB's average. It starts with getting to the QB. You have the basis for a great team that can sustain success when you have a qb and guys that can get to the qb. Dion Jordan can do the latter.
I am going to stay with my draft day stance. I just don't think it would have made sense to let Jake Long walk (I understand Jake has been terrible in St Louis) and then turn around spend a 1st and 2nd round pick for a LT to replace him after spending a 2nd on Martin the year before. Muck makes a solid point on the Albert trade which seemed to be reported that he would have been available for a 2nd. I would have been fine with that on draft day also.
