So with all the reshuffling of the roster and a defense depending on some aging players, Dion Jordan could be a real x-factor for this Dolphins team. If he comes back and proves himself a complete bust then the Dolphins are who they are right now. But, if he comes back and shows himself a solid defensive talent then that's a big plus for this defense. There's a whole lot of 'if' in this situation and no-one knows how's he doing. Signs last year weren't encouraging at all. I saw an announcement that the team won't get word on Jordan until the end of April - so the team can't plan to count on him in any way. Still, if this man can turn it around and benefit from playing alongside three solid veterans, there's a plus in this for everyone. As for the scenario in general though, as someone who would never condone drug use, I just don't see how this, "can't talk to the organisation, even through off-season" set up helps anyone in this scenario? Ah well.
Right now Dion Jordan is a lottery ticket. Chances are, he will not work out, however if he does, "Hooray! I am going to buy something stupid!"
Kiko has spoken to him, and says that he thinks Dion will come back and play with a chip on his shoulder..saw a pic of him, didn't look fat.. I sure hope he gets it..to be born lucky and have all that ability and not set you are your family up for life would be really dumb.
[video=twitter;709793927642030080]https://twitter.com/CornDogsJackie/status/709793927642030080[/video] [video=twitter;709794255015796736]https://twitter.com/ArmandoSalguero/status/709794255015796736[/video]
DJ has been all hype since the get go, I watched his college tape and was convinced he'd be a bust in the NFL, he just wasn't a very good football player even in college, and he stood out as being weak at the point of attack even in college, and also showed that he doesn't have a good football IQ in college. He's a tall, fast fluid athlete, but isn't a football player imo, perhaps he could be a low priced coverage LB/ST player, but I don't see him as an every down player.
I agree, I thought that was really odd. If the kid needs help perhaps the team can get or be the best help for him.
A pro shouldnt need anyone to motivate him.. Let me know when he gets off his ***, works and pays attention studying film.
Exactly. If he gets cut for the rest of the year then he loses out, the team loses out. Fine. But how does it help anyone to have him stay out of touch with the team? Surely they have an investment in trying to help him, or at least, monitor him and evaluate him. I mean wouldn't the NFL benefit from stories where the pro-football helped rehab a young man?
Actually the NFL does have it's own treatment programs that the players who have been suspended have to attend, and complete to be reinstated, but it's done through the league office as opposed to the individual teams.
What's done is done. He is here no matter how it turns out. If he comes in and sucks then we are already disappointed in him and can just chalk it up to one of the many blunders in Dolphin history. If he comes in and revives his career and plays great then we are pleasantly surprised and life goes on.
Honest question...why do people not think Dion Jordan would come back? I thought he was facing a yearlong suspension after failing a drug test.
If we get anything out him at this point, it's a win. If he can give us what shelby gave, that'd be nice
Actually, if you listen to the interview which was the press availability interview, he had not spoken to Dion at the time that statement was made. He just offered that he thought Dion would play with a chip on his shoulder.
"BY ADAM H. BEASLEY With Olivier Vernon gone and Cam Wake on the mend, a one-time position of strength for the Miami Dolphins is now one of uncertainty. Sure, they’ve added free-agent defensive ends Mario Williams and Andre Branch in recent days, but neither comes without question marks. It wasn't supposed to be that way. This was the offseason that their No. 3 pick from 2013 was supposed to take over. Instead, anything Dion Jordan gives the team this year is like found money in a seat cushion. Jordan is 11 months into a yearlong banishment after repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy. And he might be one more failed drug test away from being gone for good. Since entering Stage 3 of the league's drug program, Jordan has been subject to as many as 10 tests a month, screenings that include alcohol. The results of those tests will play a large role in Commissioner Roger Goodell's decision to reinstate him or not in late April. Still, the Dolphins are at least open to the idea of having Jordan back on the team in 2016, the Miami Herald has learned. Jordan has a home in Miami, if he proves he wants one, sources say. But that home will come with conditions; most notably, as general manager Chris Grier said in January, showing that he "want to be here and love the game and compete." That's assuming Jordan is even allowed to play in 2016. The Dolphins simply don’t know for sure. That's why they have been so reluctant to say much of anything about him, either on the record or off. They are barred from direct communication with Jordan during his suspension. The policy doesn't prohibit Jordan from speaking with teammates, however, and the Dolphins have an emissary in new linebacker Kiko Alonso, Jordan's teammate at Oregon. Last week, Alonso told reporters that he spoke with Jordan recently and believes "he’s going to come back and have a chip on his shoulder." Others are more skeptical. There are real concerns in league circles that Jordan has not shown the necessary level of commitment to getting his career -- and life -- back on track. Some believe that Jordan is not close being in playing shape, despite literally having nothing to do but work out and stay sober since last spring. People who know Jordan well insist that the young player is "not a bad guy," but he needs regular supervision and direction -- something he's gotten little of during his yearlong football exile. Efforts to reach Jordan and his representatives for comment were unsuccessful." Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article66612507.html#storylink=cpy
I haven't watched any tape on a standout "bust" type of player so far this year, DJ was one of those guys where I was incredulous that anyone had him as a 1st round pick, I mean, I just could not make any sense of it, imo it defied reason, he was "alarm bells ringing" weak at the point of attack in college, consistently being blocked by TE's in college, also running out of position on "easy to spot" fakes, and his lack of ability to get to the QB. Everything I saw about him college rang true in the NFL; -Liability vs the run (TE's neutralizing him) -Not a good passrusher (can't beat the man in front of him) -Not football savvy It's not every year that I see something like that. I do have a player that I like tremendously though, Dak Prescott, I would draft him with our 2nd round pick, I think he's going to be the real deal, a "Tebow" that can throw the ball, or a bigger "Wilson", I think he'll be an elite NFL franchise QB.
I think Dion Jordan ended up as a bust for two reasons: 1) his apparent lack of motivation to do what it takes to succeed in the NFL, and 2) he wasn't used correctly. Maybe he wasn't a top 10 talent, but I can see someone taking Jordan in the 1st if they used him more as an OLB to neutralize TE's like you know.. Gronk.. and as an occasional pass rusher (he can definitely get to the QB fast in delayed blitzes or if you had someone else getting attention like.. maybe Wake and Suh?). Anyway, scheme fit still won't make up for lack of motivation and it would've been nice to somehow know that before drafting him.
I'm not interested in the past. I want to know who will bust in the future. Come on. You can tell me.
Finster and I have discussed this in the past. What we consider to be red flags are 1) The college highlight reel consisting mainly of 'unopposed' plays. For example Ted Ginn scoring TDs where no defender was within 5 yards of him when he made the catch,or Dion Jordan making unblocked socks or running down ball carriers from behind. If you have to rely on your athleticism in college you'll struggle in the NFL where everyoneismore athletic. 2) Where the college highlight reel is full of opposed plays. For example Mike Hull's college film shows him fighting through blockers and taking good angles to catch runners. It doesn't t matter how determined and skilled you are if you aren't athletic enough to stay up with the opponents. If the college tape doesn't show a mix of beating college opponents athleticslly and by being more skilled then you have to wonder at their capacity to compete in the NFL
Until DJ learns to diagnose and contain running plays he'll be a liability in the NFL. Maybe if the Pats were nice they could tell us which plays Gronk is going to run block and which he's going to runn a pass route. Also I don't have anyclear memories of seinghim in zone derense but, based on what I've seen in the running game, I don't think he's disciplined enough to play good zone coverage. DJ is a freakishly gifted athlete who can cover WRs and the best TEs in man coverage and he's fast enough to get the QB on delayed or hiddenblitzes where other defenders eat up the blockers. His longarms and high jump also make him very good at blocking kicks. Trouble is that's a very narrow skill set for an OLB. At the moment he's an OLB who can only be safely used in obvious passing downs, the reverse of a run stuffing MLB. The sad thing is I think that previous staff used him as well as they could. Maybe in a true 3-4 he would put up better numbers, but even there his limitations would be getting exposed.
I can't agree that our staff used him as well as they could. Asking a natural OLB to force-fit into a pure DE role by having him bulk up like they did should really drive home the point the coaches were a serious liability to this team. Anyway, while DJ's liability in run defense is obvious, I saw no reason to think DJ couldn't get better at that over time. Wake was a liability in run defense when he first came over and he turned out pretty decent in that department after some years. So I think there was good reason to value him highly as a prospect, maybe mid- or low- 1st but not 2nd IMO (assuming he had the necessary motivation.. which it looks like he doesn't have of course).
Guy hasn't consistently played now for a couple years. Even if he stays clean it's not a given a player can leave the routine for that long, come back and be able to take the pounding again. The instincts needed and the split second reactions needed to play that have dimmed during his time away as well as the experience he's missed all add up. It would be a sheer miracle for Jordan to give us anything.
Dave Hyde was on the J.Rose Show talking about Dion. Starts at the 3:45 mark, and at 4:40 Dave gives us insight on how much Dion "wants it" imho. http://nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d1/dB/d7/dA/d3/1B7A3_3.MP3?show=Joe%20Rose%20Show&category=Sports%20%26%20Recreation&callsign=WQAMAM&market=Miami&awCollectionId=1145&awEpisodeId=610184&listeningSessionID=56b8ffad458d63d7_3375334_nD10AQ2R_000000qJS41 "I can't go today because my sister has the car." smh.
Athletically he's the perfect OLB, no question. But if you can't trust his mental abilities to play in space, then moving him closer to the action with a more limited set of responsibilities is the best for for what he can actually do. As for his motivation, it was there when he was able to use his athleticism in college. It's the ability to develop new skills that seems lacking to me
...I couldn't disagree more about dion but you have the upper hand in your eval with the player.. Jftr, he played in my estimate 35 lbs overweight because of some incredibly criminal advice by an incompetent coaching stuff.no man can fulfill his athletic potential carrying that kind of extra weight on that type of frame.. I'm willing to make a bet Finster..? If he comes back and is at the weight I wanted him to be at at the pro level, we will fall in love? Including you, and you will have to give me props?
Really? You think Dion Jordan was such a liability in space that the best thing any team could've done is play him at DE the way we did? I totally disagree and obviously the DE experiment didn't work. No you draft and play him as an OLB and develop his skills while giving him limited responsibilities at his natural position. That's usually what they do with rookies. Anyway, we're not going to see eye-to-eye on this, but in the end who cares right? He's essentially quit it seems. Motivation-wise, I wouldn't be surprised if what kept him going in college was hoping for a nice fat NFL paycheck, which he got, after which he just didn't care as much.
I agree with what you're saying with one exception, he is lacking strength, a great athlete no doubt as you say, but lacking the necessary strength for the position.
I think he lacks the technique to effectively apply his strength because he has always been able to run around blockers in the past he never learned technique. But that's purely a semantic difference.