Agreed.

 

I've said previously that if he was picked he could be a OLB in Coyles system. He could be this rare 6'6" 4-3 LB. It's a hybrid system though. Misi at times plays on the line and at times off the line opposite Wake. I would imagine Jordan replacing Misi. I don't think Coyle will use more 3-4 but instead use the same mix of 4-3 and 3-4 elements as he did last year. I like the pick. Jordan IMO is a Jason Taylor clone. You don't find 6'6" guys who can run and change direction so fluidly. He's special. He can cover TEs and rush the passer so he gives Coyle flexibility in how to attack.

 

It seems that the pieces we have work best as a 3-4 defense.

Starks - Solali - Odrick is a very good balance between run defending and pass rushing from 3 down lineman.

With Wake and Jordan as your passrushing OLB with Wheeler and Ellerbe as your ILB. Misi seems to take over the utility, jack of all trades role.

With Ellerbe/Wheeler excelling at blitzing we will really be able to disguise alot of our D looks.

 

I think what he presents is the ability to keep read-option offenses off-guard by having him play a hybrid position in which he can do lots of things. The success of the read-option depends in large part on taking a traditional 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB out of the equation by running the play off of what he does just after the snap. Right now the NFL has no answer for this against the teams that run it effectively, such as Washington and Seattle (RGIII and Russell Wilson). This sort of hybrid, speedy, very agile player in Jordan I think is the answer.

You need a guy who has the speed and agility to play in space against the read-option, while also the skills to rush the passer in the event the opposing QB drops back to pass. The Jared Odricks (and even the Mario Williamses) of the world can't do that. They don't have the speed or agility to defend the read-option and rush the passer from their position, which is the critical one against that offense. You need a guy who can react with a sort of "zone" approach just after the snap, and then be able to collapse quickly into the middle to defend the inside run, quickly get wide to defend the running quarterback, or quickly get upfield toward the passer if he drops back. Jordan can do all of those things.

 

Could be a "hybrid" type ,utilized much like JT was used by Miami as DE/Outside linebacker.

 

Yea, I don't imagine we'll have ANY problem getting this kid on the field...at all. His ability and tools are insane. He has a nice feel for dropping into short zones and good hips to cover LBs and RBs if need be; like shou said, he's an elite pursuit guy and plays great in space; and most importantly this kid can get after the QB. He'll fill out his frame a bit to hold against the run, and take on Tackles even better as he grows, but man his edge rush opposite Wake is going to be devastating - elite explosion, nice punch, legit bend.

He's an ELITE athlete who can do lots of things that'll give us great package and personnel flexibility. Top-tier athlete on the field a lot playing everywhere in the box for this defense, really pumped.

 

It would make no sense to play him as a regular 4-3 DE. It would waste some of his greatest attributes -- speed, agility, coverage skills -- and magnify his lone real deficiency (bulk, as a DE).

I think the JT comparison is pretty on point. Javon Kearse may be an even better comparison. Manny Lawson is a good call as the downside version.

 

From what was said in the draft chat, he is taking Misi's job.

 

I said it earlier, but I don't think Jordan busts.

He was literally on fire and ended up with 2nd & 3rd degree burns over his 40% of his body and he was telling his mom his hands were good so he can still catch a football (he was a WR at the time).

If a guy has the talent and THAT kind of drive, he will be successful unless something outside his control stops him.

 

Yep, Kearse was the first "non-JT" comparison that popped into my head too. Either way, if Jordan plays like one of those two, the move up to get him will be well worth.

 

CK tweeted that he's a cross between Manny Lawson and Aldon Smith, but closer to Aldon Smith than Manny Lawson. I agree with that. I certainly think he's a unique player that allows Miami to incorporate more elements into their defense, whether it's more 3-4 elements in the base package or doing more creative things in sub-packages, it fits.

I'm kicking myself based on an old, old free agency thread with a player I identified as a potential Miami target. Should have seen the comparison to Dion, and didn't. I wanted Jarvis Jones, who essentially fills the same role, but is nowhere near as dynamic as Jordan. I think if Miami trains him on effectively, he's going to be DAMN good.

 

He is a cross between Ted Hendricks and Jason Taylor to me. Eventually he'll be the Sam in the base defense and a nickel package DE. Initially he'll be just the nickel pass rusher at RDE.

 

If they were going to try and find a pass rusher opposite Cam Wake, I would have preferred that stay at 12 and select Jarvis Jones. I think Jones will have a excellent career in the NFL.

I think the fact Jordan only had five sacks for Oregon in all of 2012, leaves him as a huge question mark as a pass rusher at the NFL level. He may end up being the second coming of Jason Taylor, but he may also be the next Aaron Curry. I hope this trade works out for the Dolphins, but I would have felt better if they traded up to three to take Lane Johnson or even Tavon Austin. I also would love to have kept that early second round pick that they had to give to the Raiders to move up and take Jordan.

It will be interesting to look back in a few years and see who has the better NFL career, Jordan or Jones.

 

OP was dead on.

Mii will give us depth at all 3 lb positions now. That is something we very badly needed.

I expect our lbs to be very active this year.

 

Go watch tape on how Coyle used Michael Johnson....

 

I think that is extremely simplistic. You can't just look at sack numbers to determine how good at rushing the passer he is. At least look at sacks per rushes to get a better idea.

IMO, the idea that they are drafting Dion Jordan to be just a pass rusher is plain wrong. They are drafting a player who can be really dynamic in their defense. Dion Jordan is a player who lined up against slot recievers in college. Can you say that about Jarvis Jones?

Dion Jordon is a player who can rush the passer, play well again the run, cover the big tight ends, athletic enough to disrupt slot receiver routes and even blitz from any position on the field other than safety.

He could be the next Aaron Curry, however Lane Johnson could be the next *insert LT bust* or Austin could be the next Ted Ginn.

I don't think anyone on this board thinks that Miami was good in defensive plays in the last five years. In fact, I am sure you even wrote a few posts about the lack of defensive playmakers. Miami got themselves a defensive playmaker, and someone who will finally help them get a defense that can get off of the field on fourth downs.

 

You need to compare the number of pressures per snap to have an idea who is the most effective pass rusher. Jarvis Jones may have more sacks but how many more downs did he rush the passer? Jordan was used all over the field, including covering the slot receiver.
I hate it when people just simply say player X had 5 sacks and player Y had 10, so player Y must be the better pass rusher. Player X may have rushed the passer 100 times and player Y may have 300 times. Unless you know, you cannot accurately say which one is the most productive pass rusher.

 

My God, if only he can be as nasty as Hendricks. The thought of that makes me drool.

 

The name of the position he played in college was the "Leo". I could see this translating to the strong side linebacker in the 4-3 goodbye misi. However, in his first year and being that he isn't going to be able to add weight due to the shoulder injury i could see him more as a positional , 3rd down player. Much like how Aldon Smith was used in his first year.

 

Any chance that he could be used to cover TEs? I am thinking about New England, but they are not the only ones...

could he have some value in a "covering role"? would he be able to do it? or would it be a waste of his talents?

I am wondering if the coaching staff see him "just" as a pass rushing threat or if they are thinking about a wider role

 

This wouldn't surprise me personally.
He lined up as a corner for 30%+ of his time on the field in some games at Oregon.

 

I wonder if a better comparison is ex Raven Adalius Thomas?

They did wild things with him, like lined him up at Safety.

 

I agree with this.

Ireland is adapting in advance, which is great. The read-option was a huge headache for the league's top Defenses last year, which means it will be run even more this year by more teams.

Getting an OLB/DE who is supposedly superb at playing in space and athletically gifted is exactly what's necessary to stop the read-option.

 

At least in Goal Line situations, he could be a neutralizer for a Gronk/Hernandez. Not sure if downfield coverage is what we want him doing a lot of the time, but short yardage, it at least presents a situation the Pats might have to plan for.

 

I think moving up to take jordan may be their attempt to compensate for havingg a weak secondary to cover. Emphasize your pass rush and hope your DBs can cover at least for several steps. Its easier to improve our front 7 then it is to find 2 starting caliber corners. I'm expecting to see strong pass rush mixing lots of blitz packages

 

This makes sense to me. Short yardage situations where his wingspan makes it hard to go over the top and athletic enough to cover for a short period.

 

That's pretty exciting to think about.

 

I like the pick in theory. We've needed somebody to provide a pass rush opposite wake for four years now. Better late then never I guess. If the kid can give us ten plus sacks per year we will be a playOff team again. I have a wait and see attitude though. He seems a bit one dimensional to me at this stage

Good points on stopping the read option and being able to cover TEs. He looks like he should be able to do both. Should help vs the bills and pats.

Although I'm not one hundred percent sold on the players themselves I like what ireland is doing positionally this season. Speed LBs and a speed WR and a fluid TE. Now bring home two olinemen to keep tannehill in one piece

 

I like Swope. Wonder if he can get had in the 4th though.

 

One dimensional?

He can cover WRs for crying out loud.