http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports...-choice-reshad-jones-grateful-for-661894.html
DAVIE — A sizable number of both Dolphins fans and draftniks who regarded free safety as the biggest need area on the Dolphin defense felt Miami might use the No. 12 pick in this year's draft to address it.
Instead, the Dolphins ignored it … and ignored it … and ignored it … all the way until pick No. 163, when they took Georgia's Reshad Jones.
After this weekend's three-day rookie mini-camp, coach Tony Sparano sounded hopeful that strategy still may work out in the end.
"I felt him the last couple days," Sparano said, a term he uses to make it clear Jones caught his attention. "He's been around the football a bunch, and made a couple plays (Saturday). He's got the hardest job out there, obviously, because he's got to get things lined up. … I thought he moved around great."
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"It's wide open," Jones said. "I just wanted to come in, listen and learn everything I can. I want to compete for that job and play as a starter."
This is the kind of mentality we have been missing on the defensive side of the ball. Good to hear.gafinfan likes this. -
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Reading my PFW mag raises concerns. Inconsistent, misses too many tackles. Goes out of his way for blow up shots. Instincts and anticipation are off. Lacks top end speed. Takes false steps and wastes movement. Over runs some plays.Struggles in man coverage and zone awareness is suspect. Thinks he is better then he is. -
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I have not yet begun to be the Post Whore that I can be!
:pointlol:
Besides...thePhins has over 1 million total posts, who would have thought it 3yrs ago when Drunken Puppies or Celtkin.com were flighty forums that...may be up...may be down..?
Well, as for Rashad Jones...I like his game 100% more than Chris Clemons's game, I know what the scouting reports say, but I think his game will transfer to the pros...as long as he learns when he can light up a Wr, and when he cannot.Fin Fan In Cali likes this. -
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Eh, it's May, there is a looonnggg way to go until the ball drops up in Buffalo in September.Fin Fan In Cali likes this. -
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I like the RJ pick. I think hes going to be a good player for us. I think we have picked up three starters, and three contributors on defense in this draft.
As for his "opportunities", alot of that can be corrected with coaching. He doesnt lack talent, he, as they say in South Park, "racks disaprin". That can (and in Nolan's defense, will) be taught.
And I like the fact that he can hit, too. Its great to have a FS that can lay a lick on a receiver who makes a catch.Pandarilla and Fin Fan In Cali like this. -
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To the point, it "may" be worth the flag and the 15yds if a reputation grows that "Jones will hit you" around the league.
What say you Bro?LandShark13, Fin D and Killerphins like this. -
but im a big fan of big hit capability and that intimidation factor
jones brings that at the S position -
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Reshad Jones can make some really big hits......he justs need to be more consistent and not allow guys to break tackles on him from time to time. Many Safeties go for that bell ringing shoulder and helmet hit but often don't wrap their arms around the defender and bring him down. I think Jones will fit in just fine, but like Sean Smith and Vontae Davis last year, it is going to take some time and rookies often take their lumps before they can shine.
Fin Fan In Cali likes this. -
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:wink2:
To me, people have this idea of a Ed Reed at FS, just sort of gliding along and intercepting passes and running them to the house, the reality is a FS has to instill the consciousness of his presence in the Wr corps of the opponent.
Brian Dawkins comes to mind in that way..to me..Rashad Jones is the same sort of player..or could be...some 5th rd safety out of UGA is not comparable to a HoF player in any serious manner, the actual role itself..sure..a berserk FS who just loves to hit and blitz and all that stuff..Rashad Jones can do that imo. -
They thought they had that in Gibril Wilson last season and he just was not that sort of player in Miami. -
bell is getting up there
clemons struggled last season in coverage
culver looks like the FS to me
i doubt we see a veteran like sharper come here -
jetssuck likes this.
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Gotta also be a ball hawk in today's game tho... -
jetssuck likes this.
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Renaldo Hill, whom we should have kept last year, was a 7th
Sammy Knight was a UDFA
Brock Marion was a 7th.
Glenn Blackwood was an 8th
Lyle Blackwood was a 9th
Gene Atkins was a 7th
Michael Stewart was an 8th
Brian Walker was a UDFA
Shawn Wooden was a 6th
and.....
Jake Scott was a 7th rounder. :up: -
I'm not upset with the pick.....appears to be very good value. I just don't think we solved the FS position. It looks more like we got Bell's future replacement..
I also think the position has evolved to the point where it's almost as important as any on defense, made so by the way offenses are opening up the passing game these days....and in order to find the type of game changer we would like to have back there, we'll have to either pony up big bucks in FA or be willing to shop in the early rounds of the draft. -
1) it w/ an excellent draft for Miami
2) Rashad is being played up big @ FS. my only concern is his experience & the fact that many speculate he would be more appropriate placed @ SS (shades of Wilson)
3) still think we will pick up a veteran @ FS before the Season begins or move Will Allen or possibly give Jason Allen another shot @ the position
be it as it may, Rashad looks like a keeper & will compete like the rest of the team. competition is the elixir of success!MikeHoncho likes this. -
Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member
This d pretty much asks the same things of both the FS and SS, not like the Wanny D's or even the Tampa 2 d's, so Jones fits what they do here. Yes, Bell is getting up there in age and has been fairly consistent since battling thru injuries in the beginning of his career. Jones could very well be that guy, but while Bell is still here, he can and will be used in both capacities, if he shows that he's capable and/or improving.
We all thought they were crazy by putting Bell and Wilson together, both your prototypical SS. If Wilson's coverage ability had been closer to Bells' ability, he would still be here.
What I don't really know is what influence Nolan will have on how they play the safeties. I think he prefers the more traditional coverage type FS, but I'm not too sure...I know he plays a lot of corners coverage as well, which accentuates coverage ability to some extent in both of his safeties....
What we don't know is how he'll translate that to the personnel he currently has or will they be looking to add a guy like Sharper or Atogwe ?? -
As for the ballhawking part, a FS can have that talent, but aren't most Int's a result of pressure causing a poor throw?DolfanCole likes this. -
MrClean likes this.
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Clemons had 5 ints and 20 pbu in 39 starts. Jones only started the past 2 seasons and he still proved to be a better ballhawk with 11 career ints. He was drafted to compete at FS and scouts saw him as one who could play either spot. It seems like due to Jones being so physical that some folks want to automatically say he is better at SS. There is no rule a FS cannot be physical too.
ToddsPhins is the biggest diehard Clemson fan I know, and he stated emphatically that when we took Clemons, we took the wrong Clemson safety. Michael Hamlin was the better player -
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Randy Moss is notorious for alligator arms over the middle of the field which is one of the great unsaids about the Pastriots, their two largest offensive weapons, Brady and Moss, are soft as feathers..something a Fierce FS can take advantage of via hitting hard and blitzing well.
That is how Bob Sanders became such a difference maker when healthy.LandShark13 likes this. -
IMO it's all about instincts at the FS position. Watching Georgia, I saw SS instincts. I wouldn't be surprised if RJ starts b/c this staff seems to want their FSs to be SSs, but IMO that is a mistake. If that happens I think our D will be beaten for some deep passes and that we'd eventually see Culver taking more of the snaps at FS.
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I would say Jones' instincts are better suited for FS.
The guy is way too aggressive in run support to be an effective SS IMO. -
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Living in Atlanta, I can tell you that Reshad didnt get beat deep at Georgia. He kept everything in front of him, unlike Georgia's other safety (Bryan Evans).
People give him a hard time because he doesnt have the natural hips of a FS, but his performance playing center field speaks for itself. -
I honestly believe no matter who we have out there, Mike Nolan is going to get the best out of him. He turned a bunch of unknowns in Denver into a beast of a defense in one off-season. I'm pretty sure he can turn a serviceable player into a good one, especially if we have the very good pass rush I expect us to have this season.
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