Jul 25, 2014; Davie, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan (95) fields questions from reporters after the teams practice at Miami Dolphins Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins will not be considering using Dion Jordan at linebacker this season. The team already has Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon at the defensive end position, but have struggles at the linebacker position.
Jordan was taken at the top of the draft last season and there have been a lot of question marks on the way the team has used him on defense. He is talented athletically, but the team has not been able to take advantage of his skills on the defensive side at this point.
Here are some thoughts from Coach Philbin on the use of Jordan on defense.
"“We’ve used him some in some of those sub packages,” Philbin said. “But there’s only X amount of time that you have on the practice field and you have to decide how you want him to spend his time.“One of those things we wanted him to practice on a continual basis is pass rush, get off, operating sometimes from 3-point sometimes from 2-point but rushing the passer. If you’re going to rep him and give him the opportunity to compete as a linebacker you’re taking him out of that element a little bit and there’s practice time. You’ve got to kind of put your money where your mouth is. If you want him to be a pass rusher and a guy that can be utilized in coverage as a linebacker in sub to me that’s where you’ve got to spend your time.” – Palm Beach Post"
I understand that the team wants to make him a good pass rusher and they don’t want to get him lost, but they need to get him on the field somewhere. If he is going to be a playmaker for this defense, he won’t be able to do it watching on the sideline. Let him get reps and make some mistakes and then he can learn from it.