Dolphins Experimenting With DE Jared Odrick

Oct 14 2012; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Jared Odrick (98) celebrates a defensive stop against the St. Louis Rams in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Dolphins have perhaps more depth on the defensive line than any other team in football. The only problem is deciding what way to piece their players together to be the most effective. According to Alan Poupart of the Dolphin Digest, one of their defensive trench-men that could possibly shift positions is DE Jared Odrick. Poupart reported that Miami is experimenting with Odrick at the DT position during OTA’s, a position that many fans and analysts believe Odrick will have more success playing (Odrick played defensive tackle in college).

The 28th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft has not produced as much as the Dolphins had hoped so far in his first three seasons, totaling only 11 sacks and 47 tackles, possibly due to the fact that he played DE instead of DT during those three years.

However, while Odrick is being played inside more during OTA’s thus far, Poupart also reported that Coach Joe Philbin has not said for certain where Odrick will play this season (full article at http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/article-1/Odrick-Is-Back-In-Familiar-Territory/49835bd4-0a00-4b2e-a596-47cb09c4dbb1).

If Miami does like Odrick better inside at the tackle position, that gives the Dolphins the option of playing Odrick, Paul Soliai, Randy Starks, and Vaughn Martin, along with guys like Kheeston Randall fighting for playing time as well. What does this mean for the DE position? It means we will likely see a lot of Dion Jordan early assuming he continues to progress, as well as second year player Olivier Vernon. I believe Jordan would be the best option to take the free DE spot across from Cameron Wake, should it open up.

It is still way too early to predict exactly what will happen with anything that pertains to roster spots or starting jobs with this Fins team, but OTA’s and training camp will give the Dolphins’ coaching staff a good idea of what works best in what situation. The talent is there on both sides of the ball, and I for one am pumped to see what this Dolphin team can do once the season starts.

FINS UP!