Miami Dolphins To Move Dion Jordan Linebacker?
By Brian Miller
Dion Jordan has had no impact since the Miami Dolphins made him the 3rd overall pick a short two drafts ago. Jordan has seen his playing time almost non-existent being used as an edge rushing defensive end in obvious passing situations and spending eight weeks of his 2nd season suspended by the NFL. That may change in 2015.
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According to Mike Tannenbaum the Miami Dolphins are internally discussing the prospect of placing Jordan in the vacated strong side linebacker spot left open by the release of Phillip Wheeler earlier this month. Jordan started the final game of 2014 at outside linebacker.
The Dolphins and specifically defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle have been unable to find a home for the athletic and talented Oregon product. While he has shown small sparks of what he could provide the team, a combination of speed and quickness, he has never really been given the chance to prove he can do it. Some believe it’s a coaching issue while others say he simply hasn’t put in the time to learn the playbook and schemes.
While the Dolphins view him as a possible linebacker they haven’t made any firm decisions.
"“That’s one [decision] we’re going to keep talking through,” Dolphins vice president Mike Tannenbaum said at the NFL’s Owner’s Meetings when discussing Jordan per the Sun-Sentinel.“Obviously he’s a great pressure player in the front seven, a great athlete. We all see the play last year where he’s running 60 yards down-field covering [Lions receiver] Calvin Johnson. There aren’t many people on the planet that can do those things,” Tannenbaum continued. “He’s a young athletic guy with great upside and we’ll see how that plays out.”"
If the Dolphins move Jordan back to linebacker it will likely be a final move in his Miami career barring a coaching change at seasons end. The Dolphins have been rumored for the last two off-seasons to be in talks to trade the DE/LB to Philadelphia to rejoin Chip Kelly, his college coach. Jordan has all the physical tools and was the best defensive rated prospect in the 2013 draft. The Dolphins made a bold move giving up their 12th overall pick in round one and their first pick in round two to get the pass rusher. And they haven’t used him yet.
Part of that stems also from the emergence of Olivier Vernon on the edge. Vernon has turned in two good seasons since Jordan’s arrival making it difficult for Jordan to find playing time. Add to that the suspension and it’s no wonder he isn’t seeing the field enough. This year if he is moved to linebacker he will face competition from Chris McCain and possibly Koa Misi if the Dolphins move him back outside.
Jordan will be a player to watch when training camp rolls around. That is unless the Dolphins decide to send him to Philadelphia. That’s meant to be a joke.