Next two weeks loom large for Dion Jordan

[hordman]

Anyone catch this article the other day by Armando?
Next two weeks loom large for Dion Jordan

Made some good points in his story.  Very frustrating that Dion has this shoulder injury and that he aggravated it in the pre-season game and is still working on it.

You'd expect the 3rd pick in the draft to be an immediate impact, or at least start on opening weekend.  The front office office obviously knew about the injury prior to the draft and felt it was a non-issue.

Hopefully he can get this injury taken care of and get at least some reps with the DEF before the start of the season.  Would be very disappointed if he doesnt get on the field a fair amount this season.  I understand that Vernon Oliver has played well this pre-season, but when you make a jump from 12th to the 3rd in the draft (in addition to giving away a 2nd round pick), this pick better make an impact.  IMO

[CF DolFan]

I think everyone needs to be resolved to the fact that "he's not looking like a major contributor early in the regular season".  When they brought in the last defensive end after he re-injured his shoulder I thought that said more about his injury status than anything else.

I'm not saying he won't eventually be a stud for our team but I do think it's going to have to be put on hold for a while.

[Phishfan]

  When they brought in the last defensive end after he re-injured his shoulder I thought that said more about his injury status than anything else.

I think it said a bunch of nothing about nothing personally. Guys getting signed at this stage of camp are nothing but warm bodies.

[MikeO]

It's August 22nd....tell me where he is and if he is still injured on Sep 8th and THEN have this discussion.

Until then its a non issue really. Missing meaningless games and practice isn't a big deal in reality

[CF DolFan]

Miami Dolphins’ Dion Jordan says he will return to action when he is ready ‘physically and mentally’

Miami Dolphins’ Dion Jordan says he will return to action when he is ready ‘physically and mentally’

HOME  >  SPORTS  >  FOOTBALL
Posted: 5:44 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013
Miami Dolphins’ Dion Jordan says he will return to action when he is ready ‘physically and mentally’


By Andrew Abramson
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
DAVIE — The Dolphins gambled by trading up to draft defensive end Dion Jordan with the No. 3 overall pick.
Now, Miami might have to wait for a return on its investment.

Jordan, who has missed the last two weeks of practice, said he’s not sure if he’ll be ready to play in the season opener Sept. 8 at Cleveland as he recovers from surgery on his right shoulder. Jordan had surgery in February to repair a torn labrum.

“I tore my labrum last year,” Jordan said Thursday. “So for me, the most important thing is to get healthy.”

Jordan, who hadn’t spoken to the media in two weeks, said he doesn’t have a timetable for his return but will be back when he is “ready to go physically and mentally.”

“It’s my body so I know when I’m ready to go or when I’m not ready to go,” he said.
Jordan has been wearing a shoulder harness in warm-ups.

“I’ll wear it as long as I’m taking on blocks and doing drills and stuff like that to protect myself so (I don’t) cause more damage to my shoulder,” he said.

Jordan was considered the most talented pass rusher in the draft despite his surgery and not being an every-down end in college.
He was placed on the injured list for the first few days of training camp, then practiced for two weeks and appeared in two preseason games before mysteriously disappearing from the practice field. Coach Joe Philbin does not discuss injuries, and teams are not required to report injuries until the regular season.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle wouldn’t commit to Jordan being ready for Week 1.
“I hope, if he stays on target with what we’re hearing and what we’re seeing, that he’ll be ready to help us on opening day,” Coyle said.
Even if healthy, Jordan is expected to play mainly behind ends Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon as a third-down specialist.
If Jordan is not available, Coyle said, “there are other people who can play the role we have for Dion on the current roster.”
The top back-ups on the depth chart are Vaughn Martin, who played the last four seasons for San Diego, and Derrick Shelby.
Jared Odrick, a defensive end for the first three years of his career who is moving to defensive tackle this season, might play some end against “better rushing teams,” Coyle said.

Jordan said he knows the playbook and that he’ll be ready to contribute as soon as he is cleared. He said he plans to be utilized in various ways, including taking snaps at linebacker.

“Our defense is very versatile,” Jordan said. “I’ll probably be doing a few things.”

[Pappy13]

Way way WAY too much is being made of this. Look, if the guy turns out to be a perennial pro-bowler no one will give a DAMN what he does this year and if he NEVER makes a pro-bowl, some people will call him a bust even if he plays every game this year, so the fact of the matter is, this year is not going to define whether Dion Jordan was a good pick or not. It will take at least a couple years to determine whether he was worth the 3rd pick in the draft or not. Certainly we would all rather he play this year then not, but the next two weeks mean exactly ZERO when it comes to determining whether he was worth a 3rd round pick or not.

[masterfins]

I don't care if Jordan sits out half the season.  I'd rather that happen and his shoulder is given the proper amount of time to heal, rather than force him back early and make the injury worse.  IMO I think that is what happened to Jake Long, Sparano kept playing him while he was injured, in meaningless games, and he never healed properly.

[Brian Fein]

Forcing a guy back from injury just so that he can play is the exact way to ruin his career.  People need to exercise patience, please.

[MikeO]

Way I see it....Dolphins aren't winning the Super Bowl this year. Jordan has the potential to be an elite pass rusher in this league for many many years. No need to rush anything at all! Don't ruin the kid he has a chance to be special.

[phinphan]

lets stop calling him third we pulled him to a strong position. Our D is strong
I would however exspect him to play on our oline

[Tenshot13]

Way I see it....Dolphins aren't winning the Super Bowl this year. Jordan has the potential to be an elite pass rusher in this league for many many years. No need to rush anything at all! Don't ruin the kid he has a chance to be special.

Why not win the Super Bowl this year?  I think we have the pieces in place to actually start thinking that way.  Not saying its going to happen, but it wouldn't be ridiculous to start having that mentality as fans.

[MikeO]

Why not win the Super Bowl this year?  I think we have the pieces in place to actually start thinking that way.  Not saying its going to happen, but it wouldn't be ridiculous to start having that mentality as fans.

We are not even close to being a super bowl contender. Too many holes on the o-line. Not 1 quality TE on the roster. And one WR short from having a potent passing attack. Plus Tannehill will need at least 1 more year to get through some growing pains.

8-8, 9-7....fight for a playoff spot maybe get one if things break right, its a good year. Super Bowl....not a chance! (hope I am dead wrong though)

[Spider-Dan]

We are not even close to being a super bowl contender. Too many holes on the o-line. Not 1 quality TE on the roster. And one WR short from having a potent passing attack. Plus Tannehill will need at least 1 more year to get through some growing pains.

And what would your analysis of the 2010 49ers or 2011 Seahawks as a SB contender have been?

MIA has a proven WR, proven DE, and (if Grimes is recovered) proven CB.  If those three (plus Tannehill, obviously and critically) play well, MIA is a SB contender.

It's not like MIA is NYJ or CLE, here.  MIA has a lot of good pieces at key positions and (like many other teams) if they get the luck of the bounce on TOs, they could be a SB contender.

[MikeO]

MIA has a lot of good pieces at key positions and (like many other teams) if they get the luck of the bounce on TOs, they could be a SB contender.

I agree IF they get LUCKY they could be a contender, just like if any team in the league got lucky they could be a contender! But without the luck.....on paper Miami isn't a Super Bowl contender in 2013.

I'm not saying Miami isn't improved or a bad team, but they aren't a Super Bowl Contender yet. Miami still has too many holes and they are very young in some key spots  (RB, LT, DE, TE, CB depth )

[Spider-Dan]

Well, PIT was a "legitimate" SB contender last year and they didn't even make the playoffs.  Same goes for NYG.

There is a limited number of teams that will be in the conversation every year (e.g. NE, DEN (formerly IND), GB).  Usually, these teams have elite QBs... and it is very true that MIA is far from meeting that requirement.

So if you want to define SB contender via top-flight QB, then sure, MIA isn't there.  However, there are a few other teams with merely "good" QBs that manage to win via outstanding defense.  While these teams may not be perennial contenders, they are still certainly contenders.  And MIA's defense is very close to being on that level.