The Miami Dolphins addressed another big need in this draft, as the Dolphins selected Boise State cornerback Jamar Taylor with the 54th pick in the 2nd round.
Taylor has very good size at 5'10 5/8, 192 lbs and the kid is strong, as he did 22 reps @ 225 lbs on the bench press at the NFL Combine. Very good speed as he ran a 4.39 40. Very good back pedal, smooth change of direction and fluid hips and zone aware. Good ball skills and playmaking ability. Scheme diverse and very solid tackler. Jamar is a very good fit for what Miami likes to run defensively.
What he brings: Taylor has prototypical size and plays with great balance, and shows above-average change-of-direction skills. He has great eyes in coverage and does a great job maintaining strong position. In addition, he flashes an extra gear to recover and the ability to locate and play the ball. Taylor is willing to step up in run support, but could become more physical and efficient in that area.
How he fits: This wasn't a great perimeter cover group in 2012, partly because of injuries and partly because of inconsistent play. Miami's best corner, Shawn Smith, is gone, along with Bryan McCann. The Dolphins did add a premier free agent in Brent Grimes from Atlanta, but this secondary only produced 10 interceptions last season. Big plays and creating turnovers wasn't a strength. The Dolphins love to play aggressive man-to-man schemes, which seem to fit Taylor's skill set, and he will likely will be given a great chance to start at left corner, while other players can compete for the slot corner position. This pass defense really needs Taylor to be productive quickly.
Excellent top-end speed. Hand size is average (9.1). Possesses a shredded and compact build with prototypical bulk. Shorter arms (30.6).
Durability
4
Dealt with a knee injury early in the 2009 season and eventually redshirted. Missed four games in 2011 dealing with a nagging hamstring injury.
Intangibles
2
Possesses a tireless work ethic both in the weight and film room. A selfless player. Graduated in May with a communication degree and 3.5 GPA. Currently taking classes toward a master's in kinesiology. Did not start against San Jose State in 2010 for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.
CORNERBACK SPECIFIC TRAITS
Instincts/Recognition
2
Shows above-average overall instincts. Plays with his eyes and shows very good field awareness. Keys quarterbacks eyes and while maintaining proper leverage and positioning in zone coverage. Displays good anticipation and route recognition skills to jump or squat underneath throws. Shows good patients in zone bail or back pedal and does not get overzealous vs. double moves. Maintains poise and does not panic when caught out of position.
Cover Skills
2
Shows the ability to hold up in both zone and man coverage at the next level. Possesses a compact build that provides him very good balance in coverage. Feet are constantly underneath his frame and changes direction seamlessly. Clean in his hips and can rotate quickly to turn and run with receivers downfield. Possesses above-average closing burst and recovery speed.
Ball Skills
3
Overall ball skills are adequate. Flashes playmaking instincts but still has room for development in that area. Tracks the ball well in the air and generally takes a quality line to the point. Extremely aggressive playing the ball and flashes the leaping ability and strength to hold up in one-on-one downfield and red zone situations. Hands are above-average but will have some drops on a few throws he should make. Transitions quickly after making the catch and looks to create.
Run Support
3
Active in this area. Does not shy away from contact. Can line up near the box and gets through clutter well and shows ability to absorb blocks. Can do a better job of using his hands when engaged with bigger receivers to shed blocks. Does a nice job of dropping pad level upon contact. Breaks down well in the open field to secure the tackle.
Boise State’s offense most often grabbed headlines over the past decade, and rightfully so with Kellen Moore and others putting up big numbers during the program’s rise to prominence. But the Broncos had four defenders drafted in 2012, including defensive end Shea McClellin, who went to the Bears in the first-round. Five BSU defensive backs have been drafted in the last seven years, as well; and Taylor looks to have the physicality and athleticism to be the next one hearing his name called in Radio City Music Hall.
Taylor starred at famed Helix High School in San Diego before heading to Idaho. He played in all 13 games as a reserve his true freshman season (24, two for loss, interception) before redshirting in 2009 due to the team’s depth at the position. Taylor earned a starting job in 2010 (35 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles) and also started the first nine games of 2011 before a stress fracture in his leg forced him to sit four full games plus most of another. He returned at less than 100 percent for the Broncos’ Las Vegas Bowl win over Arizona State, returning an interception 100 yards for a touchdown (he finished the year with 27 tackles, two for loss, two INT, six pass breakups). As a senior, Taylor started every game while registering 51 total tackles, 3.5 went for loss including 2.5 sacks. He added nine pass breakups, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles. His senior season earned him first-team All-Mountain West honors.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Not afraid to get physical with receivers, often redirects their routes with strong hands. Very good straight-line speed. Works well in press-bail coverage. Fluid hips, smooth in turns and out of the back pedal. Shows the athletic ability to make plays on the football in contested situations. Will stick his nose in the run game when he is able to set the edge.
WEAKNESSES
Recovery speed is questionable. Poor technique in press coverage. Gives up too much ground on outside breaking routes. Can be fooled by play action, jumps up to allow free receivers behind him. Must bring in more difficult interceptions where he needs to uses his hands away from his frame. Inconsistent tackler in space, can break down to wrap legs but also gives weak cut efforts.
NFL COMPARISON
Drayton Florence
BOTTOM LINE
Taylor is a physical and athletic cornerback looking to be the sixth Boise State defensive back to be drafted by NFL teams over the last eight years. He missed most of the second half of 2011 with a stress fracture in his leg, but returned with a vengeance during his senior year by excelling in man coverage on downfield routes. Since he remained healthy during his senior year, Taylor is poised for a second day or mid round selection, but he would be wise to improve his play against the run when in space.
(from Indianapolis) The Dolphins join the cornerback run to address a need. Taylor is a fluid cover man with natural instincts to make plays on the ball.
SCOUTING ANALYSIS
Taylor has great strength and speed. Even without elite height, these qualities allow him to compete with the elite receivers. Taylor plays at a high speed and looks even quicker with his great reactionary skills. He was asked to play man to man in both the off position and press coverage. He must refine his balance and ride the receiver more in press coverage.
Taylor has a tight back pedal and fluid hip movement which allow for him to turn and run with receivers. He needs work on his tackling but show the willingness to come into the box and stick his nose into the play. Taylor can be plugged into any system but will excel when in zone scheme or off man scheme which allows him to use his great reactionary abilities.
Taylor must prove he can compete with elite competition. Taylor also must check out medically because of leg injuries. For a team looking for a hard-nosed worker and player, Taylor fits that mold and will produce in any scheme with the ability to play on special teams if needed.— Chad Dinkins, Optimum Scouting
Taylor is a smooth athlete with the top end speed to run with any receiver down-field. He displays quick feet in his pedal and is able to consistently flip his hips and maintain spacing coming out of transition while in man coverage. He is physical with his man in press coverage which allows him to sustain inside leverage. In zone coverage he does a solid job of keeping the play in front of him and displays the burst needed in transition to close effectively from off his target. He displays outstanding ball skills as he times his break and reach around well, and when he can cut off the route he attacks the ball in the air to consistently come down with the interception.
NEGATIVES
While at Boise State Taylor was able to compensate for his limited smaller frame by playing aggressive and physical in man coverage, but he will still need to bulk to his frame in order to compete with bigger NFL receivers. His size and strength limitations are particularly noticeable against the run, as he struggles to shed blockers at the POA when he allows them to get on top of him quickly off the snap. He is also not a consistent tackler, as he tends to duck his head and dive at the ball carrier instead of holding his ground and wrapping up.
ANALYSIS
If Jamar Taylor were an inch taller and ten pounds heavier the media would likely be talking about him as a top 15 prospect, because his athleticism and coverage skills are second to no one in this draft class. He has the elite long speed needed to run with any NFL receiver down-field and an outstanding combination of quickness, instincts and a willingness to play physical in man coverage. When the ball is in the air he acts as if it were meant for him, as he works hard to establish inside positioning and cut off routes, allowing him to high point the ball in front of his man for PBUs and INTs. His thin frame will limit his effectiveness at the next level against larger possession receivers, as well as his ability to shed blocks in time to get involved against the run. Overall, if he can add another 10-15 lbs. of muscle to his frame he could develop into the best CB from this draft class, and is clearly worth a late day one selection.
Taylor was a three-year starter and first team All-Conference member in 2012. This is a corner not afraid of contact. He's a good athlete that runs well. Taylor is solid in man coverage. Taylor had a big senior season with four interceptions.
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The Miami Dolphins made the 1st big move of the 2013 NFL Draft by trading up with the Oakland Raiders at #3 to take OLB/DE Dion Jordan of Oregon. There were rumors that the Dolphins would look to possibly trade up or trade down, and when the move up was made, the thought was the pick would be OLT Lane Johnson of Oklahoma. Miami threw everyone a curve with this selection, and they took the most talented pass rusher in the draft.
Jordan has tremendous versatility, as the Ducks used Dion in pass coverage as well as in pass rush situation. At 6'6 1/4, 248 lbs, Dion has the frame that can and needs to add weight and strength. The comparisons have been made to one Jason Taylor, and Jordan brings the Dolphins another potent pass rusher to help get after the quarterback.
To make the move up to #3, the Dolphins gave up their pick at #12 & their 1st 2nd round pick, #42. Great trade up for Miami and they still have the ability to either complete the trade with Kansas City for OLT Branden Albert, or go get a young OLT.
What he brings: At 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, Jordan has a rare combination of length and athleticism. He is one of the most versatile edge players in this class, with the ability to line up at various spots along the defensive front and rush off the edge or cover receivers in space. He needs to continue to add bulk and strength, but his upside as a pass-rusher and overall high ceiling make him an intriguing prospect.
How he fits: The more you look at what the Dolphins are doing on defense, the more this seems like an interesting fit. As a rangy guy who can play a 4-3 DE spot as the Dolphins transition from their old 3-4 front under new coordinator Kevin Coyle, Jordan has excellent edge pass-rush skills. But he also has the athletic ability, when they go to their hybrid 3-4 look, to either rush off the edge or drop into coverage. This defense will resemble the Cincinnati attacking scheme, and Jordan ran a high volume of plays in Oregon's up-tempo defense. He can team with Cameron Wake to give the Dolphins a terrific edge-rush package.
Will always have a linear type of frame but possesses a rare blend of length, speed and athleticism. Has longer-than-average arms (33.7) and big hands (10). Tied for third fastest 40 at the combine among DL with 4.60 and recorded fastest 10-yard split (1.56) of the group.
Durability
4
In 2012, suffered shoulder injury vs. Colorado, missed next two games and was limited the remainder of the season. Underwent shoulder surgery on torn labrum after the combine (early March, 2013) and is expected to be out three-to-four months. In high school, suffered third degree burns and needed skin grafts on his left leg after a freak accident where he and his friends were attempting to siphon gasoline from a car with a vacuum.
Intangibles
2
Coaches praise his work ethic and practice habits. Might need a few more reps than the average player at his position but once he gets the concept he retains it very well. Son of Sherrita Jordan. Has one brother and one sister.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER SPECIFIC TRAITS
Instincts/Recognition
3
Work in progress. Has natural playmaking instincts. Has a good feel for attacking blockers and how to keep them off of his body. Shows impressive awareness and confidence in space for a guy with his frame. Can be a quarter-count late locating the ball at times. Needs to sense when to gear down in order to not outrun the play. Also will get caught peeking inside on occasion when having edge responsibility.
Take-on Skills
2
High cut with lean lower half. Will need to improve core strength in order to maximize his skill set. However, no questioning his toughness or effort. Works hard to keep outside arm free when given edge responsibility as a run defender. Plays with surprisingly good leverage for his size. Can bend and get low. Flashes some shock in his hands and does a decent job of setting the edge. Does a solid job of locking out with long arms to keep separation. Has quick hands and also knows how to contort his body in order to disengage
Range vs. Run
2
Displays good initial quickness to occasionally create penetration and disruption in the backfield. Shows very good range and closes in a hurry when chasing in pursuit.
Tackling
2
Hustles and chases in pursuit and flashes ability to deliver an explosive strike when getting to ball carriers. Plays with a chip on his shoulder and not afraid to mix it up.
3rd Down Capabilities
1
Displays a quick first step and enough quickness to gain the edge. Still a bit raw as a pass rusher but ceiling is enormously high. Displays quick and strong hands. Still needs to improve upper-body power but displays the quick-twitch explosiveness to convert speed-to-power. Uses length to his advantage. Does a nice job of extending inside arm to keep separation while running a tight loop off the edge. Flashes an inside spin/swim move but needs to become more efficient with execution. Closing burst is outstanding and has long arms to track down the QB quickly after turning the corner. Still has room for development in terms of instincts, particularly setting up blockers. Has elite pass-rushing potential. Is also surprisingly fluid and aware in coverage. Very good depth on drops and covers more ground than most DE/OLB hybrid types. Shows quick feet and can flip hips remarkably smoothly for his long frame. Has a massive wingspan in underneath zone coverage. Has shown consistent ability to hold up in zone coverage and man-to-man versus athletic tight ends.
Jordan arrived in Eugene as a top-10 nationally rated tight end prospect from the southern suburbs of Phoenix -- despite missing the end of his senior season after an accidental home fire left him with second or third-degree burns over almost half of his body. Oregon coaches actually wanted him to play receiver initially, but his continued growth through his first two seasons in Eugene pushed him first to tight end and then to the defensive side of the ball.
He showed promise after moving across the line during spring 2010 practices, playing in 13 games and starting one at defensive end (5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks) as a redshirt sophomore. But the move really bore fruit when he earned first-team All-PAC 12 honors in 2011 as a 12-game starter at his hybrid defensive end/linebacker position (42 tackles, 13 for loss, team-high 7.5 sacks). Jordan continued working at his drop end, outside linebacker spot in 2012, recording 44 total tackles, 10.5 going for a loss, including five sacks. The Duck forced three fumbles and intercepted one pass. He only played in 11 full games after missing parts or the entirety of three others with a shoulder injury. It has been reported Jordan will miss the Senior Bowl to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Tall end/linebacker hybrid with excellent length. Definitely not contact-shy, extends his long arms to land a strong punch on blockers, can disengage to chase plays from behind or grab ballcarriers coming into his area. Also willing to mix it up when challenged. Long strides allow him to cover ground quickly when closing or after his strong get-off with his hand down, but also shows enough bend and short-area quickness to avoid linemen. Lines up against slot receivers and tight ends, managing to stay with them in the open field in spite of his size. Flashes quickness and bend to beat tackles around the corner, can counter with an inside rush or spin move. Also quick enough to flatten down the line to make plays on inside runs. Willing to stick his shoulder into a lead blocker to free up other defenders.
WEAKNESSES
Might be an end/linebacker ‘tweener for some teams due to his tall, lean frame. Must improve upper-body strength to get off blocks and gain leverage against NFL-caliber linemen. His height will make it more difficult for him to get low to stop ballcarriers’ momentum or corral them in the open field. Inconsistent working through initial contact to chase plays and finding the ball in the backfield. Susceptible to cut blocks in space, must learn to see and beat them with his hands. Can get knocked off his pass rush route by a strong punch.
NFL COMPARISON
Julian Peterson
BOTTOM LINE
Jordan's 2012 season ended on a down note, aggravating a shoulder injury during the team's bowl game. He will miss the Senior Bowl and part of the draft process because of it, but Jordan offers a unique blend of comfort in space, length, and pass rush ability. His box scores may not appeal to everyone, but Jordan was frequently asked to cover receivers or tight ends after lining up in the slot opposite them. His future appears to be at strongside linebacker in a four man front, with the ability to rush the passer, or as an outside linebacker in a three-man front.
(from Oakland) The Dolphins move up and make a surprise pick to take the best pure pass rusher in the draft. They could have used a left tackle, but Jordan will bring great energy off the edge in their new 4-3.
SCOUTING ANALYSIS
A terrific athlete, Jordan polished his game in 2012 to become a potential first-round prospect. A former tight end, he has a long frame and can increase his strength and bulk. He is a pass-rush specialist with active hands and is learning rush and counter moves. He is difficult to block sole because he uses his long arms and quickness to keep a lineman off his body.
Jordan has surprising power and rare ability to redirect to collapse. He can run down ball carries in backside pursuit but must improve his angles. He is an excellent tackler and can deliver a jarring hit to cause turnovers. He also split out wide against a slot receiver and play bump and run or press zone coverage.
He must improve his physical play in initial cover, and he must improve his hip movement to mirror his man throughout the route, especially past 10 yards. He is at his best in zone coverage where he can break on underneath routes. He is athletic and physical enough to cover tight ends down the seams.
Jordan can play end in a 4-3 or as a stand-up outside linebacker in a 3-4.
There is concern about a shoulder injury from October. If that checks out, Jordan should be a solid first-round pick. — Mark Dulgerian, Optimum Scouting
Jordan is a rare athlete with the speed and burst to consistently press the edge on pass rushes as well as cover ground quickly in space against both the pass and run. He shows good lower body flexibility and is capable of playing with appropriate base and leverage, and uses his long arms well to keep blockers off his frame. He competes hard with blockers and has the explosion to beat blockers off the ball as well as close effectively on the ball carrier. He looks smooth and fluid in his drops, and in Oregon's defense he played a variety of roles effectively from a wide array of alignments.
NEGATIVES
Jordan will need to add bulk to his frame if he plays DE for a 43 defense. At times he gets too far out front of himself and can lose his balance and struggle to change directions effectively. When rushing the passer he tends to rely too much on his speed off the edge, and must improve his hand usage and incorporate a more diverse set of moves at the POA. He battled through a torn labrum the last several weeks of his senior season and will require surgery on the shoulder some time this spring.
ANALYSIS
Dion Jordan was an exciting player to evaluate because he is such a versatile, explosive athlete. His speed and burst allow him to not only be a constant threat rushing the passer but also drop into coverage and make plays against the run in pursuit. He shows good anticipation off the snap which allows him to get off the ball in a flash and consistently threaten the pocket against both run and pass plays. While he flashes the ability to set up moves with his hands he does not have a proficient counter-move at this stage in his career, and will need to continue to develop his skill set. Jordan is a fit in any system and has experience playing a variety of roles on the defensive front seven. If he were healthy during the draft process he would almost certainly be a top ten pick, as his potential is as high as any defender in this draft. Assuming teams feel comfortable with the long-term prognosis of his shoulder, expect to still hear his name called on day one.
Jordan signed with the Ducks to be a hybrid tight end/wide receiver but was moved to defense. He made an easy transition and starred at outside linebacker/defensive end showing super versatility and even covering receivers in the slot and tight ends. Jordan sustained a torn labrum and after the NFL Combine. It's expected that he should be ready for training camp if there are no additional issues with the injury. Jordan’s is a super athlete with a great first step and speed off the edge. His upside is sky high. While he could play defensive end in a conventional 4-3 defense he’s more suited to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4.
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The Miami Dolphins addressed another big need in this draft, as the Dolphins selected Boise State cornerback Jamar Taylor with the 54th pick in the 2nd round.
The Miami Dolphins made the 1st big move of the 2013 NFL Draft by trading up with the Oakland Raiders at #3 to take OLB/DE Dion Jordan of Oregon. There were rumors that the Dolphins would look to possibly trade up or trade down, and when the move up was made, the thought was the pick would be OLT Lane Johnson of Oklahoma. Miami threw everyone a curve with this selection, and they took the most talented pass rusher in the draft.
