Jaelan Phillips

“This week, he needs to get better,” linebackers coach Rob Leonard said. “He hasn’t practiced. He needs reps. My mind isn’t even there [as far as Week 1] with him. He’s definitely moving faster where he’s not feeling anything.

“Jaelan is very smart. It’s one thing to understand something on a sheet of paper; another to execute it in live action. We’re working through that. In the classroom, he’s great. He needs reps and experience, to take fundamentals from the practice field to the game.

“It’s pretty obvious he knows how to rush the passer coming from college. With him, we talk about patience a lot [against the run]; let the plays come to you that you’re supposed to make. It’s a game of not beating yourself. I told him the other day, ‘if you go out -- outside linebacker in the NFL -- and just fall on the ground, the ball is going to end up in that general vicinity.’ Those are the plays you’re responsible to make, not plays on the other side of the field or doing something that’s not your job.

“Playing outside backer in this league is very simple to understand, harder to do. Guys are always messing with your eyes, messing with your alignments, trying to slow you down and make you think. The job [for coaches] is keeping things simple so he can play fast.

“Our job with Jaelan is to be very specific on first and second down, we’re doing this. Passing downs we’re doing this. Here is how we’re going to try to rush this guy. Here is how we’re going to set the edge in the run game. I talk a lot with him that you’ve got to work hard to be a trusted early down player because of all of the things they try to do to get you to not do your job. It’s a league of not beating yourself.”

Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer said of Phillips: “He’s done some good things and some things he’s got a ways to go.”

Dolphins legend and preseason TV analyst Jason Taylor expressed surprise that Phillips was removed from Saturday’s game on a third-and-8. Is it safe to assume that Phillips will play with Emmanuel Ogbah and Andrew Van Ginkel in a lot of third-and-long situations?

“I wouldn’t assume anything,” Boyer said. “Those are things [best kept confidential].”

CarsonChris wrote:Terrible, in against the 3rd and 4th string players and got abused.

DolFan 316 wrote:I'm kind of in the middle between CC and Jmp here. Yes, Phillips didn't do much of anything but then again the Falcons for some reason kept running away from him. Then again maybe I'm still spoiled from watching JT's first preseason and how he was making impact plays literally from the start. At least Phillips was around the general area of the tackle most times instead of getting blocked completely out of every play. That's a start, at least.

CarsonChris wrote:Guy played 4 quarters. And did nothing. Not good for a highly touted pass rusher. Miami needs more pressure on the QB. That was the point of the pick. Now we are being told they just want him to set the edge? Some things just don't add up. I know it's his rookie season but I want to see a flash of something spectacular.  The defense was blown up and gashed for chunk yard running plays in the 2nd half. That's when a 1st rounder, playing against 3rd and 4th string players should be showing. It was like Where's Waldo

CarsonChris wrote:This makes no sense. Pulling out your vaunted 1st round pass rusher on passing plays.

JMP wrote:It's preseason - the coaches wanted to see him in run support, and they are also bringing him along slowly since he was hurt.  And again, the Dolphins are not going to use their pass rush packages in preseason - no need to give the Pats and Bills any hints of what's to come.  They haven't used Baker as a blitzer, Ogbah hasn't played much, they haven't blitzed any DBs...just pure vanilla. It's going to look very different week 1.

DolFan 316 wrote:

JMP wrote:It's preseason - the coaches wanted to see him in run support, and they are also bringing him along slowly since he was hurt.  And again, the Dolphins are not going to use their pass rush packages in preseason - no need to give the Pats and Bills any hints of what's to come.  They haven't used Baker as a blitzer, Ogbah hasn't played much, they haven't blitzed any DBs...just pure vanilla. It's going to look very different week 1.

It had better look different Week 1. Even in a 17-game season this team cannot afford to start 0-2 in the division, especially with the Raiders Colts and Bucs up next. They could very easily be 0-5 without being anywhere near as bad as the 2019 team. Flores needs to prove he can win early instead of starting 0-2 for a third straight year.

white1 wrote:Can someone tell me the Pats performance under Cam and Mac Jones was a preseason aberration, against the Eagles no less?

Just saying... please don't count the Pats out just yet.  They will bring the same defense they always do (tough), and they will run the ball as much as possible unless it is stopped cold.  Traditionally, we haven't fared well with that kind of matchup.

white1 wrote:

the secret to the Patriots is their offensive line coach.  

They do have a great line, but their legendary OL coach Dante Scarnecchia retired in 2019.

white1 wrote:

They do have a great line, but their legendary OL coach Dante Scarnecchia retired in 2019.

In that case, do I dare hope they begin to decline in quality?

CarsonChris wrote:Belicheat brought in pass catching TE to open up everything. Miami will be playing in the toughest division in football. Patriots sucked last year and still won 9 games.