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MIAMI GARDENS ― The thing that stands out about Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez to his new position coach is this: he very rarely misses tackles.
"He's incredibly instinctive," first-year Dolphins linebacker coach Al Washington said. "I think he's really efficient and he's a really good tackler. When you think of tackling, there's two types. There's the knock them back, maybe like in the mid-90s. And Jacob has that, but I think the thing that I saw was in open field, there's a high percentage of tackles being made as opposed to missed tackles.
"And to be honest, this was good for me, coming from college to the NFL, you watch nothing but college tape. And the separator was just that, a lot of guys struggle in the open field. And you think about the athletes at this level, I haven't seen a bad one. I'm watching tape, the second string running back is like... so everybody's athletic. So being able to do that, being able to get yourself in a good base, being able to strike the appropriate way in open field is special."
The Dolphins used a second-round pick on Rodriguez, the tackling machine from Texas Tech whose reputation off the field is as strong as on it.
"It's been a week, I think a week now, but he's been incredibly impressive in terms of his approach," Washington said.
Washington has coached most recently at Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan.
He knows what it's supposed to look like.
So too does Dolphins run game coordinator Joe Barry, promoted from linebackers coach and retained by first-year head coach Jeff Hafley.
"In the draft, you do all this prep, you do all this vetting, and very rarely does it work out where you get the guy that you really covet," Barry said. :And Jacob was our number one ranked guy. We coveted the hell out of him. Now, we had other needs and things. And also, quite frankly, I personally didn't think that he'd be there when we were drafting with the 43rd pick."
What does Barry think of Rodriguez's game?
"He's a great kid," Barry said. "He's a great player. He's a great husband. He's a great teammate. He's been productive as hell in his entire college career, both from tackles and taking the ball away."
If Rodriguez starts alongside Jordyn Brooks, that could squeeze Tyrel Dodson out.
Miami often will play a 4-3 defense with two defensive tackles, two edge rushers and three linebackers (when not in nickel formation), but would they really use Brooks, Dodson and Rodriguez at the same time?
"We have eight linebackers on our roster right now," said Barry, adding that Hafley really wants competition. "When we throw our base 4-3 out there, only three of them can be on the field. So all that's going to sort itself out."
The most likely scenario could feature Brooks playing alongside Rodriguez, who would wear the "green dot" communication device in order to call defensive plays on the field for teammates.
"There's still learning that has to take place just because you're moving up a level," Barry said of Rodriguez. "You're part of the elite now. But with all the traits that I just listed before that he has, There's not a doubt in my mind that he's going to be able to make that. But it's just, you know, it takes time. That's why we have OTA days. That's why we have training camp. That's why we have preseason games. So it obviously is a process."
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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins have high hopes for rookie LB Jacob Rodriguez
Continue reading...
"He's incredibly instinctive," first-year Dolphins linebacker coach Al Washington said. "I think he's really efficient and he's a really good tackler. When you think of tackling, there's two types. There's the knock them back, maybe like in the mid-90s. And Jacob has that, but I think the thing that I saw was in open field, there's a high percentage of tackles being made as opposed to missed tackles.
"And to be honest, this was good for me, coming from college to the NFL, you watch nothing but college tape. And the separator was just that, a lot of guys struggle in the open field. And you think about the athletes at this level, I haven't seen a bad one. I'm watching tape, the second string running back is like... so everybody's athletic. So being able to do that, being able to get yourself in a good base, being able to strike the appropriate way in open field is special."
The Dolphins used a second-round pick on Rodriguez, the tackling machine from Texas Tech whose reputation off the field is as strong as on it.
"It's been a week, I think a week now, but he's been incredibly impressive in terms of his approach," Washington said.
Washington has coached most recently at Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan.
He knows what it's supposed to look like.
So too does Dolphins run game coordinator Joe Barry, promoted from linebackers coach and retained by first-year head coach Jeff Hafley.
"In the draft, you do all this prep, you do all this vetting, and very rarely does it work out where you get the guy that you really covet," Barry said. :And Jacob was our number one ranked guy. We coveted the hell out of him. Now, we had other needs and things. And also, quite frankly, I personally didn't think that he'd be there when we were drafting with the 43rd pick."
What does Barry think of Rodriguez's game?
"He's a great kid," Barry said. "He's a great player. He's a great husband. He's a great teammate. He's been productive as hell in his entire college career, both from tackles and taking the ball away."
If Rodriguez starts alongside Jordyn Brooks, that could squeeze Tyrel Dodson out.
Will Dolphins rookie Jacob Rodriguez start right away?
Miami often will play a 4-3 defense with two defensive tackles, two edge rushers and three linebackers (when not in nickel formation), but would they really use Brooks, Dodson and Rodriguez at the same time?
"We have eight linebackers on our roster right now," said Barry, adding that Hafley really wants competition. "When we throw our base 4-3 out there, only three of them can be on the field. So all that's going to sort itself out."
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The most likely scenario could feature Brooks playing alongside Rodriguez, who would wear the "green dot" communication device in order to call defensive plays on the field for teammates.
"There's still learning that has to take place just because you're moving up a level," Barry said of Rodriguez. "You're part of the elite now. But with all the traits that I just listed before that he has, There's not a doubt in my mind that he's going to be able to make that. But it's just, you know, it takes time. That's why we have OTA days. That's why we have training camp. That's why we have preseason games. So it obviously is a process."
Malik Willis: Dolphins coaches spill tea: 'Can spin the ball.'
Miami Dolphins' brutal schedule: 2nd-hardest in NFL, says expert
Miami Dolphins schedule release 2026: Everything to know
Miami Dolphins schedule 2026: Predictions, picks ahead of NFL release
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins have high hopes for rookie LB Jacob Rodriguez
Continue reading...
