Odrick, Garner show versatility for Dolphins
DAVIE, Fla. -- Defensive end Jared Odrick and offensive lineman Nate Garner have been conspicuous with their displays of versatility so far during the Miami Dolphins' organized team activities.
Odrick, usually a defensive end, played defensive tackle in the absence of Randy Starks, who is staying away because he is unhappy with his contract situation. But Odrick wanted to move inside to defensive tackle to clear the way for rookie Dion Jordan to play defensive end full-time, or at the very least, in passing situations.
Garner, almost exclusively a right tackle last season, has played every position on the offensive line except left tackle during OTAs. It's unclear where he might settle as a backup.
"Position flexibility is an important point, maybe not as important today, June 3, but certainly as you get into the season," head coach Joe Philbin said. "Things happen you can't control. It might be during the practice week, it might be during the course of the game. To have players that can kind of fill multiple roles is definitely an advantage."
It appears that rookie cornerback Don Jones, a seventh-round pick from Arkansas State, has been moved to safety.
Cornerback Brent Grimes, who missed 15 games last season after sustaining a torn Achilles, has been one of the most impressive players during OTAs. Grimes, signed from Atlanta, has held the starting CB position opposite Richard Marshall.
"He looks good," Philbin said of Grimes. "He looked good (in earlier OTAs) when he was moving around and doing drills and fundamentals with the (defensive backs) coaches.
"I think he's progressed even further here in this OTA segment. I think he's changing direction well. He's got very good instincts and he's very competitive. Those are things, if you study him through the course of his career, those are things you can see on tape.
"Obviously, we'd like him to get his hands on the football and disrupting the passing game -- tip it, strip it, intercept it, all those things. We'd love to see those happen."
