Jordan Kovacs already winning fans in Miami
Nice article from the Dolphins site. We all know his story, but its still impressive to hear it again. I think he is going to win over some new believers.
Still mad about that.
God, I really hope he makes the team. I think Jordan Kovacs could make any team better just by sitting on the practice squad.
"But if you are talking about heart, if perseverance and dedication mean something, then Jordan Kovacs is off the charts. "
In my mind, you cannot help but cheer for someone like Kovacs who refuses to be overlooked and will fight for his shot at getting on the roster, and even better, will do everything you want and more in order to earn it. I would think any team would want everyone to have that sort of work ethic. It would be great to see him get some playing time and be successful.
I agree 100%, but the article painting him as some sort of Little Engine That Could kind of aggravated me. Yeah his heart and dedication are off the charts, but that's not what sets him apart in my mind. Those are admirable traits, but not too hard to find at the highest levels.
It's his intelligent work ethic that makes him special. He doesn't just work his tail off; he's the NFL's Greg Maddux. He doesn't just Rocky Montage his way to success. He lacks physical speed, but makes up for it by mastering the game like some white-beareded martial artist in a Hong Kong action movie.
I try to stress this among kids who have dreams. It's OK to dream, and you HAVE to work hard to get there, but also LEARN -- don't just throw your body against a brick wall until it breaks, because odds are you will first. The ones who succeed spend those countless hours finding a way around the wall. In Kovacs' case, he didn't just SPARTAAAA the ball carrier every time. He did it, countless times at that, with flawless technique. Standing high? I'll fly high and topple you like a tree. Near the sideline? I'm gonna throw my shoulder into your chest and knock you out. Fighting for every inch? I'm going to fly at you and p=mv your ass. Making a cut? I'm sweeping your pivot foot. Going in low? I'm going to barrel in, helmet to ball, and if you somehow hang onto the ball and stay upright I'm gonna cling like a pitbull until the cavalry arrives.
There are a number of NFL players who lack Kovacs' consistency. Even if he doesn't make the rotation, he'll get some rookies thinking twice when he shows them how the game's played.
Maybe lacks 'game' speed. Wasn't his 40 time at the combine or pro day one of the fastest out of the group of safeties?
His three-cone drill was the fastest. Which doesn't surprise me, because of the shifty adjustments he makes at speed when he's got a human missile lock on a tailback.
His 40 time was middling. . . among safeties in this year's draft (something like 9th out of 21). That's decent, but throw ALL NFL safeties into the mix and he's got a lot of people ahead of him. Bear in mind he can't just beat out his fellow rookies; he's now competing with NFL veterans for a roster spot. Mediocre speed is not a show-stopper for a strong safety, though. If all else fails, instead of having him bracket deep routes high, you can instruct the corner to play the wideout soft and bring Kovacs underneath. SC's answer was to go four-vert, but that's risky against NFL CBs.
He still needs to prove to be useful depth on defense in order to earn a spot on the game squad (with limited numbers, if someone is not quite as good on special teams but can provide more depth on defense, they'll probably take that guy), but if he can do that then I think he will be able to have at least a five year career as a special teams guy and a guy who you can bring in the game in case of emergancy.
I really don't see an issue with him making a practice squad, as I think it's at least worth the risk of keeping him around to see if he can develop into a useful depth guy, and he will work hard every day in practice and give good looks.
I honestly wonder if he can't make a career out of being a situational defender. He's not fast enough to be an every-down safety in the NFL, but he's a VERY solid tackler and an excellent last line of defense. I really wonder why some Miami fans are talking about him going on special teams. That's the worst way to use him! He's not great at blocking or getting off blocks and can't fly upfield. He's a sure tackler but he'll be the last person to get to the ball when it's a pure foot race.
Where he's worth his weight in gold is situational packages and red zone defense. There isn't enough room for the wideouts to use their speed against him and defenses have to respect the run anyway. A talented DC can move him around where Kovacs can use his brains to pick apart the play and keep the ball out of the end zone on his half of the field. He's worth keeping on any roster if he can force offenses into settling for field goals.
Keep in mind if the safety can't finish him off, there often isn't much between the ball carrier and end zone except nitrogen. Safeties with speed and nothing else come and go because the NFL needs last-line defenders that can tackle. They'll draft the speedsters in the hopes that they'll grow into reliable defenders, but the guys who can actually defend are the ones who stay on the roster.
Our "Rudy" doesn't get caught commiting securities fraud....
WTF would drive you to say something like that? You deserve to live in Columbus.
be funny.
So you don't think it's funny that Domer icon/saint Rudy was convicted of securities fraud?
I don't like the phrasing - there is absolutely no reason for us to need to be hopeful that Kovacs does not pursue the same goals in life.
He's upset that he's losing this war.
Fucking refs...blew another call.
+1, Kovacs isn't a stocks and securities scammer so the "Rudy" name doesn't fit
...our KOVACS made the NFL.
Rudy was the equipment manager's assistant. Kovacs was the team captain.
Plus, Rudy sucked.
Our Rudy my ass. Kovacs actually played and played well
As a Dolphins' fan, I was pretty excited when I read this article, this morning:
It looks like his smarts and performance really stood out. The article listed 19 unsigned free agents, and gave Jordan the only press, all of which was positive.
Wait until they find out that his off-field actions rival his play.
Love that Stephen Ross called him personally to invite him & so far Jordan has been doing what he's always been doing - being a winner.
OT to the gills, but You are correct sir
ima let you finish but ... this thread is about jordan kovacs, one of the best UM defensive backs of all time
I kinda thought Jordan Kovacs was already on the case. He's still working on the story.
As Michigan fans we've been so lucky and blessed to cheer for guys like Kovacs and Robinson the last four years. And it looks like they're both going to make their small mark on the NFL.
I agree that Kovacs can really help a team even without seeing field. His postivity and work ethic seem infectous and his football IQ is impossibly high. Even as a practice squad guy he'd be teaching your starters on both sides of the ball a thing or three. He put on a tackling clinic for four years here; seemingly always picking the right approach for the situation.
I'm glad to hear about him though. Kovacs has been my favorite Wolverine since '09 when he first stepped up (well, then it was Brandon Graham, but Kovacs was seriously on my radar before Denard, who looked like a situational change-up guy behind Tate Forcier at the time). But watching him in 2010 sealed the deal. Denard was the offense, but Kovacs very nearly was the defense. Hopefully he'll never be tossed into that tough of a job again. His 2011 and 2012 seasons really showcased how well he can work within a defense and while his coverage wasn't always the best, his run support and blitzing was grade-A. We're gonna miss him; I hope he gets his chance at Miami.
Best of luck bud!