With Miami waiving Tyrel Dodson, the defense will now be anchored by a pair of former Red Raiders.
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The Miami Dolphins' defense could soon be led by two Texas Tech alums in the middle of the field.
Miami announced it would be releasing ex-starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson ahead of Sunday's roster cuts deadline.
That allows the Dolphins to feature former Red Raiders Jordyn Brooks and Jacob Rodriguez together at the linebacker level when the team plays at the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 on Sep. 13.
Brooks led the NFL in tackles last season and re-signed with Miami on a three-year, $48 million contract this offseason. His place on the team isn't thought to be in question, despite trade rumors this summer.
For Rodriguez, the Heisman finalist for Texas Tech last season and second-round pick of Miami this spring, his new front office hasn't been shy about making him a key part of the team from Day 1.
"He's a leader. He's a green dot guy," Dolphins general manager John-Eric Sullivan said after Rodriguez was drafted. "He'll call the defense in time, and I think he'll fit really well in the room with Brooks ... and he'd be a great addition to the Miami Dolphins."
While Brooks is likely to assume the green-dot play-calling duties once again, this endorsement says a lot about the team's faith in the rookie.
Sullivan added: "Iron sharpens iron, you know what I mean? And anybody in this building that is afraid of competition or doesn't welcome it or embrace it shouldn't be here. That's where we are. It's pretty simple."
"I think the game's slowing down for Jacob," defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said of Rodriguez, who missed last week's practices with an injury and was absent in the Dolphins' last preseason game.
Earlier at training camp, Rodriguez had surpassed Dodson and began seeing more first-team reps during team drills. Dodson played 37 snaps in Miami's final preseason game before being waived on Sunday.
"Just the understanding of the call, understanding what's going on not only in front of him as it pertains to the run game, but what's going on around him and whether it's zone coverage or man coverage," Duggan added. "I think when you play defense, the more understanding you have of what's going on around you, the faster you can play, and you can start anticipating. So I've seen that, and it's something he needs to continue to get better at too."
Rodriguez accomplished everything in his way from rising up Texas Tech's program as a former walk-on turned unanimous All-American.
He's already exceeding expectations in the NFL, too, and he's doing so next to another former Red Raider.
