Fins have interesting pass-rush options with 18th pick

scout, cited this among reasons he moved Phillips ahead of Rousseau last week: Rousseau’s workout at UM’s Pro Day “was solid, but I don’t think he was spectacular. With Rousseau, I saw a long, angular guy. When I think about Jaelan Phillips and [Michigan’s Kwity Paye], these are dynamic athletes playing off the edge.”

The 15 1⁄ sacks in 15

2 college games — combined with the 6-7 frame — automatically make Rousseau a firstrounder, potentially a top-15 pick. What’s unclear is what kind of an NFL run defender he will be, and whether the small body of work leaves any uneasiness.

At UM’s recent Pro Day, Rousseau “was 20 pounds heavier than what we last saw him play at,” Jeremiah said, projecting Rousseau to go to the Dolphins at 18. “He looked a little bit tight, a little bit stiff, particularly when you compare him to his teammate Phillips. Phillips is [now] a step ahead of him.

“I thought if [Rousseau] would have played [in 2020], to get a chance to see him when he was fresh in everybody’s mind and he had another doubledigit sack year in that conference, then I think you would say, ‘OK, this kid will be a top-five, because you couldn’t ignore it.’ ” Jeremiah predicts Phillips will have more sacks as an NFL rookie than Rousseau.

Kiper put it this way:

Rousseau “had the big year in 2019, but you look at some games in 2019 you’re getting coverage sacks, not as quick off the snap. He needs to anticipate better, be more explosive off the snap. I think another year would have helped him. He didn’t have it.”

Phillips ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash at UM’s Pro Day; Rousseau ran a 4.69. And while that shouldn’t override their tape, it’s something that will be considered by teams. Like Rousseau, the sample size for Phillips wasn’t big, but it was impressive.

Phillips had 45 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and an interception in 10 games for UM in 2020 and has ideal athleticism size (6-5, 266 pounds) for a 3-4 outside linebacker.

The performance of the Canes’ entire front seven was dismal in the North Carolina game, and anyone selecting Phillips will need to be comfortable that his previous regular-season games were more reflective of his NFL potential.

“I love Phillips’ 2020 tape; I actually like Phillips better [than] Rousseau,” Kiper said, while acknowledging “durability concerns” with Phillips, who had ankle and wrist injuries and, reportedly, three concussions during two seasons at UCLA.

But Phillips’ excellent performance at UM’s Pro Day will matter for some teams.

The last word on the two Canes goes to ESPN’s Todd McShay: “With Phillips, I see power, driving an offensive tackle back and pushing them out of the way and then go finish as a pass rusher. He just dominated guards [when playing some inside at defensive tackle]. He’s long and powerful. Both of these guys will be firstround picks. They’re different in their approach but both are really good pass rushers. If you can get a Phillips or Rousseau in the second half of the first round, you’re getting lucky.”

FYI: UM’s Quincy Roche (30.5 sacks in four seasons) is a third-round Dolphins option.

Michigan’s Paye: He’s a defensive end who also can play standing up at outside linebacker in a

3-4, at 270 pounds.

The sack numbers (11.5 in 28 college games) weren’t as impressive as Rousseau’s, but Jeremiah said he’s “going to be a better pro than he was in college when somebody cuts him loose.”

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said “the traits and explosiveness are enticing but the film says ‘good’ rather than ‘great’ at this time.”

Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari: He had 9.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss — plus four forced fumbles — in just 10 games last season and he cannot be ruled out at 18, even though many mock drafts have listed him in the 20s.

Brooks said Ojulari “is one of the more polarizing

AAprospects. He’s a one-trick pony off the edge. But that trick is phenomenal when it’s working. His ability to turn the corner really stands out on tape.”

Tulsa’s Zaven Collins: He can play inside or outside linebacker and had 7.5 sacks and four interceptions in 32 college games. He’s an option at 18 or a slight trade down.

The Dolphins likely would pounce on Penn State inside/outside linebacker Micah Parsons if he surprisingly slips to 18. Edge player options at pick No. 36 or a trade up (or down) into the late 20s include Washington’s Joe Tryon (eight sacks in 2019; sat out last season) and Penn State’s Jayson Oweh (no sacks last year but “an extraordinary athlete with room to grow into a great player,” Kiper said).

Other second-round pass-rushing options include Wake Forest’s Carlos Basham, Texas’ Joseph Ossai, Oklahoma State’s Ronnie Perkins and Duke’s Chris Rumph.

Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Karamoah and Kentucky’s Jadin Davis would be inside linebacker options at 18; if Miami picked either, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah or inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney could play outside linebacker.

ACHATTER

Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones, to NFL Network about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa: “What we saw last year was great. But we expect a

Abig jump. … We’re looking for even something better this year. The kid has been working. He’s been a great kid. Really good head on his shoulders.”

The Marlins were scheduled Saturday to attend a workout for former Marlins and current free agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez, 37, who was

11-8 with a 3.85 ERA in 30 starts for Washington in 2019 but just 4-5 with a 6.62 ERA in 11 starts for the Nationals in 2020. Miami is monitoring the veteran starting pitching market.

A UM running backs Jaylon Knighton and Don Chaney endorse offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee’s decision to go with one bell-cow back (either those two or Cam’Ron Harris) instead of splitting carries among the three, like he did last year.

“You can’t get in a groove with six, seven carries,” Knighton said. “We need a featured back that can touch the ball 20 times a game.”

A Bam Adebayo and Precious Achuiwa have played just seven minutes together all season, which is disappointing, and the Heat has been outscored by seven points in those minutes. Coach Erik Spoelstra doesn’t believe the offense would work effectively with those two together.

ABarry Jackson: @flasportsbuzz