Ikaika Alama-Francis is getting serious consideration at OLB with the Dolphins

SFSS = South Florida Sun-Sentinel
PBP = Palm Beach Post


SFSS Note: "Sparano said linebacker coach Bill Sheridan rammed the idea "down his throat," and the more he watched Alama-Francis move during the offseason conditioning program the more he became intrigued."


About how they want to see what "Ike" can do at OLB, Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano said:
"We really want to see this guy, give him the opportunity to play this position. We really want to take a good long look at this project because there's something there that's different than some of the other guys at the position, and we kind of want to see if this can be a possibility." (SFSS)


About how Alama-Francis is 275 pounds now and can move well enough for an OLB, Sparano said:
"To watch him move in some of the drills and things, he was doing [well] for a guy his size….he's a strong player and his movement do not NOT remind you of a big strong linebacker. We want to take a long look at it, and the more we got him involved in coverage things the more fluid we saw him move out there. He's not a finished project by any stretch of the imagination, but the guy is getting better, and he really works at it." (SFSS)


About how they are serious about Alama-Francis at OLB, Sparano said:
"I don't think right now we're putting our toe in the water on this. We're kind of saying, 'Hey, we really want to see this guy and give him the opportunity to play this position.'" (PBP)


About how JJ convinced Alama-Francis to try football during his sophomore year at UH, Davone Bess said:
"June Jones went out and told him if he came out and played football he'd be a first-round pick. And he ended up being an early second-round pick, so I guess coach knew what he was talking about." (PBP)


About how he had no problem in dropping 15 pounds (he said "no more Hawaiian food") to be able to switch to OLB, Alama-Francis said:
"I said, 'Whatever I can do to help the team. You want me to go to free safety, strong safety, what (do) you want?  Anything to help this team." (PBP)


About how they want to see if Alama-Francis can be an OLB for them, Sparano said:
"He's not a finished project by any stretch of the imagination. We really want to take a good, long look at this project, because there's something there that's different than some of the other guys at the position, OK?  We kind of want to see if this can be a possibility." (PBP)


http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/dolphins/miami-dolphins-give-ikaika-alama-francis-serious-consideration-836017.html

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2010/07/could-ikaika-alama-francis-become-dolphins-starter.html