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The Miami Dolphins entered 2022 with a defensive backfield advertised as a potential top-tier unit within a unit. On paper, and on the strength of a 2021 season in which the defense helped Miami win eight of their final nine games, 2022 could have been another leap for the group, but last year was a tale of another secondary.

2021 had a defense that was manned by then-head coach Brian Flores, who despite an arduous exit from the team following Week 18, had the blueprint of his zero-blitz scheme left with defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.

Even though a new regime of coaches came to Miami in 2022, Boyer was retained through the shuffle. After a sub-par season, he was fired a few days following the Dolphins playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Boyer, of course, had to deal with not only a slew of injuries on his defense, especially in the secondary, but veteran cornerback Byron Jones didnt play a snap all season due to complications in his recovery from Achilles surgery.

Jones, who was signed in 2020 to play opposite Xavien Howard, arguably didnt live up to his expectations and will be officially cut on June 1, thus ending the three-year relationship between him and the Dolphins.

Boyer, who was the defensive coordinator with Flores for two seasons, and one last year with Mike McDaniel, is now out, and Jones is gone as well. In, are new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and superstar defensive back Jalen Ramsey, whom the Dolphins traded for in March.

Further adding some pop to the secondary was their 2023 second-round pick, South Carolinas cornerback Cam Smith. Smith was a surprise selection when his name was written down by general manager Chris Grier and then called by Dolphins offensive lineman Terron Armstead, who was guest-calling the selection at the podium in Kansas City back in April.

Despite the initial surprise around Dolphin circles, when thinking about the significance of the Smith pick, it made tremendous sense for a few reasons. Primarily, the additions of Ramsey and Smith add to Howard, and second-year rising star in 2022 undrafted free agent Kader Kohou. Another undrafted free-agent cornerback is also set to return for Miami, that being Nik Needham. Needham and Kohou can be flexible as boundary corners as well as slot defenders.

With last seasons injury woes, a deep secondary is something Miami needs as necessary insurance, as well as thinking long-term, as they have a number of young players within the group to add to Howard and Ramsey.

In fact, all of Miamis cornerbacks could be considered flexible, outside or inside coverage backs, with the exception of Howard. Even adding to the flexibility and the options for Fangio would be safeties Jevon Holland, DeShon Elliot, and another defensive back returning from a 2022 injury, Brandon Jones.

Jones was a 2020 third-round draft pick out of Texas and, in his first two seasons as a pro, showed promise for Miami. Excelling in 2021 in the pass-rushing element of his game, Jones was the league leader in sacks from a defensive back with five in just his second NFL season.

He had a great 2021 season overall, adding 79 total tackles (six for a loss), 10 quarterback hits, a pair of fumble recoveries, an interception and a forced fumble.

Jones was on pace for a similar season in 2022 before getting injured in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jones tore his ACL and, prior to that game, recorded a pair of sacks with 49 total tackles and even was improving in his pass coverage, which was an early knock on his overall game.

As a rookie, Jones was getting his NFL secondary sea legs, so to speak, and in his pass coverage duties, he yielded a completion percentage of 80% when targeted against and a 105.2 passer rating. 2021 showed a bit of a coverage improvement, with a similar 81.8% completion percentage and a 95.7 passer rating.

In a bit more than six games last year before getting hurt against the Steelers, Jones trimmed his targeted-against completion percentage to 62.5% and a much-improved 78.0 quarterback rating.

With this improving combination of coverage, and his ready-made ability to blitz, track ball carriers and deliver missile-like hits, Jones could excel in Fangios system in a hybrid role thats prevalent in his systems.

The Jack linebacker, which yes, sounds like a name that may be confusing as Jones is a safety, is more a freelancer type who plays inside the box, where Jones specializes.

To play the Jack in a 3-4 set, you need to have that pass-rushing ability, and Jones has that nailed, as hes been sent on 131 blitzes in his 38 games as a Dolphin, about 3.5 per contest.

Enter Fangio, and the potential usage of Jones in this Jack role, which in its description is essentially a pass-rusher or run-stopper with coverage abilities, so you get a jack-of-all-trades. Simply put, theyll play against the run, rush the quarterback and drop back in coverage.

This isnt a set position for him, yet an area in addition to his traditional safety role which could create an element of intrigue for Jones as a versatile defender with the ability to rotate with other defensive backs and share in the snap counts, thus keeping players fresh and healthier for what could be a long season deep into the winter.

In Fangios 3-4 that hes utilized as Chicago Bears defensive coordinator and Denver Broncos head coach, you can see the outside Will or Sam linebackers rotating like edge-rushers Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Andrew Van Ginkel. While your Mike linebackers are more inside or middle defenders such as Jerome Baker and newly-signed free agent David Long.

Jones, being that type of player who has the speed to rush the passer, the strength to shed blockers and hit runners in the backfield, as well as get better in the coverage game, could make him the surprising or hidden chess piece for Fangio.

Most can see or expect players like Ramsey, who could man the defensive back role in a variety of ways as well, to excel, yet Jones has extreme potential to be a valuable component in Fangios unit while opening up snap counts and playing time for Miamis ocean-deep secondary.

In a league where passing is king and quarterback royalty resides in the AFC, a cornucopia of defensive backs isnt only prudent but needed. Now, with the flexibility of players like Jones playing inside that box within the front seven in certain scenarios and situations, your defensive backfield could in that instance, be a combination of four of Howard, Ramsey, Kohou, Smith, Holland, Needham, Elliott, or even deeper with players in development such as Trill Williams and Verone McKinley III pending the down, distance and area of the field.

The options are nearly endless for Fangio, and the number of players at his disposal with positional versatility could create a deep, ball-hawking unit that would be a far cry from last seasons 24th-ranked scoring defense.

Jones has been reportedly rehabbing ahead of schedule and should be 100% heading into the start of the regular season. With organized team activities, training camp and preseason games still a bit down the road, Jones has plenty of time to get back to full strength and learn a system that could see him as whats also affectionately called by some football people as a Joker.

Ironically, Joker is a moniker Dolphins fans have tagged on the young, budding star of what is shaping up as a fearsome defensive unit.

Follow the Dolphins at Dolphins Wire, and the best local South Florida news, entertainment and culture coverage, subscribe to The Palm Beach Post.

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A healthy Brandon Jones could be key chess piece for Vic Fangio - Dolphins Wire

Roughly every five years in the last three decades, the semiconductor industry has faced notable chip shortages. These were commonly due to external influences like economic downturns or natural catastrophes. But sometimes it "just happened" as a result of increased demand for emerging technologies or the introduction of new digital products or next generation devices. This "routine" cyclicality was disrupted in 2020 by the pandemic which first halted production in the Far East before triggering an unprecedented increase in demand. The supply-demand balancing act of the past (fluctuations between demand, increased production, surplus, slowdown in production, shortage, and so on) was replaced by a more complicated reality. Today, with supply chains finally regaining stability, the market was also expected to steady. But into the picture entered the geopolitical tension between the United States and China, with the semiconductor industry in the line of fire.

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Renana Ashkenazi, General Partner at Grove Ventures.

(Yoram Reshef)

The current state of the industry is a good opportunity to review some macro events and trends that have a significant impact on it:

Whats between the US-China mess and the semi industry?

You dont need to be a geo-political expert or a semi enthusiast to have heard about the link between the two.

Key players in the global supply chain: Both the U.S. and China play crucial roles in the global semiconductor supply chain. The U.S. is a leader in chip design and advanced manufacturing processes, while China is the largest consumer of semiconductors and plays a significant role in assembly, packaging, and testing.

Trade restrictions: The trade restrictions imposed by the U.S. government have limited the access of certain Chinese technology companies to American-made semiconductors and software. The U.S. issued embargo regulations over China in 2022, which prohibit the sale to China of advanced chips with high performance and fast interconnect speeds. The provisions also restrict any sale to China of equipment used to manufacture advanced chips. In a rare move, those restrictions target not only companies but also individuals: If an American citizen, green-card holder, or entity wants to assist China in developing its semiconductor industry, they must apply for prior approval. Considering the fact that U.S. companies design more than 95% of the AI chips that are used in China, and produce manufacturing equipment that is used in every single Chinese chip factory, this inevitably is forcing Chine to try to become self-sufficient.

Efforts to boost domestic production: As a result of the tension and the perceived vulnerability of the supply chain, both countries are taking steps to boost their domestic semiconductor capabilities. The U.S. is investing billions in domestic chip production and R&D to reduce dependence on foreign supplies, while China is investing heavily in its semiconductor industry to achieve self-sufficiency. These actions will undoubtedly reshape the global semiconductor landscape.

National security concerns: Semiconductors are critical not only for PlayStations and Teslas, but they are also critical for military and defense technologies. This makes the control over semiconductor technology and supply chains also a matter of national security for both countries a tricky situation even among friends.

Supply chain has increasingly become one of our industry's most significant challenges.

A typical chip might be designed by ARM (Japanese-owned, UK-based) by a team of engineers in California and Israel, using design software from the United States. When the design is complete, it's sent to a fab in Taiwan, using silicon and gas sourced from Japan. Many of the etching tools in the fab are produced by a Netherlands-based company. The chip is then packaged and tested, often in Southeast Asia, before being sent to China for assembly. This is what youd call a global supply chain.

In the wake of the 2020 crisis, organizations have had to alter their approach to supply chain management, enhancing production and material availability capacity in a variety of ways, such as:

Diversifying sourcing options - including dual sourcing and finding new suppliers.

Smart design - modifying designs to reduce component count.

Streamlining supply chains to decrease lead time cycles.

Using express shipping to cut down transportation time.

Companies are also working to expand the pool of available materials, by improving the repair cycle, salvaging more used parts, and enhancing supplier risk management.

Globalization a thing of the past?

While globalization was once encouraged, it now seems we're heading in the opposite direction. As the U.S. and China lock horns, the American congress has allocated $53 billion to move manufacturing from the far east to the USA, and several European nations are also planning to establish local fabs.

The semiconductor industry used to thrive on a complex global supply chain, with each region contributing based on its strengths. The U.S. is known for its superior core IP and chip design, while East Asia leads in wafer fabrication, supported by substantial capital investment and government incentives, and China dominates in assembly.

Not only did this model work well, but it also saved a lot of money. But it clearly suffers from its vulnerabilities as it relies on free trade which can be compromised by geopolitical tensions, mother nature, and the current global virus. Semiconductors have become a critical resource, so having 80% of their supply concentrated in a single region probably should have never made sense in the first place and doesnt make sense now. The only realistic solution is geographic diversification, and we are definitely seeing localization trends which will impact cost but also create plenty of local opportunities.

Some optimism to end with:

Given the ubiquity of digital devices in our everyday lives, the need for semiconductors hasnt shown any signs of stopping, thanks to the growth of cloud computing, cryptocurrency mining, 5G, and AI. Consequently, the long-term growth projection for the industry remains promising. Cutting-edge technologies in fields such as cloud computing, big data, AI, crypto mining, 5G, mobile, medical devices, and electric vehicles demand ever-increasing computing capabilities, further propelling leading industries and the microelectronics sector. It's anticipated that by 2030, electronics will account for 45% of the manufacturing cost of autonomous vehicles.

Renana Ashkenazi is a General Partner at Grove Ventures

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From chip shortages to global chess: Geopolitical struggles are ... - CTech

BEREA Before Luke Wypler ever stepped onto a practice field as a member of the Browns, the center from Ohio State noticed a chessboard in team headquarters and knew he would have competition.

He discovered the chess set belongs to Amari Cooper and vowed to challenge the Browns wide receiver to a match when veteran players return.

Wypler explained his passion for chess is applicable to the cerebral aspects of football, such as film study and strategy.

That's the part of the game I really love, kind of the chess, I call it, of playing football. It's like the mental warfare behind the scenes that not a lot of people see, Wypler said Friday before the first practice of rookie minicamp.

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As a sixth-round pick in last month's NFL Draft, Wypler is a pawn eager to work for a roster spot behind Browns starting center Ethan Pocic. His main competition will be Nick Harris.

The Browns hosted Wypler for an official pre-draft visit, so he knew Cleveland could be a landing spot. Now his new home is a reality, and he's thrilled about receiving an opportunity to learn from offensive line coaches Bill Callahan and Scott Peters and veterans such as five-time Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio. He's also reunited with former Buckeyes linemate Dawand Jones, a rookie fourth-round pick.

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All of those factors have led Wypler to conclude his decision to declare for the draft after his junior season and second year as an Ohio State starter was the right one.

In chess parlance, Wypler believes he made the right move.

It couldn't have been better for me, Wypler said.

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In addition to chess, the 6-foot-3, 303-pound Wypler has dabbled in stand-up comedy and juggling, a hobby he picked up in elementary school. Don't be surprised if he wins the Browns rookie talent show.

Telling jokes and juggling can't get better than that, he said.

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In the realm of football, the 22-year-old Wypler is known for a razor-sharp intellect and relentless work ethic a byproduct of the New Jersey native's blue-collar roots.

I would say it probably came from my parents, Wypler said of his tenacious preparation. I always tell people like, 'This isn't work. I get to play a sport for a living.' I watched how my parents had to work growing up.

My dad waking up 4:30, 3 o'clock in the morning, driving trucks, delivering things. That's hard work. This is fun. So, for me, I don't consider this work. This is just something I am lucky to do every single day.

As soon as the Browns drafted Wypler, he and Jones exchanged text messages about continuing their football journeys together. It was the first time Cleveland had picked two Buckeyes in the same draft since 1965 and the first time the organization had chosen two Ohio State offensive linemen in the same draft since 1959.

Run off the ball and being physical, thats what he loves to do, Jones, a 6-foot-8 tackle, said of Wypler. Hes smart. Hes a master of the game.

We shared a great bond at Ohio State. Just to hear his name called picked as a Brown it was like, Lets go! It was like an ecstatic moment.

Browns 2023 schedule release: Prime-time duo among Cleveland Browns' five most interesting games

Wypler started 13 games for Ohio State each of the past two seasons and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition last year. Although Wypler is a center, he played tackle in high school, and he's already begun cross-training at guard under the guidance of Callahan and Peters.

He played a lot of good football for them down there in Columbus, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. Tough, very, very intelligent, scrappy, just fits in with what we do.

Centers, by nature, oftentimes are really, really intelligent guys because you're making a lot of adjustments at the line of scrimmage when it comes to protection and the run game and those types of things. We ask a lot of our centers.

The simplest explanation for Wypler lasting until the draft's penultimate round, where the Browns nabbed him with the 190th overall pick, is tied to him possessing short arms (31 5/8 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine) by league standards.

Some other O-linemen have overcome a lack of prototypical arm length by proving it didn't leave them more vulnerable to being overpowered in the trenches. For example, former NFL center Ryan Kalil's arms measured 31 inches at the combine. A second-round pick in 2007, Kalil made five Pro Bowls with the Carolina Panthers.

I think that stuff doesn't really motivate me, Wypler said of falling to the sixth round. I think I motivate myself. I kind of let that be what it is. I have a lot of motivation inside of me. I'm very self-motivated, and those outside factors don't really bother me too much.

Wypler's vision isn't limited to draft stock. Like a seasoned chess player, he realizes a long-term view is more important.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

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Browns rookie and former Ohio State center Luke Wypler loves the ... - Akron Beacon Journal

Woodworking has been a hobby for David Pentimone since his parents bought him a used scroll saw off of Craigslist for his 12th birthday.

His first projects were simple.

It just started with like some simple jigsaw puzzle, just like a silhouette of a penguin or a deer or something like that, Pentimone says. And then I started getting a little bit more adventurous."

Armed with designs he found in a book about making wooden chess sets, Pentimone began making pieces. Eventually he made a complete set. Next came a chess set inspired by Roman architecture.

These days, Pentimone has been carving custom architectural chess sets with his scroll saw a new DeWalt, though he's had several different ones over the years modeling them after skylines in San Francisco and New York. The hobbyist's latest set features hometown architectural icons like the Power and Light Building, Bartle Hall and Liberty Memorial.

Julie Denesha

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KCUR 89.3

During the week, Pentimone works as a training manager at Amazon. But the 21-year-old will take any chance he can to disappear into the woodworking shop in the garage of his Northland home.

The chess pieces Pentimone makes are large and blocky.

The base measures inch-and-a-half by an inch-and-a-half. And then the smaller pieces, generally the pawns, they run about 2 to 2 1/2 inches tall," Pentimone says. "The king is generally up to 7 inches tall.

David Pentimone

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David Pentimone

Each hand-crafted set takes around 50 hours of work.

"Scroll saws are just very controlled and, as long as you have a very good grip on the wood, ... it's just learning the tool and then you have that control," Pentimone says.

A couple years ago, Pentimone started posting his creations on social media. He soon had a commission for a custom set with a New York City theme.

When he finished that one, Pentimone knew he wanted to create a chess set based on the skyline he knows best. So he started researching different buildings around town, looking for something that seemed authentically Kansas City.

I was kind of familiar with the different architecture of some of the more historic buildings, like the Power and Light Building, 909 Walnut downtown, Pentimone says.

But creating a design that works takes time.

A lot of it comes down to cutting the piece out (and then realizing), 'that looks terrible', Pentimone says. 'Let's start again, start from scratch, remake the pattern, cut it out until it works.'

At this point, hes about halfway finished with his Kansas City set, and the familiar skyline is taking shape. There are the twin spires of the iconic 909 Walnut building, and the spiny Sky Stations of Bartle Hall.

Using a scroll saw limits the shapes Penitimone can make. Each building he designs has its challenges.

I'm still actively working on Liberty Memorial, because it's such an iconic part of Kansas City, Pentimone says. And it's currently the king but it's square and the real tower is circular. So Im still kind of working on it.

Julie Denesha

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KCUR 89.3

Its been about an hour and Pentimone has finished with the queen, which looks like a miniature Power and Light Building. Beneath his shop lights, the piece's fresh edges look a bit raw. Now its time for a little light sanding before he finishes it off with a coat of Danish oil.

Despite his obvious skill in crafting these chess sets, Pentimone says his chess game could use a little work.

I do play chess, Pentimone says. "Im not fantastic at it."

"I've been playing with some friends, playing online. And then it's also like very enjoyable to take a set that I've made, and get to play on it with a friend, with my brother or something like that," he says. "So I do play and (am) trying to get better at it.

With another six months of work left to finish the Kansas City set, Pentimone has plenty of time to practice.

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This Kansas City woodworker is carving a chess set inspired by his ... - KCUR