One thing that has become increasingly clear about the Miami Dolphins off-season is that the team will have to identify new receivers to blend into the current group. Injuries and overwhelming play cost Miami a dynamic potential in the passing game, especially with rookie defender Tua Tagovailoa at the controls. And while the Dolphins have the luxury of having Ryan Fitzpatrick in their back pocket to occasionally serve as a “spark,” this is not a sustainable model.
Why does Fitzpatrick work in certain places where Tagovailoa does not work as it is today? Fitzpatrick is more willing to fly close to the sun, for better or worse, as a passer-by. Watertight windows do not put it in phase. He masters the mental side of the game – even if he is sometimes undisciplined in its execution. And while the floor for Miami is higher, with Tagovailoa at the helm, with his attention to the safety of the ball, Miami certainly sees their brightest flashes, with a defender more willing to test the cover.
And there the Dolphins can help Tagovailoa the most in this off-season period: not only by directing better passing sensors, but also to another type of passing sensors. The Dolphins need to consider how Tagovailoa’s preference is to see his receiver on leave before throwing the football and plan accordingly with which receivers to bring them to the list.
More players like DeVante Parker and Preston Williams, who most often win their representatives late in the race? This is redundant and not for Tagovailoa’s strengths. Dolphins need to find a wide receiver to win their routes early and at the scrimmage line. Explosive athletes and trail technicians qualify for both consideration, but this change must be on the Dolphins shopping list menu.
When it was indicated that the Miami Dolphins were moving to Tagovailoa in the middle of the season, to find out what they have in their beginner defender, those who followed the team made fun of the notion. But in all honesty, it was true – only in a different kind of context. Miami spent the back half of this season evaluating Tagovailoa, not to determine if he needs to be replaced, but rather how he plays and what the Dolphins need to do to install the best, most efficient distribution possible around him.
They have their answer. Now is the time to start acting on this new information.