If Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa goes to take the massive third-year step that has been seen from different passers in NFL circles, the better help he has within the receiving corps will probably have lots to do with it.
The Dolphins made the blockbuster deal for elite speedster Tyreek Hill. They have already got Jaylen Waddle budding off his NFL rookie receptions report. They added Cedrick Wilson Jr., who can play larger than most slot receivers. Additionally, Miami has Lynn Bowden, who missed all of 2021, coming again off a standout second half of the 2020 season, whereas returning Preston Williams and drafting rookie Erik Ezukanma, amongst deeper choices.
In watching Tagovailoa throw to his wideouts within the group’s offseason exercise program, Dolphins broad receivers coach Wes Welker has come away impressed with Tagovailoa’s progress.
“The progression that he’s made this offseason, I think it’s been the most of anybody out there on the field,” stated Welker, who has a tad underneath 1,000 profession regular-season and postseason receptions to his identify as a participant. “It’s been fairly loopy getting these guys — so far as our route depths and every part — and getting it synchronized with what the quarterback’s doing.
“We saw it in the first week, it being not where we wanted, and just how much better it’s gotten as we continued to work through it. The ball’s coming out on time, and receivers getting their depth. It’s been pretty cool to see how far it’s come Week 1 to where it is now.”
Beyond the mere pace the Dolphins have at receiver with Hill and Waddle, Welker enjoys watching how they constantly carry it in observe.
“Those guys are full speed all the time,” he stated. “A lot of times you get guys that are 4.2 [seconds in the 40-yard dash] guys that know they’re 4.2 and don’t necessarily play 4.2. They play 4.2, and they do it a lot. Every time they’re out there on the field, they’re going as hard as they can.”
Of course, with that nice pace within the receiving corps, Tagovailoa has to have the ability to lead Hill and Waddle together with his passes — all whereas his arm power has been in query via his first two NFL seasons. Although a Dolphins social media video that was meant to focus on Tagovailoa connecting with Hill on a deep throw this week went viral underneath criticism that he underthrew Hill, new Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith doesn’t see any vertical challenges for the playbook from watching Tagovailoa throw.
“I wouldn’t say that we’re limiting ourselves with anything,” Smith stated. “Every day presents different routes, different things we’re trying to accomplish with the receivers. I would say that everything we’ve done so far has been extremely optimistic. There’s certain things in our progressions and reads and his ability to move throughout his progressions has been awesome for a guy just, really, being in the system for a month.”
Wilson may also be a valued playmaker in a unit that has since traded DeVante Parker to the division rival New England Patriots.
“His smoothness, his understanding of defenses and how to run routes, how to get open, understanding the techniques of defenders and how to attack them,” Welker famous as Wilson’s qualities. “Just a very savvy player who has kind of played with a chip on his shoulder. We’re looking forward for him to play with that same chip here.”
And Welker obtained a fellow Texas Tech Red Raider with the Dolphins’ second alternative within the draft, fourth-round broad receiver Erik Ezukanma.
“Big, physical guy. Great hands,” Welker stated of the 6-2 Ezukanma. “There were certain things in the film that you weren’t really sure about, but the kid is ultra-talented. I think he’s pretty raw right now, and we’ll see how he progresses in learning the offense and all those different things. We’re very high on him, and talking to the person, I’m fired up to be working with him and trying to take his game to the next level.”
With Parker now not in Miami, Ezukanma’s capability to play bodily and make contested catches might assist replenish that void.
“From what we had in the room, it wasn’t solely going after something bigger or anything like that, it just kind of happened that way,” Welker stated. “He is definitely a guy that we really liked, and he fell to a position that I think they were all comfortable with. He’s a very talented kid that has a lot of upside to him, and we’ll see how far we can take that upside.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com