Miami has not maximized Waddle’s speed on deep routes
Among the headscratching developments of this Dolphins season: How they’ve transformed Jaylen Waddle — one of the most electrifying deepball threats at Alabama — into a possession receiver used almost exclusively on short and intermediate routes.
Waddle, considered one of the fastest receivers in recent drafts, has been thrown just five passes that traveled at least 20 yards in the air and has caught only one of them, for 36 yards. Fifty-two
NFL receivers have been thrown more deep balls than Waddle.
Cincinnati rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase — who went fifth overall to Cincinnati after Miami traded from third to 12th and back to sixth — has been thrown 16 passes that have traveled at least 20 air yards and caught nine of them for 375 yards and four touchdowns.
Philadelphia’s DeVonta Smith, who went 10th overall, has been thrown 14 such passes and caught four for 100 yards.
Kansas City Pro Bowl receiver Tyreek Hill — the player with whom Waddle was most compared before the draft — has been thrown nine such passes and caught five for 201 yards.
So why aren’t the Dolphins throwing more deep balls to Waddle?
Receivers coach Josh Grizzard, asked if there have been a significant number of deep passes called for Waddle that simply haven’t been run for different reasons, said:
“There are things that are called and the defensive look might not dictate the ball being pushed down the field 20 yards. There are some shots that are called and based on a multitude of factors might not play out.”
Would the Dolphins like to take more deep shots to Waddle?
“Week-to-week, we’re always looking to take advantage of a look or matchup with him,” Grizzard said. “If it means pushing the ball down the field, absolutely.
“It’s something we focus on. It might not shake out that way certain times. But it’s always something we try to put an emphasis on.”
The Dolphins might lack confidence in their offensive line’s ability to hold blocks for the time necessary to throw deep more often, though Grizzard disputed that notion. It’s unclear if they lack confidence in Tua Tagovailoa’s deep passing; he has completed 6 of 14 such passes (thrown at least 20 air yards) for 188 yards this season, which isn’t bad, though he has one interception and no touchdowns on those throws.
“It takes 11 players to execute them,” Grizzard
said.
Though Waddle is catching a lot of passes and has three touchdowns, he hasn’t broken any play longer than 36 yards.
Waddle is tied for seventh in the league with 48 receptions, but his 413 yards are tied for 40th. His 8.6 yards per reception
is tied for 124th among all NFL receivers, running backs and tight ends.
“Jaylen is working hard; you see improvements week to week,” Grizzard said. “Facing new schemes, coverages. He’s done a good job. Always things we can work on. He brings it every day.”
He ranks 23rd with 210 yards after catch, but he’s averaging just 4.4 yards in YAC, which is 75th in the league.
So is he antsy to get thrown deep balls?
“I wouldn’t say eager,” Waddle said. “I‘m just eager to go out there and play, do my job, do it at a high level and try to help us win, honestly. Them type of plays, we don’t try to force them and go in the game saying we are going to have to do this. It’s kind of like if it happens, they are going to happen. We aren’t going to try to force them to be there.”
THIS AND THAT
Houston quarterback
●
Tyrod Taylor, who has missed six games with a hamstring injury, will start against the Dolphins. He’s 5-2 in seven career starts against Miami with a 113.8 passer rating, 10 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Cornerback Xavien Howard noted “the running he can do also, extending the plays.”
Tagovailoa was limited
● in practice for the second day in a row with a finger injury on his throwing hand, in addition to his previous ribs injury. But Mike Gesicki said Tagovailoa has thrown the ball well in practice this week.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (knee), safety
Brandon Jones (ankle) and receiver DeVante Parker (hamstring, shoulder) also were limited for the second day in a row.
Asked about being
●
with the Dolphins past the trade deadline, Howard said it’s a “blessing.”