It’s ‘all hands on deck’ with DeVante Parker out vs. Jets
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins are preparing to play a second consecutive game without DeVante Parker, the team’s starting split end receiver.
Parker hasn’t practiced in the two weeks since he sprained his right ankle in Miami’s 16-10 win over the Tennessee Titans earlier this month, and he’s listed as doubtful for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against the New York Jets.
“It’s not an ideal situation for him, especially when we’ve got two games close together,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said, referring to Miami’s upcoming Thursday night road game against the Baltimore Ravens.
In his absence, the Dolphins’ offense has been forced to evolve, compensating for the removal of the franchise’s 2015 first-round pick, who has contributed 19 receptions for 236 yards and one touchdown in the four games he’s played this season.
Miami has been using more two tight end sets, which feature Anthony Fasano and Julius Thomas playing on the field together. And at times, the Dolphins have used a three tight end formation, incorporating MarQueis Gray into the game.
The Dolphins also have had Jakeem Grant and Leonte Carroo fill in, shar-bringing ing the workload as the third receiver on the field while Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills handle the base package work.
Last week Carroo, a third-round pick in 2016, played more offensive snaps than Grant. But he didn’t bring in any of the three passes thrown his way. Grant caught one pass for 4 yards, his career total to three receptions for 15 yards.
“We still just keep holding out hope. He’s had some Lazarus experiences out there, where he’s showed up at the last second from the dead, so we still keep hoping,” offensive coordinator
Clyde Christensen said, referring to Parker playing a week after suffering a serious back injury in the week 12 game against the 49ers last season. “It’s harder without him, but guys fill in and go, and we’re kind of built for that, so that’s a plus.”
Carroo and Grant, a 2016 sixth-round pick, haven’t made much of an impact on Miami’s offense since joining the team last season.
Grant had a sensational preseason, catching eight passes for 230 yards and scoring two touchdowns, but he hasn’t been a factor in the first five games.
Christensen admitted that when Carroo and Grant are on the field, it’s on Stills and Landry to make sure the less-experienced receivers get lined up properly.
Miami’s coaches have been patient with the development of those two young receivers, but it would be ideal for them to step up when a major contributor is sidelined.
“I think the understanding is there. Now it just comes down to less thinking, more reacting,” Gase said, explaining the growing pains Carroo and Grant are experiencing. “I think you can see occasionally where Carroo looks smooth and everything is fluid and easy for him. Then occasionally, if something changes where he’s never seen something before — you see a coverage that you haven’t really practiced against — the wheels start turning.”
Gase didn’t intend to single out Carroo, who has three career receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown, because he said Grant has the same issues.
“[They’re] trying to figure out ‘What’s my adjustment? What am I supposed to do?’ ” Gase said. “That’s where you can slow yourself down, and you lose a little bit of focus.”
Considering the Dolphins have one of the leastproductive offenses in the NFL, one that’s averaging only 155.4 passing yards per game, there’s very little margin for error.
It doesn’t help that the Dolphins lead the NFL in drops, according to Gase. However, those issues have more to do with the normal starters than they do Carroo and Grant.
“We’ve got all hands on deck right now making sure those two guys are ready to go,” Gase said. “It’s experience. It’s the more they do it, the more they talk about it, the more they see it on film, the more they get to do it at practice, the better they’re going to get.”