Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Parker puts injuries behind him
Receiver using new regimen in minicamp
DeVante Parker is hard to ignore during the Miami Dolphins’ offseason practices. He’s far more active than in past organized team activity and minicamp sessions, and it appears the Dolphins’ 2015 first-round pick is ready to live up to his draft status.
Parker was one of the first players training at the team facility, going as far back as January. And the work seems to have paid off.
His goal is to get past the nagging knee, hamstring and foot injuries that have limited his practice time and curtailed his production the past two seasons. This offseason, Parker hasn’t missed a single practice session, which is a welcom change for Dolphins coaches, who often had to work without him for weeks at a time.
When asked about offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen predicting a “gigantic year” from Parker, the former Louisville standout said Tuesday that, “Coach knows what I can do.”
“I just know I wanted to play better than I did last year,” said Parker, who caught 56 passes for 744 yards and scored four touchdowns. “I was really big on this because me not being healthy, I couldn’t do what I wanted to do.”
Parker has the talent to be an elite receiver, a wideout who can carry an NFL offense. The biggest concern about him is whether the 24-year-old has the discipline, work ethic and durability to showcase that talent on a regular basis.
Parker said he’s created a regimen that keeps his body hydrated better, which was an issue last year. He’s also getting stretched by team trainers before and after practice, is eating better, and has set a goal of getting eight hours of sleep a night.
The chemistry he’s developing with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who would benefit from having a big, physical presence running routes, is apparent.
The Dolphins need Parker and his big body to balance out the receiver unit, and coach Adam Gase openly acknowledges he has a greater understanding of what routes Parker’s capable of running in their second season together.
“I just feel like 100 percent,” Parker said. “I just express myself, let it all out now.” return to the playoffs following last year’s 10-6 season wouldn’t satisfy him.
“We know what we’re working for, and it’s bigger than the playoffs,” said Jones, a 2015 Pro Bowl selection, whose return from a season-ending shoulder injury that forced him to miss 11 games last season should help a defense that allowed a franchise-worst 6,122 yards in 2016 improve.
“As long as we continue to improve and work among ourselves it doesn’t matter what anyone says outside this building.”
According to Jones, he’s seen the Dolphins’ offense take a step forward during the offseason program. Jones said Tannehill has taken ownership of his unit, and has become a better leader.
As for the defense, Jones said the Dolphins need to defend the run better. Miami allowed 2,247 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. The Dolphins ranked 30th in rushing yards per game, and 31st in rushing yards per attempt.
Jones said it’s difficult to tell if improvement in that area has been made without pads, which won’t come on till the second week of training camp in August. But Jones believes this year’s defense has the recipe for success.
“Everybody getting to the ball. That’s the model,” Jones said. “There’s one ball on the field so everybody getting to the ball and taking the right angles when we’re pursuing the ball, I think that’s how you work on it right now this early in the season.”