Two of Cutler’s picks partially Parker’s fault
DAVIE — Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler threw two interceptions in the first half of Sunday’s 30-20 loss to Tampa Bay while targeting wide receiver DeVante Parker.
Miami’s first drive was spoiled when Cutler was intercepted while throwing into the end zone for Parker on a third-and-7 from the Bucs’ 9-yard line. Defensive back Justin Evans undercut the route and it appeared Parker may have gotten his feet tangled.
So, is that interception on Cutler or Parker?
“I wish (Parker’s) route was a little bit cleaner on the one in the end zone,” Miami coach Adam Gase said Monday. “But I think it’s kind of like one of those things where I wish Jay could have thrown it a little bit sooner. Probably the look we got in practice wasn’t exactly like that. But it was pretty close. We had the look we wanted. We’ve got to hook up on that. And both those guys can be a little better on that.”
In the second quarter, Cutler threw his third interception of the game and second intended for Parker.
On a second-and -18 at Miami’s 17, Cutler hit Parker on a short route but the ball went off Parker’s hands and into the air, where it was grabbed by the Bucs’ Robert McClain.
“You know, usually, DeVante has been pretty reliable when the ball hits him in the hands as far as catching it,” Gase said. “That was kind of how things were going for us at that moment where it hits him in the hands and pops up and, of course, they have someone right there.
“I thought our defense responded fairly well to being thrown into some of those short fields. We have done a better job. After the Tennessee game, we talked about it a lot. We weren’t catching the catchable balls. We were worst in the league. And we really cut that thing in half. We’ve moved down to 18 or 17 (in the league). And you know we’ve been pretty good catching the ball both in practice and in games. We just wish we would have caught that one.”
Parker was targeted nine times Sunday, but he was only able to haul in four catches for 26 yards.