Fins ready to break speed records with Hill, Waddle
2020. Heck, even left tackle
Terron Armstead posted the fastest 40 time ever by an offensive tackle at the NFL Combine.
NFL Net’s Bucky Brooks ,a former scout, said the stress that Hill puts on a defense will not just be vertically, but “horizontally, running crossing routes.”
Veteran NFL running back
Kerryon Johnson tweeted: “Ain’t no way I’m chasing down Tyreek and Waddle. … Praying for a run play and then having to chase down Raheem and
[Chase] Edmonds. Praying for everybody’s hamstrings.”
Some pundits have said that
Tua Tagovailoa needs to throw deep a lot more to maximize
Hill. That would help, but Hill does much of his damage with long runs after short catches.
As former running back and NFL Network analyst Maurice Jones-Drew explained: “Calling those games against the 49es with my broadcast career with the Rams, it’s all short dink and dunks. Get the ball in their hands quickly and let those guys make plays. How many times have we seen Tyreek run [a short pattern and go the distance].
“They’re literally building this offense around Tua’s strengths. Those are [high] percentage throws — a quick slant, a quick bubble screen to Waddle or Tyreek and they can go the distance.”
All that being said, Hill has led the NFL with 28 deep receiving touchdowns since 2016. The Dolphins were the only team to fail to throw multiple deep passing touchdowns last season.
On the point of Hill and Waddle doing a lot of damage on short throws, consider that Waddle had 370 yards after the catch on passes of 10 yards or fewer
Alast season, which was ninth in the league. Hill had 347, which was 12th. And Samuel had 442, which was sixth.
“While Tagovailoa may not connect with Hill and Waddle on a ton of deep balls, a play-actionbased offense that resembles what McDaniel is familiar with from his time in San Francisco now has two players with Deebo Samueltype abilities after the catch,” Pro Football Focus said.
Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III, on what the Dolphins now are: “Think the 49ers but more explosive, and that’s a scary thought. I respect McDaniel a lot for helping me when I was [with him in Washington]. He is going to help Tua and create big [plays] down the field. Fans have something to be excited about in Miami. They should be throwing parties all night long.”
Former NFL safety and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark :“IfI was Kansas City, I would have been like, ‘You should have sent us Waddle.’ We saw him stretch the field as much as Hill. [And new Dolphins receiver] Cedrick Wilson is very underrated.”
Hill hadn’t even been a Dolphin for an hour when the narrative predictably turned to — who else? — Tagovailoa.
Former Dolphins executive
Mike Tannenbaum said “it’s reasonable to think by Halloween, [you could see] Teddy Bridgewater taking over for Tua if there are any bumps in the road.
“Outside of Davis Mills and
Mitch Trubisky, I’m not sure what other quarterback Tua
AAAstarting quarterback, only to see him re-sign with the New Orleans Saints.
This time, Bridgewater returns to Miami as the expected backup to Tua Tagovailoa, although he declined to specifically answer questions about his role.
“Being from South Florida, this is home,” he said. “I get to sleep in my own bed every night. Not have to find somewhere to live. My son is here. My family is here. It was pretty much smooth and there wasn’t too much to decide on.
“The football side will would be in front of in the AFC,” Tannenbaum said. “Tua has missed 10 games. His play has been average at best. He has trouble seeing the middle of the field and can’t get the ball downfield consistently.
“Of all the quarterbacks in the NFL, he has more pressure on him [than anyone]. Coach McDaniel will probably try to move the pocket, cut the field in half, have a lot of plays for Waddle and Hill that are catch and runs that play to Tua’s strengths. There are no more excuses. They’re giving him everything a quarterback could want and then some.”
Clark chimed in: “Everyone will be saying, ‘What’s the excuse now, Tua?’ If Tua doesn’t become the same dude we saw at Alabama, it’s time to move on.”
But where does this “excuse” narrative come from? Tagovailoa has never blamed his inconsistent play on anybody else. Some Tagovailoa supporters cited the lack of a sturdy offensive line and a substandard running game, and that’s justified.
Beyond a handful of elite quarterbacks, who exactly would have thrived with an offensive line that yielded 247 pressures and a running game that averaged 3.5 per carry?
Tagovailoa hasn’t been great. But he hasn’t been awful, either.
He’s 13-8 as a starter, and his first 16-start passer rating topped those of Baker Mayfield (88.9), Tom Brady (88.3), Matt Ryan (87.7), Kyler Murray (87.4), Kirk Cousins (81.7), Carson Wentz (79.3), Derek Carr (76.6), Ryan Tannehill (76.1), Matt Stafford (75.8) and Josh
Tyreek Hill always take care of itself. I’m just looking forward to this opportunity that I have.”
Bridgewater, an eightyear player and one-time Pro Bowler who has made 63 starts with four teams, including 14 with the Denver Broncos last season, brings the experience coach Mike McDaniel coveted in the team’s next backup. Bridgewater’s NFL journey, at one point in jeopardy because of a severe leg injury sustained while he was with the Minnesota Vikings, has given him a greater appreciation for his latest landing spot.
Allen (70.8).
He converted third downs into first downs 45 percent of the time last season, fifth-best in the NFL.
CHATTER
We hear the Dolphins have interest in giving Austin Jackson a look at right tackle. He was a left tackle as a rookie before moving to left guard a month into his second season.
Liam Eichenberg also could get work at right tackle. … Robert Hunt can play tackle, but the Dolphins liked his work at right guard. … Miami is looking for another center but isn’t looking to spend much.
A Heat source, referring to the timeout confrontation between Jimmy Butler and both Erik Spoelstra and Udonis Haslem, said one issue is that Butler is moody and sensitive and sometimes people need to walk on eggshells around him. But players generally have a good relationship with him.
With the Marlins’ top closer targets off the board, they’re likely to stick with Dylan Floro, who had 15 saves last season but has blown nine of his 24 career save chances. But Floro is dealing with arm soreness and might not be ready for Opening Day.
Henry Parrish has looked good and is getting an early leg up in the battle for UM’s starting job at running back. New UM running backs coach Kevin Smith, who coached Parrish for two years at Mississippi, said Parrish is “a really talented player, can run routes like a receiver. He has elite feet and elite eyes.”
AAAABarry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz
Bridgewater has been active in the Miami community and often returned to watch his alma mater play high school football games. So while he is looking forward to helping his hometown team, he hopes to continue to make just as big of an impact off the field, inspiring South Florida athletes just as he once was.
“The message hasn’t changed. It’s ‘dream big,’ ” he said. “No dream is too big. I’m happy that I get to be home. I always tell myself that the more that they see you in the flesh, the more it means to them.
“Oftentimes you see your idol on TV and it’s like, ‘Man, OK, that’s my idol.’ To see them in the flesh, to see that you walk the same sidewalks, play street football in the same streets, play in the same parks, went to the same middle schools, high schools, that’s huge for a lot of children and teenagers . ...
“First and foremost, I’m home to be a football player, but I get the opportunity to continue to make an impact in the community.”
Daniel Oyefusi: @DanielOyefusi