Building blocks
Rookie class making key contributions after career days for Waddle, Phillips
MIAMI GARDENS — For all the grief the Miami Dolphins (5-7) have received for their 2020 firstround draft picks, they appear to really have hit on their early 2021 selections.
There was no greater example than Sunday’s 33-10 win over the Carolina Panthers where receiver Jaylen Waddle and outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips had careerbest performances and safety Jevon Holland came up with an interception.
For as much criticism as has been dished to general manager Chris Grier, coach Brian Flores and the Dolphins’ brass for draft picks and roster decisions, their two first-round picks and early second-round choice in this year’s draft are all paying dividends.
“They work hard,” said Flores in a Monday web conference. “Football’s important to them. They’re team-first. Those guys are tough. They’re competitive. They enjoy playing with one another, support each other.
“I’m confident that they’ll continue to get better because they’ll continue to put the work in, and they’re all sponges. They want to get better. They want to learn. They want to improve. They want to help our team.”
After Waddle’s nine receptions for a career-high 137 yards and a touchdown, he ranks fifth in the NFL in receptions (77). With some bigger plays in the passing game in recent weeks, he has increased his yards per catch to a respectable 9.8.
Waddle, the No. 6 pick in April, and his former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected on a deep slant that, with the yards after the catch, resulted in a career-long 57-yard reception for him. Surpassing 100 yards in the first half on Sunday, he became Miami’s first rookie in team history with triple-digit receiving yards in the first half of a game.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been waiting,” Waddle said of getting more downfield looks in recent weeks. “Honestly, I just go out there and try to do my job. Whatever it is that they want me to do, I try to go out there and execute.”
Phillips,draftedNo.18,hadthefirst three-sack outing by an NFL rookie since the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby had fourinagamein2019.Hewasthefirst Dolphins rookie with multiple sacks in a game since linebacker Jerome Baker did it in 2018.
“We’ve just been playing more aggressively and looser,” said Phillips, who credited other pass rushers flushing Panthers quarterbacks Cam Newton and PJ Walker toward him. “We’ve been working better as a team in terms of our coordination on rush stunts and games that we’re running, and just playing freer and having genuine joy out there and having a great time playing together and just flying around and making plays.”
The three sacks catapulted Phillips to the team lead in that category, with 6 on the season.
Holland came up with his second interception in a first professional season where he has shown versatility with seven pass deflections, two sacks, activity on fumble recoveries and 46 tackles.
“It’s been everything I’ve ever imaged. It’s super fun. It’s the most fun I’ve had,” Holland said. “At first, it was fast, like it was guys flying around, bigger bodies, but just understanding myself and how I play and trying to take the next step in preparation so that I can just play free and kind of let things just flow to me. When preparation meets hard work and execution, then the splash plays happen.”
The “Waddle Waddle” dance move Waddle did after scoring his first-half touchdown against the Panthers was something Phillips said he and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins have been trying to get Waddle to do in a game for some time this year.