Passing chemistry class
Dolphins’ Parker and Tagovailoa are starting to connect on the field
As Miami Dolphins rookieTua Tagovailoa continues to grow more comfortable as the team’s starting quarterback, his on-field chemistry with some of his offensive teammates is starting to develop aswell.
Just ask Dolphins leading receiver DeVante Parker, who illustrated such a connection is being developed as the Dolphins (6-3) hope to win their sixth straight game Sunday onthe road against the Denver Broncos (3-6).
Let’s examine two plays between Tagovailoa and Parker from Miami’s 29-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers lastweek:
First, a fade route that saw Parker secure a one-handedcatch in the end zone that was ruled out of bounds and not a touchdown. Sorry, DeVante Parker fantasy owners. Tagovailoa threw the football only where Parker could catch it, as Parker secured the ball with his left hand, tucked it into his chest, and came down onto the field after getting just one foot inbounds— not two.
Tagovailoa found receiver Jakeem Grant in the end zone one play later.
“On that play, I didn’t feel like I didn’t get my other foot down, but I felt likemy shinor outside of my leg was down,” Parker said this week. “So, I thought that should have counted, but it didn’t. We still were able to punch it in, so that’s all that matters.”
The second play wasn’ t a touchdown, either. But it was Parker’ s longest catch of the game. And it came immediately after Tagovailoa needed to pick the ball off the ground on the first of two poor snaps by center Ted Karras.
Tagovailoa knew the play call well. He knew where he wanted to throw the ball. And as a result, he did not panic after the poor snap. Parker ranhis route, created separation from the Chargers defensive back, and was able to high-point the football and bring it down for a 23-yard completion in the second quarter.
“Iwas running the route— just a regular go route. I just looked back, I saw the ball was in the air, so the timing was still there,”
Parker said .“I didn’ t know the ball hit the ground until after the play, but hestill put the ball in the right spot where it needed to be and I was able to comedown with it.”
Parker finished with only two catches for 31 yards on seven targets against the Chargers, one week after catching six passes for 64 yards from Tagovailoa against the Arizona Cardinals.
But Parker’s chemistry with Tagovailoa is starting to show and will be instrumental as the Dolphins make their push against the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East lead and in the AFC play offmix.
Parker’ s skills et provides Tag ovai lo a something he is familiar with from college as he depended on former Alabama receivers like Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy, players who could make a play on the ball if Tagovailoa is able to throwit in their vicinity.
“With DeVante, you’ve just got to give him an opportunity to go up and get it,” Tagovailoa said. “To me, I likemy chances with giving him a chance.”
Parker has 38 catches for 462 yards and three touchdowns in nine games, on a similar pace through nine games last season (33 catches, 469yards, four touchdowns) when he finished with career highs of 72 receptions for 1,202 yards and nine touch downs.
Parker stayed healthy unlike his first four seasons in the NFL and developed a rapport with former Dolphins starter now backup Ryan Fitzpatrick that led to his breakout season.
The Dolphins also lost receiver Preston Williams to an ACL tear last season, and need to rely on a productive Parker again to produce with Williamson injured reserve with a foot injury.
Parker will have to turn up the heat like he did in the final seven games a year ago (39 catches, 733 yards, five touchdowns with four games of more than 100 yards) to come close to his production.
A year ago, Parker achieved his goals of staying healthy and eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving.
This season, however, Parker is all about racking up the victories.
“Whatever position I’m in, wherever the coaches — whatever position they put me in to make a play, that’swhatI’ve got to do,” Parker said. “I’m notworried about statsandall that. I justwant to win and that’ s what we’ re doing right now. We’ve just got to keep doing that.”