One thing that has become abundantly clear about the Miami Dolphins offseason is that the team is going to need to identify some new wide receivers to mix into the current group. Injuries and underwhelming play have cost Miami some dynamic potential in the passing game, especially with rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the controls. And while the Dolphins do have the luxury of having Ryan Fitzpatrick in their back pocket to serve as a “spark” from time to time, that isn’t a sustainable model.
Why does Fitzpatrick work in certain spots where Tagovailoa doesn’t as things currently stand? Fitzpatrick is more willing to fly close to the sun, for better and for worse, as a passer. Tight windows don’t phase him. He’s mastered the mental side of the game — even if he’s undisciplined in his execution of it at times. And while the floor for Miami is higher with Tagovailoa at the helm with his attentiveness to ball security, Miami certainly sees their brightest flashes with a quarterback more willing to test coverage.
And that’s where the Dolphins can help Tagovailoa the most this offseason: not just by targeting better pass catchers, but targeting a different kind of pass catcher. The Dolphins must take note of how Tagovailoa’s preference is to see his receiver leveraged before he throws the football and plan accordingly with which receivers they bring onto the roster.
More players like DeVante Parker and Preston Williams, who most frequently win their reps late in the route? That’s redundant and not to Tagovailoa’s strengths. The Dolphins need to find wide receiver that win their routes early on and at the line of scrimmage. Explosive athletes and route technicians alike qualify for consideration, but that change must be on the menu for the Dolphins’ shopping list.
When it was indicated that that Miami Dolphins were transitioning to Tagovailoa midseason in order to discover what they have in their rookie quarterback, those who followed the team scoffed at the notion. But in all honesty, it was true — just in a different kind of context. Miami has spent the back half of this season evaluating Tagovailoa not to determine whether he needs to be replaced but rather how he plays and what the Dolphins need to do to install the best, most effective supporting cast possible around him.
They’ve got their answer. Now it is nearly time to start acting on this new information.