Miami Dolphins: 2020 Receiver Rewind
The 2020 season for the Miami Dolphins was a little rough when it comes to the wide receiver position. With the pandemic taking off as much as it was, the two receivers decided to sit the season out, an understandable move with the uncertainty surrounding the league. Then Preston Williams went down for the season and another playmaker was out. With rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa trying to find his groove, the receiver unit could’ve used a bit more explosiveness.
Devante Parker
Parker continued to be an explosive player and inconsistent at times. He has all the talent in the world to be one of the top receivers in the league but needs to find ways to dial it up to 11. He doesn’t need to just go out and make plays. Being the star receiver he has to find plays that aren’t there and turn them into big gains. A lot of Parker’s shortcomings come from a lack of explosiveness on the opposite side of the field. If Miami goes out and cherry picks a top free agent he’ll draw less coverage and more one on one opportunities.
Mike Gesicki
Though he’s a tight end, we’re lumping all of the pass catchers together. Gesicki is turning into the playmaker the Dolphins had hoped for, but even he needs an extra gear. With just over 700 yards receiving and six touchdowns, it doesn’t really scream game changer. With the lack of production out of their other receivers, both Gesicki and Parker should’ve had closer to 1,000 yards but the fault is Miami’s as well. Both Parker and Gesicki often line up on the same side of the ball, trying to overload one side can create mismatches. However, without spreading the field defenses can often cheat and cut the field in half.
More Dolphins: Running Back Rewind
Gesicki and Parker both can excel in the medium to long game but both need a complementary receiver to keep defenses honest. Even if they split both sides of the football, defenders kept them in check by shortening the field. Defenders allowed the quick passes on short yards but never allowed the big plays. By cutting the field shorter both North and South and down to one sideline or the other, defenses never allowed either to play up to their potential. Beyond the duo, productivity dropped dramatically.
Jakeem Grant
Grant is more of a situational receiver than a threat. He can make plays throughout the game but doesn’t have the size to win one on ones. His speed makes him elusive enough to get open but can easily be taken out of games when pressured. Speeds should be his saving grace but he’s another product of defenses shortening the field. Getting enough room to get open but never enough to break away hurts his chances at big plays.
Miles Gaskin
Despite being the lead receiver out of the backfield, Gaskin produced just 388 yards. To his credit, he only played 10 games but out of the running back position, their rookie quarterback could’ve used a dump off man. As with the rest of the Dolphins team, bunched-up defenses kept him in check and away from big plays. The entire team plays with speed but often times the Dolphins had to get creative due to lack of separation. Gaskin showed up when called on, but will be another player benefiting from an explosive free-agent acquisition.
Plenty of other Dolphins got their number called throughout this season. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t do much worth writing home about but a lot of that isn’t their fault. It’s no secret the Miami Dolphins need playmakers at receiver. They’ve got guys who can catch and guys who can make plays but they don’t have complimentary football out of the receiving unit. Running backs who can play explosives in the passing game would allow receivers to release deep. Receivers who stretch the entire field, not just deep routes create more lanes. Tight ends who come up clutch with big bodies in traffic are key. They’re close on talent, but at least one more playmaker is necessary to upgrade the entire unit.
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
