The new dimension to Dolphins’ offense this year. What Smith can unlock. And injury news
No AFC team used two tight end sets less than the Dolphins did last season. No team in football had fewer receptions by a tight end than the 2023 Dolphins. And no team had zero touchdowns caught by a tight end last season -- except, of course, the Dolphins.
So if a team needed a player with the diverse skill set of Jonnu Smith, it was assuredly the Dolphins. With Odell Beckham Jr. out for at least the first four games, Smith presents the best opportunity to make a very good offense even better.
“Having Jonnu gives coach [Mike] McDaniel another toy, another piece to create mismatches,” tight ends coach Jon Embree said this week.
Before Miami signed him in March, McDaniel presented to Smith a vision of how he could be maximized in this offense. Smith emerged from that conversation impressed and excited.
“I know the system that they run and Mike’s ability to get guys the ball in their hands that can make plays,” Smith said. “That was something I definitely took to. Mike McDaniel is as great as a play caller as they come, as great as a head coach as I’ve been around.”
Offensive coordinator Frank Smith said “the great thing about Jonnu is his willingness to do different things he hasn’t done in other places. Being a hometown guy [who attended FIU], it’s even more important for him to be successful here.”
It has been fascinating to watch how McDaniel has deployed Smith, who led all NFL tight ends in average YAC (yards after catch) per reception over the past three seasons, including 7.3 last season, when Miami’s tight ends averaged a league-low 3.0 in YAC.
It will be even more interesting to see how McDaniel utilizes him when the games count for real, beginning Sunday against Jacksonville.
We’ve already seen Smith used as a runner throughout training camp. This is nothing new for him; he has rushed 17 times for 127 yards (a 7.5 average) in seven NFL seasons. He has had only two carries since 2021 but said he’s fine with being asked to run more: “I understand my skill set and try to utilize it.”
The running plays are similar to those the 49ers have used very selectively with Pro Bowler George Kittle, who has 12 career carries for 71 yards (a 5.9 average).
“We did that with George Kittle in San Francisco and gave him the ball in jet sweeps,” Embree said. “Both of them have similar skill sets. They have power and speed.”
We will likely see Smith on screens: He finished last season with the third-most yards-after-catch-over-expected on screens (+71), behind only Rachaad White and Deebo Samuel, per NextGen Stats.
Smith’s 11 receptions on screens last season were 10 more than the total for all Dolphins tight ends.
Another change we likely will see: more use of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two receivers). Most of those two tight end sets will feature Smith and Durham Smythe, but some will feature Julian Hill, who has become an excellent blocker and improved player overall.
“I think just looking at Mike, Frank Smith, ‘Embo’s’ history of really emphasizing the talents they have at positions, tells you that I think there is a lot to come,” Smythe said when asked if he expects new wrinkles with Smith’s usage and two tight end sets.
“So I’m sure they have a ton of stuff up their sleeve. It will be fun to see how that kind of evolves as the season goes.”
Last season, the Dolphins used two tight end sets on just 98 plays, per TruMedia. Only the Rams ran fewer plays out of 12 personnel (58).
Conversely, Miami used two tight end sets on 12 plays in the first half of the second preseason game against Washington, per PFF. Most of those plays featured Smith and Smythe.
“[Smith] is a very unique player,” Smythe said. “Obviously he can play tight end very well. He’s almost built like a running back, can run the ball well. The staff we have finds crazy ways to get players the ball in space. I’ve never played with a talent as unique as that.”
The Dolphins passed on 31 of their 98 plays with two tight ends last season and those passing plays averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt, which tied for 23rd in the league. That should improve considerably with Smith on the field; he has 20 touchdowns and 106 receptions for first downs on 219 career receptions.
The Dolphins’ two tight end sets last year (usually Smythe and Hill) had success running the ball, averaging 6.4 yards per carry in 12 personnel, which was best in the NFL.
Because Miami ran so well out of 12 personnel last season, Miami’s 6.3 average yards per play out of 12 personnel tied with Tennessee for second best, behind only the 49ers’ 6.7 average per play.
Now, we will likely see more of that look, especially with Miami’s receiver room depleted by injuries to Beckham Jr. (who remains sidelined) and River Cracraft, who’s out indefinitely.
And with Smith, McDaniel will have a dimension that this offense has lacked.
“You saw early preseason, the amount of different plays he can create for this offense,” fullback Alec Ingold said. “How can you get this guy more touches, more creative with the ball? It’s going to be exciting. Whenever you get a guy like Jonnu, wherever it starts is not where it’s going to stop. Whatever it looks like week 1 is going to look a whole lot different in week 17.”
This story was originally published September 5, 2024 at 2:23 PM.
