The tough call Dolphins face at same spot on offense and defense. And a creative solution
Perhaps if Albert Wilson had not opted out of playing in 2020... and if Xavien Howard wasn’t dealing with multiple issues... and if the Dolphins were at the end of their rebuilding program instead of somewhere in the middle, there would be clear answers about who exactly should line up for the Dolphins in the slot on offense and defense this season.
For now, thought, there’s uncertainty, with lots of options but no obvious solution.
At least not yet.
On offense, the Dolphins could make it simple for themselves and give slot duties to Isaiah Ford (who came on strong at the end of last season) or new pickup Chester Rogers (who was productive for the Colts but had too many drops).
Or they could hope for sudden development from rookie and ex-Navy quarterback Malcolm Perry (who has displayed speed and shiftiness in his transition to the slot) or Gary Jennings (had a dropped pass Saturday but a touchdown reception from Tua Tagovailoa on Monday).
All are natural options, but none has a proven NFL track record of excellence.
But there’s another option, too, that would require some outside-the-box thinking.
What if the Dolphins determine that Jakeem Grant is their third-best receiver behind DeVante Parker and Preston Williams? Grant has looked like Miami’s third-best receiver early in camp.
Grant, during his four NFL seasons, has been more effective on the boundary than in the slot, though he said Tuesday that his confidence is at “an all-time high playing slot.”
But in three-receiver sets, Miami could get Grant, Williams and Parker all on the field by doing something unorthodox: lining up Parker or Williams in the slot more, where either would usually have a size advantage over slot corners.
Parker was really good when used selectively in the slot in 2019: 11 catches in 15 targets for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Williams was used in the slot only 15 snaps last season and was targeted four times. He caught three of those four passes for 24 yards and a first down, with one dropped pass.
Grant, who missed practice Tuesday with an injury and is day-to-day, reiterated Tuesday: “I’ve been pushing that message that I’m a receiver before a returner for the longest now. This year will be the biggest year to show it.”
Another option is using two natural receivers, putting Mike Gesicki in the slot, and playing a lot with a second tight end (Adam Shaheen and Durham Smythe). Shaheen had his best day of camp Tuesday, including a one-handed catch, but was a disappointment for the Bears after being drafted in the second round out of Ashland College.
Gesicki lined up in the slot 461 times and was the only tight end to rank in the top 10 in receiver yardage from the slot, according to fantasyfootballers.com.
Gesicki points to one upshot of that personnel grouping: There’s an advantage to having a 6-6 tight end (Gesicki) in the slot with receivers who are 6-3 (Parker) and 6-5 (Williams) on the boundary.
“To have those guys on the outside, I think it’s hard to send more attention to a tight end or to a slot or anything inside just because of the threats that they are in their individual positions,” Gesicki said.
Rogers could end up being the most obvious — if not necessarily the best — slot option. But he dropped 14 of the 104 passes thrown to him when he lined up in the slot for the Colts the past two years, an alarming 13.4 percent. That somewhat overshadows his 72 catches for 681 yards out of the slot during those two years.
He has been decent in camp, with several catches in recent days. Same with Ford, who earned the trust of Ryan Fitzpatrick and coaches with his good work in December.
The Dolphins had a choice of Rogers, Tavon Austin, Chris Hogan and Dez Bryant (who has not played since 2017) when Wilson and Allen Hurns opted out, and opted for Rogers, with Austin then joining the 49ers and Hogan the Jets. We will see how that decision plays out.
Defensively, with Howard still sidelined by COVID-19 and recovery from last December’s knee surgery, it appears rookie first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene is the preference opposite Byron Jones on the boundary. And that means Jamal Perry — formerly Jomal Wiltz --- continues to get a look at the nickel corner job that he often handled last season, with mixed results.
Tae Hayes also is in the mix and had two impressive pass breakups Saturday. And Nik Needham, who can play in the slot or on the boundary, has had a good week.
Wiltz, who has made some good plays early in camp but also been beaten some, last season allowed 40 completions in 62 targets for 439 yards, four touchdowns, one interception and a 100.1 passer rating in his coverage area. So the hope would be to get better production than what Wiltz offered last season.
When Howard is healthy, the Dolphins figure to give Igbinoghene a long look in the slot. Last season, the rookie allowed three receptions in 11 targets, for 37 yards when playing nickel corner at Auburn, which computes to a 41.1 passer rating against.
Just two years ago, the Dolphins had the player who graded out as the NFL’s best nickel corner in Minkah Fitzpatrick. They also had a competent nickel corner in Bobby McCain.
But the new regime moved McCain to safety, granted Fitzpatrick’s trade request and is now hoping to get by with a stopgap option — whether it’s Perry, Needham, Hayes or Igbinoghene, whose long-term future is outside but has the ability to play inside, according to his Auburn position coach, Wesley McGriff.
And don’t rule this out: Though the Dolphins view Brandon Jones primarily as a safety, he played a lot in the slot for Texas last season and confirmed to reporters that he has worked there some early in Dolphins training camp. Problem was, Jones allowed a 133.2 passer rating in his coverage area for the Longhorns when lined up in the slot (34 catches in 46 targets, 330 yards, 6 touchdowns).
If the Dolphins become enamored with former Cowboys backup Kazon Frazier — or if they had another big-time safety (such as free agent cornerback/safety Logan Ryan), they could move McCain back to nickel corner. But they seem disinclined to do that.
And so the search for someone to play in the slot on offense and defense remains an ongoing mission, with many options but no obvious solution.
DOLPHINS LOSE WEAVER
Curtis Weaver, the skilled pass rusher from Boise State, was claimed off waivers by Cleveland, meaning the Dolphins got just five practices out of the rookie fifth-round pick.
The Dolphins released Weaver on Monday after learning a toe/foot injury would sideline him for the season.
This has been reported differently by different outlets, but the Dolphins were not required to pass him through waivers if they had simply waited a few days to waive him.
By waiting a few more days, the Dolphins could have placed him on injured reserve without making him available for other teams to claim. The fact they didn’t is head-scratching.
Weaver had 34 sacks in three seasons at Boise, and some analysts had expected him to go higher in the draft.
Here’s our piece with what Brian Flores had to say on Tuesday.
Here’s our full practice recap from Tuesday, with lots of highlights, who looked good and details on every Tua Tagovailoa throw.
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 4:13 PM.
