Miami’s offense will have the opportunity against Washington to shine and return to impact numbers
MIAMI — Asking how much wide receiver means Jaylen Waddle for the offensive of the Miami Dolphins It seems pretty simple to answer.
Since entering the league in 2021, only 10 players have recorded more receiving yards than Waddle. It is a list that includes names like Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp and his partner Tyreek Hill. Even in a slow year by his standards, his 691 receiving yards in 11 games in 2023 put him on pace for a third straight 1,000-yard season to start his career.
But when the ball is not in his hands, there is a different way he Jaylen Waddle has helped the Dolphins to go 8-3 this season, and no, it’s not taking attention away from the league’s leading receiver, Tyrek Hill.
Miami’s offense will have the opportunity against Washington to shine and return to impact numbers Getty
“Look what kind of player he is on a blocking play,” the Los Angeles quarterback said. Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa. “Look what kind of player he is: very physical.”
Waddle set a rookie record in the NFL with 104 receptions in 2021, and followed it with 1,356 yards in 2022. He missed the game Miami against the Denver Broncos this season in Week 3 (a 70-20 blowout) after dealing with an oblique injury. throughout the preseason. And he failed to top 70 receiving yards from Week 4 to Week 7.
But he broke out of the slump with 121 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions against the New England Patriots in Week 8, and his 83 receiving yards per game since Week 8 ranks 10th in the NFL.
“I think it has done a very good job of mitigating outside noise,” he reflected. Tua Tagovailoa. “I understand that as a competitor, he wants to be in the mix with (Tyreek) to continue making plays for the team. And sometimes he has big games, but it’s kind of minimized because of the production that Tyreek brings to our offense.”
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“But I think highly of Jaylen, and I mean, he’s going to continue to do the things we need him to do to help us win games down the stretch.”
Both Waddle (114 yards) and Hill (102) eclipsed 100 receiving yards in the team’s victory. Dolphins by 34-13 over the New York Jets in Week 12, which is no easy feat against a defense that allows the sixth-fewest passing yards. per game.
His production contributed to a critical statistic for the Dolphins: They are 4-1 when Tagovailoa plays and Hill and Waddle each reached at least 100 yards.
“We try to go out and perform every week,” Waddle said after the game. “Sauce (Gardner) and DJ (Reed) are two of the best cornerbacks in this league…fortunately for us, we have two of the best cornerbacks that we face on a weekly basis, with (Jalen) Ramsey and (Xavien Howard)”.
While Waddle’s efficiency numbers are down slightly from a season ago, his 7.5 targets per game are up from the 6.9 he averaged in 2022. With Hill on pace to break the 2,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in the history of the NFLit’s easy to lose sight of Waddle’s impact this season.
“I really say this as a testament to him, obviously being the competitor that he is; he doesn’t really come up to me and say, ‘Dude, throw me the ball,'” Tagovailoa said. “He just understands that when the opportunity comes, I’m going to make sure I take advantage of all of that. It’s not something where we’re trying to push Jaylen aside. Jaylen is in the mix. It’s just that when we make plays for him, the coverages “They just won’t let us throw to him. But he keeps pushing and I think he’s done a great job.”
Miami leads the NFL in most major offensive categories, but the veneer has worn off a bit in recent weeks.
Since Week 7, the Dolphins rank 22nd in expected offensive points added (-13.99), 17th in offensive points scored per game (20.4) and 16th in first downs per game (19.8). They have won games largely on the strength of their resurgent defense.
In that period, Miami played against a couple of top 10 defenses (Jets y Kansas City Chiefs), and another that ranks 15th in that category (Patriots). The defense playing this week presents a great opportunity for Waddle and the Los Angeles offense. Dolphins.
The Dolphins travel to Washington on Sunday to face a Commanders defense that ranks second-worst in the league. NFL.
And Waddle is heating up at the right time. Against the Jets, caught all eight of his targets for a season-high +2.2 receptions above expected total. He also had a season-high +39 yards plus.
“I think that’s the best thing about this football team, is that everyone together has that drive, they have that daily process to know how I can improve today,” the offensive coordinator said. Frank Smith. “That’s why it’s a pleasure to work with this team.”
2023-12-01 19:00:00
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