What Happened To DeVante Parker?
DeVante Parker was expected to have a breakout 2016 season.
DeVante Parker has been consistent in his inconsistency.
In the spirit of Halloween, if Miami Dolphins players were to be matched up with appropriate costumes, Jay Ajayi would be dressed as a train, Ryan Tannehill a punching bag (even though the last two weeks he has been protected), and DeVante Parker would be a Ghost: near invisible.
Many of the best pay per head fans were expecting big things for the second year Wide Receiver from Louisville. So far Stills has out-shinned him, and since the Patriots game, Parker has been merely an afterthought in the Dolphins game plans. In that Patriots game, DeVante played a big part in the game plan getting 8 receptions on 14 targets and 106 receiving yards. However, Miami trailed big at halftime, and after the break, they flung passes desperate to catch-up.
Since the Patriots game, Parker has yet to be targeted more than 7 times in a game, or had more than 5 catches and 70 receiving yards in a game. In the other 5 games, outside the Patriots game, Parker is just averaging 3 catches per game, 5 targets per game and 38 yards receiving per game, with one lone Touchdown reception.
Let’s face it, Parker’s numbers aren’t what most expected from him this season.
The low target numbers seem to allude to two possibilities: Parker is just not getting open, or that the coaches and Tannehill are not including him that much in the offensive play calling. It’s likely a little bit of both. If this is the case, Parker must do a better job of running routes, and getting open, and the coaches and Tannehill need to do more to get him involved in the passing game more often.
DeVante’s conditioning in the preseason is also a likely reason for him taking a back seat in the offense. With a new system and new coaches, and Parker being injured early and often due to his lack of professionalism in taking care of his body might, the limited reps might have made him a clunky part of the machine. Since these prep issues have been rectified, he should have a good back-end of the season, as he catches up.
There’s no doubt that Parker has a unique skill set and can be a very productive professional. I expect Adam Gase to get him in gear soon, and like Ajayi, to explode at some point. It could very well be this week against the Jets with a big play in Play-Action. If not, hopefully it will be soon. Go Fins!!!
How about back to .500
How about 4-4
How about 2-1 in the division
How about 31 rushing attempts (sticking to the run game)
How about 111 yds for Ajayi
How about total of 139 rushing yds
Against the #1 rushing defense in the league
How about the special teams
How about the Rooks
How about that O-Line
How about that defense (just kept coming)
How about the leagues #1 third down defense
How about Phillips catching the ball w his hands and hurdling people, looking like a wideout
Parker steps right in for the ill Stills and Carroo steps right in Parker’s spot
Carroo fills in for Stills, and does so admirably (Carroo’s blocking is so so underrated, he is a physical WR)
It wasn’t all roses, bottom line was a WIN!!
All this without catching the breaks, Jets fumble inside their 10-they recover, punt return for TD called back, penalties abound to keep the Jets alive
.Carroo breaks open down field for coulda been TD-Missed pass,
Grant gets an offensive play, and drops the pass (must take advantage of said opportunities)
Maxwell struggled, in his defense it was against Marshall (most corners do)
Jones does well at TE; BUT, drops a KEY, KEY third down pass that would of avoided the botched punt, and the Jets last TD, and probably seals the game
Now we take to the road vs a underrated Chargers team.
Defense should receive a few more pieces…
Mitchell will only help all the way around for the defensive line as well as the defense as a whole
Culliver could be on his way back this week, just may replace Maxwell if healthy
Howard will be back soon, be nice if it were this week, instantly steps in and Maxwell goes back to the bench
Don’t underestimate Sims return at TE. Will help bolster our 2 TE sets, running game and play action passes, downfield passing, entire offense
So even though there were positives and negatives in the Jets win, there is still room for growth, and there are still pieces to the defense coming back weekly, there is still a nice piece coming back on offense (TE-Sims) soon
The arrow is pointing UP, pieces are still being added. Now win on the road and they could put themselves right in the thick of things. The Jets are better than their record (like the Chargers), their games have been close and this game was no different. We had several chances to put them away, those chances must be converted in the future to win on the road.
But, the J-Train continues to roll, the Fins continue to win, nice formula
Just saw he is questionable for this week…. Maybe he still isn’t taking care of his body…. I still think he has the talent so maybe he needs to grow up and realize that he can’t just do what he wants and be a star…. One thing this team lacks is a wr that has been around for awhile.. Stills has been around the longest and I doubt he wants to teach Parker how to take his job. Probably need him to step up to win this week so hopefully he plays and plays well… Go Fins!
Yeah Samson…there are alot of youngens on this team. I hope the injury to Williams doesn’t get into Landry’s head…he seems to be taking it hard. I think with Parker his foolishness in taking care of his body will linger for this season and take a grown up off season to recover….
….think Gase lost faith in Parker …Stills and Landry have proven themselves, Parker hasn’t …not yet
….a second factor is Gase’s new offense uses a 2 TE set as its primary attack formation …that leaves only 2 WRs in most sets …ergo Stills and Landry start, Parker sets
…and third, Parker is a potentially great receiver who hasn’t shown any affinity for blocking for others when the play calls for it …Gase’s new offense needs the WRs to pick up and block defenders at the 2nd level …Stills is doing a fair job there and Landry more so …ergo, again, Stills/Landry start, Parker sets
…that said, we may see more of Parker this game as Gase shifts his offense to match the Jest’s less than stellar secondary and they focus on stopping Ajayi …Parker is a potentially great weapon and I’d think Gase will use him if the game play calls for it
…but bottom-line, until Parker gets his mind and body set to effectively block for his teammates …and he can show he’s a measurably better WR than Stills/Landry …he’s going to be a benchwarmer in most Gase offensive formations …he’s starting to smell like Ginn to me …remember Ginn? …our 1st round WR who would actually deliberately avoid blocking for a teammate …or run for the sideline to avoid a tackle …Parker isn’t there yet but its in the air imnsho
Wonder how Grant is doing as to playing offense. Hope he busts one loose against Jets in kick off return.
Gary I’ waiting to for Grant to get implemented. He was in for that one big TD. I hope he gets worked in a bit more.
You know I just didn’t see Stills staying, but you got me thinking. So I’m mulling it. I figure they could put a tag on him to give Parker one more year to prove himself. But, they can’t give 3 huge contracts to WR’s….or can they?