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!!!