Dolphins want Ryan Tannehill, Mike Wallace to have better chemistry
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) celebrates his touchdown against the New England Patriots in the first half of the game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins went on a spending spree last offseason in an effort to make the playoffs, and they were even talking about trying to dethrone the New England Patriots. That obviously didn’t happen in a very disappointing 2013 campaign that resulted in a locker room scandal and the firing of the GM who spent all that money. Mike Wallace was the centerpiece signing for the Dolphins last offseason, and they also re-signed Brian Hartline, added the criminally underrated Brandon Gibson, and inked veteran TE Dustin Keller (one-year deal and missed it with an ACL tear).
With the kind of money they spent on Wallace, the Dolphins expected more than the 73 receptions for 930 yards and five touchdowns that he hauled in. While those are solid numbers, he is capable of doing better, especially when it comes to stretching defenses downfield. Two “Dolphins people” told the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson that the team would like to see promising quarterback Ryan Tannehill and their talented deep threat show better chemistry, particularly on those deep passes.
Per Advanced NFL Stats, Wallace caught just 51.8% of everything thrown at him, averaging a mediocre 6.6 yards per target overall. Despite going deep on just over 30% of his routes, he averaged a career-low 12.7 yards per reception, which is slightly above-average for most receivers. However, the Dolphins paid Wallace big bucks to stretch the field, and it looks like they believe a lack of chemistry between Tannehill and him led to less effectiveness on those passes. Jackson also reports that a team official stated that Tannehill can make those kinds of throws to Hartline, who has been the Texas A&M product’s favorite target since day one, which furthers the notion that Wallace and Tannehill could do a better job of connecting.