Miami Dolphins rookies: What each will struggle with in 2021

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – JUNE 15: Wide Receiver Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Miami Dolphins catches a pass during practice drills at Mandatory Minicamp at Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southern University on June 15, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Miami Dolphins rookie Jaylen Waddle is fast and has great footwork.

He can get off the line quickly and has great acceleration and hands but this is the NFL and while he may have made college linebackers and defensive backs look silly, the NFL’s DBs are a lot faster and stronger.

Size has been singled out as a detriment to Waddle but he has made the most out of his career at Alabama. In the NFL, his size shouldn’t be an issue but what he will need to deal with is the fact that at this level, cornerbacks are a lot faster and bigger and hit a lot harder.

Waddle is going to have to use his speed to get upfield quickly and he needs to get separation off the line. Teams could play him straight up on the line and use the physical advantages to keep Waddle from getting into his route immediately. Waddle has incredible “stop and start” speed but the first five yards where contact is allowed could be problematic for Waddle.

Waddle needs to be put into motion as often as possible. This will take away most of the early contact and allow him to already be moving thus getting him into his route faster and less impeded. If the Dolphins can do this early on, they may be able to avoid the challenges that Waddle will face off the line of scrimmage.

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