3 Keys the Miami Dolphins must use if they want to beat the Patriots

You’re going to find with my keys to the game that I’m really breaking the mold with how in-depth I’m going to get. Yes, I think getting the ball to Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesicki, and even DeVante Parker is a smart thing to do. I hope you were sitting down for that.

Jaylen Waddle, the recent winner of the Dan Marino award which is for the MVP of the Dolphins, is only 3 catches away from breaking the rookie record for receptions. Sure, you can make the argument that you need to put an asterisk next to it since there’s an added game now. I won’t even argue with you about that. Still, I’d like Waddle to have that record because records are cool and in 30 years when there are even more games, that will hopefully still be the record. I also would like to see one more Waddle dance for the season.

Mike Gesicki, who sure sounds like a guy who wants to be out of Miami due to Miami having not offered him a new contract yet and the fact that all the offensive coordinators combined have no earthly idea how to use him very well may be playing in his last game as a Miami Dolphin. That’s not fun at all to hear but it’s certainly a possibility. Maybe Miami will franchise tag Gesicki and maybe he’ll decline it and play elsewhere. Who knows? What I do know is that I wanted Gesicki drafted exactly where he got drafted back in 2018. He’s been one of the Dolphin’s best players but you wouldn’t have known if you’ve only been following his career over the last two months. He’s been pretty much been relegated to Jed Weaver territory on this team. Free Gesicki by letting him go up and get it, particularly in the endzone and particularly when there aren’t three guys on him.

And then there’s DeVante Parker, who was targeted 13 times last week only to have four catches. This also may be his last game as a Miami Dolphin. His career has been a bit of a paradox. When he plays, he’s a very talented receiver who makes catches that embarrass the opposition. The thing is, he always misses like 7 games a year. He’s scheduled to make $5.6M next year and it’s quite possible the Dolphins will say thanks but no thanks to another draft pick from another regime.

It be really nice if all the coordinators up in the booth figure out smart ways to scheme these guys open. You know, ways that put them in the best position to succeed like other offensive coordinators do. Who am I kidding? There isn’t a universe that exists that happens.