Mike Wallace has underwhelmed during his time with the Miami Dolphins. The wide receiver signed one of the bigger free agent contracts last season as he was expected to become the No. 1 target for Ryan Tannehill. Instead, he failed to develop chemistry quarterback and complained about his lack of targets throughout the season. After surviving an offseason of trade rumors, Wallace returns and the chemistry still is not there.
Wallace struggled to learn the new offense of the Dolphins after signing over from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now he is trying to learn a new system again with new coordinator Bill Lazor. With just a month to go before opening the season against the New England Patriots, Wallace and Tannehill are struggling to connect yet again as both are not looking sharp to start the season off.
Tannehill has been inconsistent at best to start training camp. It does not help that Wallace has been on and off the field with a hamstring injury, hindering his chemistry with the quarterback again. According to the Miami Herald the two have struggled when it comes to the deep ball, something Wallace is known for.
"It's a combination of a bunch of stuff," Tannehill said, via The Miami Herald. "Some throws we're just trying to make in practice to see if it's something we want to move with on during the season. We have other answers on the plays, but the coaching staff wants to take a look at some throws against some different coverages and see if we can complete them.''
Head coach Joe Philbin has not be thrilled with the amount of interceptions his quarterback is throwing. Last season, when throwing passes of 20-yards or more to Wallace, Tannehill was just 6 for 36. Philbin wants that number to improve considering Wallace is supposed to be one of the best in the game. Until then, the quarterback will go to his favorite targets, Brandon Gibson and Brian Hartline, both of which are coming off of injuries but showed better chemistry with Tannehill than Wallace did. The wide receiver is confident that once he gets healthy, things will get better.
"A little bit on the deep ball because I can't go as fast as I want to go, but I think we'll be all right," Wallace said. "I know the media has been saying that for a while, but he's getting better with the deep ball. It was a problem overall with everybody not just me last year. Coach Lazor is doing a good job staying on him."
The Dolphins need this pairing to work out. Right now their run game is leaving a lot to be desired. Lamar Miller is leading the group while Knowshon Moreno comes off the PUP list. Meanwhile Daniel Thomas is preparing to be released. The Dolphins certainly have a lot of improving to do on offense.