Mike Wallace is just one of a number of Miami Dolphins' players in need of a redeeming season. Most NFL analysts have head coach Joe Philbin on the hot seat this season while quarterback Ryan Tannehill is in desperate need of a postseason berth if he is going to keep up with the other quarterbacks in his draft class. Wallace signed one of the bigger free agents deals of last season, but failed to live up to the dollar signs. Now he is promising fans that this season will be bigger and better for himself and the Dolphins as a team.
After inking a five-year, $60 million contract to go from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Miami Dolphins, Wallace only put up 930 yards and five touchdowns. He failed to show any kind of chemistry with Tannehill as the duo become more known for overthows and dropped passes rather than deep balls and touchdowns. However, Wallace is stressing that this season is shaping up to be much better for the pair he believes the chemistry is stronger which will lead to more success, but he understands the speculation coming from fans.
"We've got to hit that deep ball regardless," Wallace said, via the Palm Beach Post. "It's cool. It comes with the territory. Till we hit it, people have a right to ask that question. ... It's not going to be one time where we hit it and then it's over. We've got to continually do it every day. That's why we work, man, and keep working. I know we've been saying it for a while but I think in two weeks hopefully we can hit one."
Can Wallace be trusted this season? Against the Dallas Cowboys, he went 6 for 8. That was certainly a positive showing after Wallace dealt with injuries at the start of camp, but one of those missed catches was a guaranteed touchdown that Wallace dropped, leaving fans to flash back to last season.
In the preseason, Brandon Gibson lead the receivers while running back Damien Williams also put up a strong number of receiving yards. Brian Hartline led the team last year, but spent most of the preseason injured. Jarvis Landry is also a rookie to watch out for heading into 2014. Wallace has some high expectations to live up to, but he has some competition to overcome in order to meet them.