The Miami Dolphins are giving wide receivers Malik Washington and Kevin Coleman Jr. distinctly different jobs, and Locked On Dolphins host Kyle Crabbs sees the split becoming a central issue for an offense searching for more reliable passing-game answers.
Washington has earned the larger workload as an on-schedule target, but Coleman has built a connection with quarterback Malik Willis when plays break down.
When Crabbs broke down the number of snaps for each player against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5, he found Washington had 55 snap opportunities compared with 40 for Coleman. Two earlier comparisons also favored Washington: 35 to 21 against Minnesota in Week 4 and 62 to 44 against Kansas City in Week 3. The difference has given Washington a significant edge in playing time, but Crabbs proposed those numbers do not tell the entire story of how Miami can best use the two receivers.
Washington, in Crabbs’ evaluation, has shown he can create separation on timing-based short and intermediate concepts, making him the more natural option when Willis can work within the structure of the call. Crabbs pointed to a missed designed shot against Cincinnati as an example of the precision the two still need to develop. On the play, Washington’s initial turn altered Willis’ expectation for where the route would finish, and the throw sailed outside.
Coleman has not reached Washington’s level as a route runner, Crabbs said. However, he has shown the best feel among Miami’s active receivers for adjusting when Willis leaves the pocket. That instinct produced a Week 5 touchdown when Willis rolled right and found Coleman in the end zone. The Dolphins do not need to choose one receiver over the other; they need to make Washington’s rhythm work and Coleman’s off-script awareness complement each other.
Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle) could bridge that divide if he returns after the bye. Douglas missed the Cincinnati game, and Crabbs said the offense has felt his absence the past three weeks. He viewed Douglas as a player capable of offering both route detail within the offense and enough size to help a group that has struggled when the field tightens near the goal line.
Miami’s next task is turning those specialized receiver strengths into a cleaner passing game against the New York Jets.
Dolphins News and Notes
– Crabbs charted Miami at six touchdowns in 13 red-zone trips, a 46% conversion rate he said ranked 28th in the NFL. He credited running back Ollie Gordon II and tight end Will Kacmarek with strong red-zone work. He identified Willis’ decision-making and the offense’s costly negative plays as major weaknesses.
– Crabbs said right tackle Austin Jackson (knee) has improved from an extremely poor first two games to roughly replacement-level play in his grading. He also highlighted guard Jarrett Kingston’s nearly even performance against Dexter Lawrence, saying the depth Kingston might offer could give Miami more flexibility before the trade deadline. However, Crabbs framed any Jackson trade talk as speculation rather than a reported discussion.
Miami Dolphins Essentials
- 5 Best Dolphins Quarterbacks of All Time
- 5 Best Running Backs in Dolphins History
- 5 Greatest Dolphins Wide Receivers Ever
- NFL’s Richest Owners: What Is Stephen Ross’ Net Worth?
Some or all of this content may have been generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, AI can occasionally produce incorrect information. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
