Jul
27
Miami’s wide receivers look like a well-stocked unit this season, to the point where there are six talented players vying for five potential spots.
Why five spots, you ask? More depth will be needed at other positions (linebacker, cornerback and offensive line), so even though Miami will likely play with three or four receivers on the field at once, only five will be on the roster.
The battle will be between the disgruntled Rishard Matthews and second-year player Matt Hazel.
Both players are similar in the sense that they can play either outside or in the slot, are over 6’0″ and are late-round draft picks.
Matthews has the veteran edge, having played for the Dolphins since being selected in the seventh round of the 2012 draft. He has shown flashes, with 64 receptions for 734 yards and four touchdowns in his career, but that’s when he has gotten on the field.
Matthews hasn’t done a good job of getting on the field, as he is constantly mentioned as being in coach Joe Philbin’s doghouse due to “tardiness, lack of attention to detail and other issues,” according to the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson (h/t NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling).
Hazel still has yet to appear in any regular-season action, but during the 2014 preseason he had six catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in 111 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Per Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post, both players have played well in minicamp, stating:
“Matt Hazel’s made a couple of plays and certainly I think he’s improved dramatically over a year ago. He’s a young guy. I mean, Rishard has been productive catching the football as well.”
It should be an interesting battle, but another storyline we will discuss later looms large over this decision.
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