Are The Dolphins Trying To Fit A Square Peg In A Round Hole With Zach Wilson

Are The Dolphins Trying To Fit A Square Peg In A Round Hole With Zach Wilson

The Miami Dolphins this offseason needed to go after a backup quarterback because last year’s backups were disastrous when they played after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got hurt. The Dolphins signed Zach Wilson this offseason, the former number 2 pick draft bust of the New York Jets.

Some people questioned the decision, including myself. I wanted to see how this works out, and Wilson is being coached up and hasn’t been bad in training camp or the preseason. I would say he has been an upgrade, to say the least. 

However, when I watch him play, he looks uncomfortable in this offense. Head coach Mike McDaniel has an offense where the quarterback makes the quick reads and gets the ball out with timing and accuracy. In preseason games, Wilson hasn’t done either with any consistency. He tends to hold the ball too long, which leads to sacks, or he throws the ball off target at times.

As I said, he hasn’t been bad, but if called upon, one must wonder how he would do.  

He has the arm strength and athleticism that Tagovailoa lacks, but he struggles to make the quick reads to get the ball out of his hands.  He sometimes relies on his arm, and he’s gotten away with some interceptions in two games, including one that would have been an easy pick-six against the Chicago Bears.

McDaniel, in the game against the Detroit Lions, did do some rollouts with Wilson to take advantage of his athleticism, including on play action. Still, the results were mixed, including one play where he had D’Wayne Eskridge open for a would-be touchdown, and he underthrew him, allowing the ball to be knocked down. Wilson did have some good plays and led the team on a touchdown drive, but he doesn’t look comfortable in this offense. 

If anything, rookie Quinn Ewers looks comfortable and a fit in this offense instead of Wilson. Like I said, Wilson hasn’t been bad, and he does have talent, but it’s fair to wonder about the fit in this offense. If Tagovailoa goes down, will McDaniel change the play calling to fit Wilson’s skills?

I don’t think so because he didn’t do that last year, so what would make me think differently?  

Wilson has been very receptive to the coaching and being in the offense, but can he be the type of quarterback expected in this offense? I don’t think so. The Dolphins should have tried to get a quarterback who could fit this offense better in free agency, and not just a quarterback who is trying to rehab his career after being a high-pick bust that doesn’t have the skills for this offense.