The Miami Dolphins have two MVP worthy players in the discussion for the award. With an offense that has been as dynamic and fun to watch, it is no wonder that after the first Pro Bowl voting round was released, both Tua Tagovailoa, and Tyreek Hill are in the top four in AFC voting from the fans. While Adrian Peterson won the MVP award back in 2012, this seems like a realistic year in which a a different position may be able to win the award.
Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver Case
While it has been a foregone conclusion for the award to go to the most impressive quarterback over the years, no single signal caller has been able to separate themselves as of now. With all of the leading candidates having strong cases to make against their potential candidacy, some are arguing that the award might as well be renamed and rebranded as the “Best Quarterback” award if it does not go to a more deserving other position player.
Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins is going to make it a part of the conversation later in the year, and would very likely receive an invite, if the award was presented in a college Heisman like fashion. If the award is truly about the most valuable position, the player who is having the biggest impact, on offense their is no question that it must be Hill.
While the quarterback normally is the most important position because of their influence on every snap, what Hill is able to do completely changes the approach of opposing teams. Without Tyreek Hill, the Miami Dolphins would look completely different on offense, his teammates benefit from him able to open things up for them, and their record would be worse as this defense has not been good enough to lean on for wins.
Miami Dolphins Complete Skillset
In a moment that some dismissed out of hand, WR coach Wes Welker said that Hill is the best receiver that he has witnessed. While having played with the great Randy Moss, the multitude of ways the Hill is used makes this statement not as unreasonable as it may seem at first.
Randy is probably the best deep ball receiver, ever in the game. But Tyreek can run the whole route tree.
After further analyzing his game play, it does make sense. Hill has lined up in more positions, and is used in variety of formations off of the jet sweep, quick screens, as a running back, and in motion. While Moss is a bigger talent with elite deep ball catching ability, this was primarily how he was used.
From all of the play calling and pre snap movement, defenses HAVE to be aligned perfectly and stick with assignments. Any bad angles, or even momentary lack of focus, on Hill will burn you for a 60 yard gain.
Miami Dolphins Game Changer
The biggest benefit for the Miami Dolphins is, even when defenses are lined up in a good coverage to take Tyreek Hill and his speed in account, it does not matter. Tyreek Hill makes it so that you have to play with safety coverage help, not just to his side, but dedicated specifically to him. He truly makes it so that other teams cannot line up in single man coverage.
The play that best illustrates this point was his touchdown reception earlier against the Eagles. While being double teamed, with additional safety help over the top, Hill ran right past the coverage for the score.
While of course credit needs to be given to Tagovailoa for making the correct reads and throwing great passes, it is hard to argue that there is a single bigger game changer on offense than Hill