Marcel Louis-Jacques
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Malik Washington would not like being on boats, but when Tua Tagovailoa invitations him, he is there.
It is all a part of the method of proving to the Miami Dolphins quarterback that he may be counted on to indicate up — whether or not it is on or off the sector.
Coming into his second yr, the previous sixth-round decide Washington has been certainly one of Tagovailoa's prime receivers this summer season, with Tyreek Hill lacking the previous three weeks of apply with an indirect harm. After Miami's preseason finale, throughout which he scored a powerful 25-yard landing, Washington stated the chemistry he is constructed with Tagovailoa is the results of a deliberate effort on his half.
“I wish to say he invited us on his boat and I made certain — I do not even like boats,” Washington stated. “I do not even like being on the water, however I made certain to be there and simply be across the guys and actually have a chance to attach, however such as you stated, any time he invitations (me) to one thing, I am in all probability going to indicate up.”
Their relationship has come a good distance.
Washington was a part of a glut of receivers final season vying to be the Dolphins' third receiving possibility; he in the end completed with 26 catches for 223 yards on 36 targets because the Dolphins performed 4 completely different quarterbacks all through Tagovailoa's injury-plagued marketing campaign.
The previous sixth-round decide stated he might inform that Tagovailoa's belief in him wasn't the place it wanted to be.
“I believe I observed that straight away after I bought right here,” Washington stated. “I used to be getting open a pair instances, and he simply wasn't even trying my means, after which as we sort of went on, I used to be like, ‘Okay, he must belief. He must have a relationship. He must know that if he places that ball on the market, you are going to discover a technique to go get it.'
“Over the previous yr or so, this offseason, (I have been) simply making an attempt to bond with him, simply making an attempt to hang around with him exterior of soccer, exterior of the constructing. Any probability that I get — if he invitations me someplace, I will present up as a result of I do know that he values that and I additionally worth that as properly, so making an attempt to construct that connection within the offseason.”
Miami's beginning offense performed three collection Saturday evening, which included three-and-outs on every of its first two drives. The third drive ended when Tagovailoa hit Washington within the flats on first down from the Jaguars' 25-yard line.
Washington made linebacker Chad Muma miss, and sprinted 25 yards into the tip zone. It was an instance of his playmaking capability — which overshadows a top quality of his sport that Tagovailoa believes is underrated.
“You guys noticed the landing he had, however I believe what will get ignored with Malik can also be the blocking facet of his sport,” Tagovailoa stated. “I believe that is the place he is most improved from final yr to this yr. Do not get me unsuitable — final yr was actually good with the issues that he had achieved within the run sport, however I believe this yr he is improved much more. However now that he is getting extra touches, it simply permits him to be that rather more versatile for us.”
The Dolphins' passing offense remains to be anticipated to run by means of Hill and Waddle, however will look to gamers like Washington to offer another possibility who retains opposing defenses sincere.
Whereas he's a lock to make the workforce's preliminary 53-man roster, Washington stated his job stability will not impression his work ethic.
“I am simply going to have that sense of urgency, that sense of I have never achieved something to essentially to make it a shoo-in or make it a given,” he stated. “I am a sixth-round decide and I all the time do not forget that. I all the time have that behind my head, however on the finish of the day I am an NFL participant and all people on an NFL roster has to earn every day to be on this 53-man roster. So for me it is simply pouring into that every second, every alternative that I get.”
