Tyreek Hill’s 11 drops were tied for second-most in the league this season. You might also consider that Hill’s 171 targets were third-most in the league, and Hill’s 119 receptions were tied for second.
MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is one of the best Hall of Famers I’ve ever covered. Yes, I said Hall of Famers. Hill is among the best of the best. No doubt.
The list includes, in no particular order, Dwyane Wade, Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal and Gary Payton (Ed Reed and Edgerrin James as college players). Pat Riley is also on that list.
Hill, the future Hall of Famer (he’s not actually a Hall of Famer yet, of course, but he already has the credentials as a six-time All Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection in an eight-year career), is a straight up baller.
He was my choice for league MVP for most of the season.
He remains my choice for Miami Dolphins MVP.
But Hill, who is courageously battling through ankle and quadriceps injuries, has dropped a lot of big passes in big games this season.
Hill’s 11 drops were tied for second-most in the league this season.
They’ve come in some of Miami’s biggest games.
Kansas City. Dallas. Baltimore. Philadelphia.
The Dolphins aren’t concerned.
“There are zero people, including myself,” coach Mike McDaniel said in defense of Hill, “that are concerned about a pattern of whatever.”
Tyreek Hill has been great all season but he's had a few really BAD drops in crucial moments. Some of these games would have different outcomes if he made the play pic.twitter.com/ZBQ7rC1SNC
— yungkuch (@YungKuch) January 8, 2024
Understood.
But Hill’s drops have risen to the level that they must be acknowledged as the Dolphins head into their biggest game of the season, a game in which the margin for error, for a number of reasons, will be its smallest of the season.
Yes, you could say the drops are relative, considering Hill’s 171 targets were third-most in the league, and Hill’s 119 receptions were tied for second.
The guy produces at a big-time level.
And he’s working to improve.
Hill said he’s been going back to his roots, such as catching passes (from the Jugs machine) every day after practice.
“I’ve said this before you’ve got to find a way to fall in love with the boring things,” he said. “I feel like I’ve kind of gotten away from that. And now I’m back to it, refocusing just on catching the ball and stuff like that and I feel like I’ll be all right.”
The issue is that Hill is so important to this offense that his errors get magnified.
Allow me to make this point: I’m not blaming Hill, the man who has carried this offense for two seasons, for any of the Dolphins’ losses. I’m not blaming Hill for anything.
That’s not what this is about.
I think Hill is one of the best players in the league regardless of position.
His 1,799 receiving yards led the league.
Hill’s 13 receiving touchdowns tied for the league lead.
This really gets back to the head-scratching performance of Miami’s offense in big games this season.
Part of the point here is that the big-game stuff that sinks the Dolphins happens to their best player, and that’s an issue.
Again, this isn’t ripping Hill.
Everybody has their “thing.”
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has late-game issues he must conquer.
McDaniel also has issues he must conquer.
The list goes on.
This is reinforcing a major point — if Hill can’t carry this offense, it’s a drifting ship.
Hill can’t have any drops Saturday.
In fact, Hill must be nearly flawless for the Dolphins to win.
Hill is used to such a burden under normal circumstances.
However, Hill is also dealing with a house fire that, at least for one day, according to what we learned on “Hard Knocks,” forced him and his family to leave their home.
And he’s dealing with injuries that rob him of his one-of-a-kind speed and quickness.
He’s practically playing at a Pro Bowl level instead of a Hall of Fame level.
Oh, and don’t forget that Hill is going back to Kansas City, the team that drafted him in the fifth round in 2016, the the place where it all started, and also the team that felt that he was the most expendable among their rising salaries, traded him to Miami, and proceeded to win a Super Bowl without him.
Let’s also remember Hill had a fumble returned for a pivotal touchdown in the Dolphins’ 21-14 loss to the Chiefs in Germany earlier this season.
There’s surely a lot running through Hill’s mind among the ankle and quad injuries, the house fire, the Chiefs game earlier this season, and the magnitude of Saturday’s playoff game.
Still, you know Hill would absolutely love to stick it to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Here’s hoping this opportunity doesn’t slip through his fingers.
