The more you can do at the NFL level, the better. You see it on a number of different fronts, including whether or not a fringe player is able to make the roster. If you can step in on special teams in addition to being a depth player at your primary position, odds are you’ll make the cut. Quarterbacks who are dual threats are much more of a headache to contain than those who simply sling the ball around the field.
Few NFL players can say they’re a viable contributor on all three phases of the team — offense, defense and special teams. But yet Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is one. And that’s a fact he takes great pride in as he hopes to do his part to turn the Dolphins’ fortunes around in 2020.
By the end of the 2019 season, Wilkins had logged a touchdown reception on offense, served as a starring defender on defense and logged 157 special teams snaps as well — a triple threat.
But even on defense alone, Wilkins can offer value in a number of different roles. Whether he’s serving as a base defensive end, a 3-technique defensive tackle or a 2-gapping interior defender, Wilkins offers competent play and can serve as a chess piece for Brian Flores’ defense. When asked yesterday during his meeting with the South Florida media via Zoom about that versatility, the second-year defensive tackle was quick to reference it as a point of pride.
“For me really, I just take a lot of pride in being able to do my job and a lot of other jobs along the defensive line. The saying in the NFL is, the more you can do the better, so I always try to add a lot to my game, and that comes from film study, working out hard, just really honing in on my craft at every position on the defensive line,” said Wilkins.
“That versatility is huge and I’m glad I’m able to do that for this team, because anything that can help this team I’m all for. We’ve got a really versatile defense. We do a lot of different fronts, a lot of different things upfront. I’m glad I’m able to do those things as a big part of our defense.”
Wilkins will indeed serve as a large presence for the Dolphins up front this season. With better players surrounding him up front, Wilkins should have more one on one reps, too — and hopefully log more splash plays in year two. But don’t sleep on Wilkins elsewhere, either. He may well show up when you least expect it for the Dolphins; such as down in the red zone while the team is on offense.
