Miami Dolphins wide receiver Kenny Stills doesn’t get a lot of the recognition that he should — in large part because the Dolphins’ passing game has been punchless for two seasons. But Stills’ contributions over the course of his time with the Dolphins can be seen and felt in more ways that just the receiving stat sheet.
And Sports Illustrated’s Andy Benoit showed Stills with a little bit of love earlier this week for some of those “extra” contributions to the Dolphins. Benoit, who is a contributor for Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB) section, highlighted a critical block thrown by Stills in Miami’s late season upset over the New England Patriots last season.
And while Stills hasn’t put up elite numbers, these kinds of plays — and this kind of performance — is ever consistent on Stills’ tape. So, too, is his separation ability. Stills won routes with a much greater consistency in 2018 than the stat sheet would have you believe, but protection breakdowns and poor quarterback play led to those potential targets going unnoticed.
With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen at quarterback, Miami figures to be a little more aggressive down the field. And with a collective offense that figures to be outmanned this season, Miami should be more committed to running the football. That ideology helps Stills in two ways: he can be an asset as a second level blocker and he can get more big play opportunities off of play action passing.
