One second left. The offense has the ball on the 1-yard line and the defense knows the final play of this drive is going to be a pass because a noncontact OTA practice in June isn’t going to be decided by a Jay Ajayi belly play.
So Ryan Tannehill takes the shotgun snap and fires to the right front pylon of the end zone.
And DeVante Parker, matched one-on-one against cornerback Byron Maxwell, dives as he keeps his two feet inbounds. And he catches the pass.
One-handed.
Touchdown.
The Nick Saban Memorial Bubble where the Dolphins are practicing erupts in shouting and energy and bedlam.
Offensive players rush Parker as he gets up. And this:
Parker rushes at Maxwell, bodies him up as he did during the touchdown play, and gets facemask to facemask to talk smack to the veteran cornerback.
I am standing two feet from this scene, and there is energy and a tinge of violence coming from Parker.
And I’m wondering, who is this guy?
Because that doesn’t look or feel like the DeVante Parker I have seen the past two seasons.
“I saw the throw, and I wasn’t sure he was going to get there,” Gase said of Parker. “Since I’ve been around him, the more you’re around him he’ll open up. He’s understanding how we run the program and how he fits in. It’s been really good to see, especially this spring, he’s not afraid to ask questions. He’s not afraid to do a little trash talking with the DBs.
“It’s good. I think it’s a good thing. The more he opens up, I think it’s a good thing. ... He just has to keep getting better. There’s a lot of room for him to grow. He’s made a lot of strides this spring. You’re seeing a guy go full speed every day. It’s been impressive. He’s really done a good job of learning the offense better than what he knew it last year. He comes out to practice every day, and he’s not taking anything for granted. Every day he’s been out there, he’s really grinding.
“From the time he steps on the field until the time we have to get off the field, he’s doing something. It’s been a pleasure too see.”
I reported last month Parker
is the most improved player on the Dolphins this offseason. But this play seemed to show a more enthusiastic and fiery Parker.
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