The Miami Dolphins have leaned hard on their young pass catchers this season, and Kevin Coleman Jr. has been part of that wave. But the rookie fifth-round pick hasn’t quite been used in a way that matches what he did in college, and that may be keeping his production lower than it should be.
Against the New England Patriots last week, Coleman gave Miami one of its better receiving performances. He finished with 46 yards on three catches and found the end zone for the second time in his career on a 35-yard strike from Malik Willis. Even with that showing, though, his season line still sits at just eight receptions on 21 targets for 82 yards.
That gap between opportunity and production is where the conversation really starts. Coleman’s usage has changed a lot since his college days, when he lined up in the slot on 91.8% of his snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He also posted an average depth of target of 9.5 yards, which fit the profile of a slot receiver working underneath and creating after the catch.
In Miami, that has not been the case. Coleman has lined up in the slot on only 37.7% of his snaps, and his average depth of target has jumped to 14.7.
Among receivers with at least 21 targets, that number ranks 15th. He has flashed in that role, but the bigger chunk of his college value came as a quick-hitting option who could turn short touches into bigger gains.
Malik Washington’s rise as the team’s top receiver has affected the distribution, but even Washington has spent only 53.6% of his snaps in the slot this season. The larger issue has been how Miami is building its formations. The Dolphins rank 17th in 11 personnel usage this year, according to Sumer Sports, so they are not leaning on a true slot alignment as often as many teams.
Instead, Miami has gone in a different direction. Rather than following the league trend of heavier 12 and 13 personnel looks, the Dolphins have taken a page from the San Francisco 49ers and used a fullback. They have lined up in 21 personnel, with two backs and often a true running back plus the fullback, on 27.9% of their plays, which is second only to San Francisco.
That setup has squeezed the young receivers, and Coleman has felt it more than most. The simplest fix would be to get him back into the short and intermediate game where his speed and quickness can do more damage.
Another would be cutting back on the heavy 21 personnel usage. Either way, the Dolphins could get more out of him if they put him in the kind of role that fits his game.
It will be worth watching whether offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik makes that adjustment as the season goes on.
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