All potential legal and personal conduct penalties aside, Tyreek Hill has declared he will be the first player in NFL history to have 2,000 receiving yards in a season. Whether the goal is realistic or not is dependent upon many factors. Additionally, if the factors in question work to Hill’s benefit, what could that quest look like?
How Tyreek Hill Can Make NFL History In 2023
Potential Legal and Personal Conduct Issues
By now most Dolphins fans are fully aware of Hill’s alleged assault of a marina worker. As of this posting, there are conflicting reports as to whether that individual will file charges or not. Even if that person chose not to file charges, Hill could still be disciplined under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
If any type of suspension were handed down, the dream of 2,000 receiving yards in a season is likely dead in the water. If the league decided against any type of suspension, then the feasibility of such a goal would still be pursuable. Assuming Hill is not suspended, how could he attain 2,000 yards receiving this season?
Short Passes Are King
The New England Patriots used this strategy to perfection. Regardless if it was Wes Welker, Danny Amendola, or Julian Edelman, the short quick slants sliced and diced opposing defenses, largely due to the shiftiness of the aforementioned receivers.
Hill is just as quick as those three, and none of them possesses his elite straight-line speed. Mike McDaniel would be wise to have the fastest player in the league run more slant and exploit soft underneath coverage.
tua to tyreek hill for the touchdown pic.twitter.com/ZBVL8wvV9b
— josh houtz (@houtz) November 13, 2022
The Fly Route
Being the fastest player in the NFL means Tyreek Hill can outrun everybody else. While it seems like the fly route should work every time, it does not. Teams will adjust by double-teaming Hill as much as necessary. While that strategy will be employed many times, it also cannot be done every time.
If Hill is double-teamed that means someone else is open. If that player (likely Jaylen Waddle) is constantly open and is racking up yards, teams will have to devote more attention to the other side of the field. Once that happens, Tyreek Hill becomes a deep threat once again, in one-on-one coverage. This opportunity should present itself quite often for the Dolphins this season.
Jet Sweeps and Wildcats Oh My…
If Tua Tagovailoa or any other quarterback receives the ball in shotgun or pistol and tosses the ball forward as Hill comes in motion, it counts as a pass. Picture Hill lined up at either wingback or wideout and doing this several times during the season. With his speed, he could rack up yardage which would count as yards-after-catch (YAC), as the exchange with the player at the quarterback position does count as a pass.
This is also a smart strategy on Miami’s part because should something go awry and an exchange is dropped it counts as an incomplete pass, and not a fumble. Many in the NFL will argue that that is a ridiculous way to rack up receiving yards. While that may be so in some people’s opinions, there also is not anything against doing it in the NFL rulebook.
Tyreek Hill Has A Shot At The Records
Tyreek Hill could become the first NFL player with 2,000 receiving yards in a season. What must be figured out first and foremost, is whether or not he will be suspended for any duration this season. Assuming he is not suspended then there is a myriad of ways he could rack up those yards. However, a suspension of any duration for Tyreek Hill this season will likely sink his aspirations of attaining his goal.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro – USA Today Sports
