BY SEAN DONOVAN
As the biggest prize of the Miami Dolphins' free agent haul, Mike Wallace is absorbing much of the attention as training camp gets underway -- more specifically, how he's gelling with his new offense and quarterback.
His progress report after four days of practices?
"[My chemistry with Ryan Tannehill] is getting better every day. We're going in the right direction," Wallace said, according to the team's website. "It’s not going to happen overnight.”
The one-time Pro Bowler was signed to be the centerpiece and primary deep threat of the Dolphins' retooled offense, one that plans to push the ball downfield much more than the talent-short 2012 version.
Wallace has the speed, and Tannehill has the passing ability to make that a reality. Heavy expectations have been placed on the quarterback-receiver tandem, but the two need training camp to get on the same page. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
"As long as we’re good by game one, I think we’ll be fine," Wallace said.
In addition to the change in scenery and quarterback, Wallace is also adjusting to getting used differently on the football field.
“I will be inside a little more,” he said, via the Miami Herald. "In Pittsburgh... I really wasn't in the slot as much.
"Coach [offensive coordinator Mike] Sherman really wants to switch us around a lot more where people can’t key on you. I had primary things to do in Pittsburgh. Here I’m switching a little bit more and doing a little bit more of everything.”
Miami seems to be looking to use Wallace's speed and move it around to create better matchups for the offense, or shift the defense and open things up for other players on the team.
It'll be interesting to see what the Dolphins have planned for the speedster, which is certainly a vision put in place before they gave him a whopping 5-year, $60 million contract.
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