Miami Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry does not seem fond of the term "slot receiver."
That is where Landry did most of his damage last season when he led the Dolphins with 84 receptions as a rookie. However, Landry does not want to be defined by that in his second season and is looking to grow his role.
"I think he’s got a chance to do that. He’s lined up in a variety of spots. He’s done some things outside," Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said recently. "I think his natural home base is still inside, but he certainly has shown the ability [to do more], he’s a real quality route-runner. He can run different routes that you want on the outside. The beauty of him is he doesn’t slow down when he’s coming out of cuts. So if he can get on top of the (defensive back), he doesn’t waste any time whatsoever. That’s really, to me, is what makes him effective."
Landry caught a 60-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Ryan Tannehill in training camp. It was one of the biggest passing plays in training camp, and it came from the receiver you would least expect. Miami rarely tried that deep-ball combination last season.
Landry is not a speed-burner, which is part of the reason the Dolphins were able to get him in the second round last year. But Landry makes up for his lack of elite speed with precise routes, strong hands and competitiveness. Those are assets that will get Landry more looks on the outside, and Landry also has a touchdown reception in the preseason.
"Absolutely, I’m excited about the opportunity that I’ve been getting," Landry said recently. "I think for me now is just try to continue to develop, continue to evolve as we move forward schematically and try to make plays. I think that’s what we all have to do, to compete at a high level.
