Braxton Berrios, All-Pro returner, has ‘big point' to make as Dolphins receiver, too
MIAMI GARDENS — Say you’re a receiver on the Dolphins. You break the huddle, look to one side and see Tyreek Hill. Look to the other side, there’s Jaylen Waddle.
What’s that like?
“It’s like, I’ve got to run fast, is what it’s like,” Braxton Berrios said.
Everybody got a good laugh. Berrios no doubt knew it would, except …
“No, I wasn’t joking,” he said. “But it is true and honestly, it’s been incredible learning from them. And again, there’s some things that they do that there’s not many humans on this earth that can replicate just because they’ve been blessed with some abilities — pure speed — that you can’t replicate.”
Berrios knows there’s no point in challenging either wide receiver to a match race, just like he knows that to get where he wants to go, he needs to do just about everything else about playing receiver perfectly. That’s the message from receivers coach Wes Welker, who made a career out of operating this way, and it’s wisdom he’s imparting on Berrios.
“It’s not any one thing,” Berrios said. “We stress details because I think the margin for error in this league is so small.”
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You may have noticed nothing about this story has described Berrios as a return specialist thus far. His gifts in that role are without question. It’s why he has “All-Pro” on his resume. He also has had his moments as a receiver, accumulating 431 yards two seasons ago, but after managing just 18 receptions for 145 yards with the Jets last year, Berrios is out to prove himself all over again as part of the offense.
The opportunity is there with Trent Sherfield signing with Buffalo in free agency and Robbie Chosen fading and not making the team after a strong spring. The WR3 role could go to Cedrick Wilson, River Cracraft or Berrios, and there’s no guarantee that whoever has it in Week 1 will have it for good. What is known is the Dolphins aren’t pigeonholing Berrios on special teams.
“I think the league is very aware of him as a returner and he proved to us every practice in his opportunities why that’s the case,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “From a coaching perspective, what’s been real fun to watch is his development and ascension within the offense. He’s always been a good football player, but at this time in his career, he really understands the timing and spacing of this offense.”
It’s what Berrios was hoping to prove.
“That was a big point of this camp and hopefully I did a good-enough job for a long-enough time to establish that,” Berrios said. “And the only thing that matters is what this locker room thinks, what the people in this building think and that’s the only thing I’m concerned about.”
Tua Tagovailoa’s rapport with Hill and Waddle revolve around timing in McDaniel’s system. Berrios knows the system can’t change just because Tagovailoa is throwing to another receiver.
“It’s figuring out where the offense needs me, where the QB needs me to be and when they need me to be there and the most efficient way to get there,” he said.
The early signs have been promising. In addition to having good days in training camp, Berrios finished the preseason with six receptions for 60 yards. He was the only wide receiver to catch a touchdown pass.
It has been an adjustment, joining the Dolphins as a free agent in March after playing for the Jets and Patriots. There has been no need to adjust to being in Miami. Berrios, of course, was a standout in Hard Rock Stadium as a Miami Hurricane. He’s sure to have his own cheering section during home games. And he plans to accept the Hurricanes’ offer to serve as an honorary captain at a home game.
“I grew up a Miami Hurricanes fan and that’s where I wanted to go to college and I was able to live that out,” he said. “And I also grew up a Miami Dolphins fan and to be here now and to literally be living out my second dream as a kid is incredible. This city, this town, these fans — I got very close to them for four years in Miami and especially that last one and I take a lot of pride in being here and representing the city of Miami.”
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' Braxton Berrios out to prove ‘big point' as receiver
