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On March 13, the Minnesota Vikings traded a fifth-round selection in this year’s draft to the Miami Dolphins for veteran wide receiver Mike Wallace. The acquisition of Wallace definitely boosts the Vikings’ offense. One of the biggest holes on the team in 2014 was at the receiver position, and having the former Ole Miss star as the top target for sophomore signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater should make for some exciting pitches and catches.
Wallace had a much better two-year tenure in Miami than most people believe. He had 140 catches and fell a tick under 1,800 yards. He also scored 15 touchdowns. The biggest reason why Wallace was sometimes deemed a failure with the Dolphins had nothing to do with him at all really. Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a hard time connecting with Wallace on deep passes which cut into his potential touchdown total. Deep catches were a staple of the receiver’s game when he was on the other end of Ben Roethlisberger’s bombs as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. When Wallace streaks past a cornerback this year, Bridgewater should have no problem getting the ball to him.
Minnesota has the emerging Charles Johnson and Jarius Wright flanking Wallace at receiver. The enigma is former first-round choice Cordarrelle Patterson from Tennessee. After an exciting rookie season, the ex-Volunteer vanquished from the Vikings’ offense. Maybe Wallace can act as a mentor to the youngster and, when both are in the game, the newcomer’s speed can stretch the field so Patterson can work underneath. Without a doubt, though, Wallace will have zero competition for his role as No. 1 pass catcher.
Another thing Wallace will have in Minnesota that he didn’t have down south will be a solid running game to aid his efforts. Adrian Peterson returns to the Vikings after legal issues kept him off the team most of last season. Although Lamar Miller was a 1,000-yard rusher for the Dolphins, he never scared a defense enough to have to gang up on him. Peterson is the type of superstar back defenses must account for on every play, which will leave Wallace in one-on-one coverage more often than not. The wideout isn’t afraid to make a block down the field either, making Peterson more dangerous on breakaway runs.
During Miami’s season finale, Wallace sat out the entire second half because he was frustrated with the direction the team was headed and, basically, his two years in an inept offense. With Bridgewater ready to break through in 2015, Wallace is primed to get back to his Pittsburgh Pro Bowl ways.
