The first major transaction the Miami Dolphins made after hiring head coach Joe Philbin was to turn Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall and his 167 receptions for 2,228 yards and nine touchdowns the previous two seasons into a pair of third-round picks over the next two drafts. Though Legedu Naanee would be added in free agency, and a pair of receivers were selected in the final two rounds of the draft, the Dolphins are still without a true No. 1 receiver.
According to quarterback Matt Moore, that won't be a problem as Philbin's offensive system negates the need for a "go-to" guy, reports Brian Biggane of the Palm Beach Post.
"There's always in the past been a go-to target on every play," Moore said. "But in this offense you can have Hartline lined up as the No. 3 receiver on one play and No. 1 on the next play. And it can be the same play. So you're not pigeon-holed into anything on any certain play.
"You can go full-field progressions and there's no pressure to get the ball to any one specific guy. So you can just go back there and wing it."
Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, Naanee and 2011 fourth-round pick Clyde Gates are expected to man the top four receiving spots on the roster, but a system that does not funnel the passing offense through one player should breed competition in training camp and the preseason. A player like Marlon Moore or undrafted free agent Jeff Fuller, who played with first-round quarterback Ryan Tannehill and for offensive coordinator Mike Sherman at Texas A&M, can flash and earn a roster spot.
"From where I look at it we look pretty good," Moore said of the receiving corps. "We've got guys on the outside, some are good at shorter or intermediate routes. We've got some deep threats coming along, guys like Clyde Gates and Marlon Moore. And our tight ends are solid."
