MIAMI GARDENS — The nickname doesn’t want to go away. Malik Washington wishes it would, but Mike McDaniel is the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, and he’s pulling rank.
McDaniel sees some of his old protege, Deebo Samuel, in Washington. It’s why the Dolphins are trying to get as much mileage out of Washington as possible in this, his second NFL season, whether it’s as a receiver, a return specialist or ballcarrier.
It’s that last part that got McDaniel thinking.
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“Yeah,” Washington said. “He actually calls me ‘Maleebo’ every now and then. I don’t like it.”
In 2021, McDaniel’s final season on the staff of the San Francisco 49ers, Samuel was unstoppable, piling up 1,405 receiving yards and 365 rushing.
“I’ve watched some of Deebo Samuel’s tape and I mean, he’s probably one of the best at just going into the backfield and making plays happen,” Washington said. “So he’s been a huge guy I’ve looked up to and as far as what he does in the run game, how versatile he is.”
Did someone say versatile? Washington was a sixth-round pick a year ago who is carving a niche for himself on the Dolphins, most notably with his 74-yard punt return for a touchdown against New England.
“I kind of want to just not necessarily follow in those footsteps, but kind of create my own game in that sense and be as versatile,” Washington said.
Washington is only 24. Mature beyond his years, he has found himself counseling rookie teammates such as running back Ollie Gordon II and safety Donte Trade Jr. on how to navigate life in the NFL.
“I’m in my second year, so I’m not too far removed at all,” Washington said.
He finds it easy to relate to them.
“Rookie year, I was more worried about, man, ‘How do I just make sure my assignment is correct? How do I just stay out of trouble and don’t get yelled at come Monday in the film room?’ ” he said.
Malik Washington chasing positives
Today, instead of avoiding the negatives, he’s chasing the positives in his game.
“Now Year 2, I’m thinking, ‘How do I make this play? How do I come out there and really be just a huge help to this team? How do I catch this pass and score a touchdown? How do I take this run to the house and stuff?’ ”
The Dolphins are 0-3 heading into their home game against the New York Jets on “Monday Night Football.” Washington described the team’s mood in a way you might not expect.
“Each game, we expect to blow the team that we’re playing out,” he said. “So it’s not like, ‘Man, I just hope we escape with a win’ or ‘I hope we just get by.’ ”
Washington isn’t even the ultimate optimist on the team. That honor might go to running back De’Von Achane.
“You go 1-0 each week from here on out, that’s 14-3,” Achane said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins hoping they have another Deebo Samuel in their midst
Reporting by Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
