O.J. McDuffie says Dolphins receivers Hill-Waddle on par with Marks Brothers

GREENACRES — Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle received the highest South Floridian wide-receiver praise Saturday.

It came from a former Dolphins veteran pass catcher who wore the aquamarine for eight seasons and caught balls from Dan Marino in the 1990s – O.J. McDuffie.

McDuffie feels the uber talented second-year receiving tandem could be on the level of the great “Marks Brothers” – Mark Clayton and Mark Duper. The duo lit up the Dolphins’ world in the 1980s.

“Mark and Mark did it for a long time,’’ McDuffie told The Palm Beach Post at a Boys and Girls Club charity event at Greenacres Bowl. “But these guys are just as dynamic. Can they do it for the same amount of time is what we need to figure out. At this point, they’re just as exciting as those two guys.

“Both those guys (Duper-Clayton) are really good friends of mine and they’re probably not happy for me to say this. But watching  Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is watching the 'Marks Brothers' all over again.’’

McDuffie, who does the Dolphins’ radio pregame/postgame shows, was at Miami Gardens Friday night for Miami’s preseason-opening 19-3 loss to the Falcons.

He still made it for the Palm Beach County charity bowling festival - a  Boys and Girls Club event staged by the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located in Port St. Lucie.

Quarterback TuaTagovailoa  and Waddle/Hill didn’t play a down Friday. Waddle has a midsection injury and it’s uncertain what the plans are for anyone for the second preseason game Saturday in Houston.

“They might start but why,’’ said the former Penn State receiver who lives in Weston. “If it was a new offense and system, they’d need some preseason games. It’s the same offense, same system, same guys around him. I prefer they don’t. Why take the chance, the risk of getting hurt in a preseason game. The guys they’d play against have nothing to lose and we have everything to lose when you lose guys like that.’’

Tua concussions concern for 2023 season

Indeed, the fear of another concussion to Tagovailoa is the Dolphins’ 2023 chief storyline.

McDuffie, the former “81’’ who played for the Dolphins from 1993 to 2000, posted 5,074 receiving yards while also being a return specialist.

He said he played through head injuries.

“Everybody had a concussion, everyone’s been woozy,’’ McDuffie said. “There’s different degrees of it. I feel like there’s major big-time concussions - and sometimes it’s just playing football.

“The team’s not worried (about Tua) so I’m not worried. One of my best friends is Bernie Kosar (former University of Miami/Dolphins QB). He’s documented 40-plus concussions and he was a helluva quarterback. Sometimes it’s playing football. It depends on the severity of it. It’s part of playing the game. It took a toll on him but he’s rebounding. He’ll never recover completely from something like that.’’

As a Dolphin, McDuffie worked most of his years with Marino but also with quarterbacks Kosar, Damon Huard. Scott Mitchell and Jay Fielder.

Despite Tua’s injury-marred career, McDuffie is gung-ho about the former Alabama QB building on last season’s breakout when he led the NFL in passer rating and yards per catch.

“Accuracy is one thing,’’ McDuffie said. “His pre-snap ability to read the field is impressive. What he’s going to learn this year, when he got rid of the ball on time, it helped him and the team. He’s going to do a lot better job at that.

“He’s also a great teammate. They love him. And that’s more important at that position than any position in sports. If your teammates love your quarterback, they’re going to do their best to be successful.’’

McDuffie praises Dolphins' Achane, Ezukanma, Winn

Friday’s preseason-opening reviews were not stellar but McDuffie saw some nice things, citing strong outings by rookie running back De'Von Achane,, wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, a 2022 selection, and free-agent guard Isaiah Winn.

More: Dolphins rookie De’Von Achane shows glimpse of potential in high-volume preseason debut

“We had 31 guys who didn’t play,’’ McDuffie said. “You have to evaluate individual performances. You can’t really talk about the team.’’

The Dolphins’ hype still churns after making the playoffs for the first time in six years.

“The success of the Heat and Panthers, the Miami Dolphins feel it,’’ McDuffie said. “They feel the heat. They need to get in that conversation. If that happens, South Florida will love it. We’re South Florida’s favorite team.’’

Playing in arguably the NFL’s toughest division in the AFC East with the Bills, Jets and Patriots makes nothing a given.

“They are excited about it,’’ McDuffie added. “This team is going to be really good. The goal is to go a step further after going to the playoffs last year. They lost in Buffalo. Now take the next step. Get in the playoffs and win. And at that point, get greedy and win another one.

“The second year with (Mike) McDaniels will be a good one. Our defense is outstanding and the weapons we have with Tua, Tyreek, Waddle, a good running game and (we have) the offensive line starting to develop.’’

McDuffie also was thrilled Saturday to see Boys and Girls Club’s kids in action. They wore orange shirts and bowled – some for the first time.

“It’s really important to have a place to go and be active, keep them off the streets,’’ McDuffie said. “Occupy their time and make it productive for them. Time is a problem for kids. Too much time on their hands can be a problem.’’

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: O.J. McDuffie: Dolphins receivers Hill-Waddle on par with Marks Brothers