Our 2022 NFL Preview returns to the Sunshine State to check in on the Dolphins, who are simply looking to turn the page after an offseason littered with controversy. After rallying to a 9-8 finish and missing the playoffs once again, Miami parted ways with (former Head Coach) Brian Flores, which opened up a proverbial can of worms as (owner) Stephen Ross was in turn accused of incentivizing tanking and tampering with otherwise unavailable Quarterbacks and Coaches (much more on this shortly). Replacing Flores is Mike McDaniel, who will try to get the most out of his much-maligned Quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who enters a crucial campaign with a bolstered supporting cast, but also a potential replacement should he falter. So, what will this season have in store for the ‘Fins, you ask? Read on, ladies and gentlemen…
Breaking the Rules
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, and especially Ross (pictured) this past offseason has been a particularly difficult one for a variety of reasons. As we stated in the opening, Ross decided to relieve the aforementioned Flores of his duties following a third consecutive season without the playoffs, which inadvertently created a maelstrom of controversy for the franchise. In addition to filing a class-action lawsuit against the franchise and league at large for wrongful termination and discrimination in the workplace, Flores accused his former employer of incentivizing tanking in 2019, so that they could improve their positioning to select a Quarterback in the Draft. Flores also alleged that Ross tried to covertly recruit the Texans’ Deshaun Watson in 2020, while the signal-caller was very-much still a member of the Texans, which of course is a big problem for the NFL, with the league igniting a probe into the situation. In the end, Ross was found guilty of tampering on multiple fronts, including an attempt to entice (seven-time Super Bowl Champion) Tom Brady and (Saints’ Head Coach) Sean Payton to come to South Beach while they were still employed, resulting in unprecedented discipline for the franchise; Miami is to forfeit one of their two 2023 First Round Picks next Spring, while Ross was fined $1.5 million and suspended for roughly half of the regular season. It’s awfully ironic that in his meddling to find a franchise passer, Ross may have seriously hindered his own pursuit in doing so, wasting that valuable draft capital that could have been used to maneuver the draft to select a prospect or as ammunition to land an established veteran via trade. It’s also disappointing for the club in general, with the ongoing saga taking away from the hiring of the aforementioned McDaniel, and a slew of reinforcements on the offensive side of the football. Simply put, this should be a time for excitement in Miami, and all this man has done is sabotage his own product, taking the attention away from what SHOULD be the biggest storyline for the ‘Fins this Fall…
Make or Break
Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise for (Quarterback) Tua Tagovailoa (pictured) that his employer has commanded the headlines this Summer for all the wrong reasons, taking attention away from what is absolutely a make-or-break campaign for the young passer. Miami drafted Tagovailoa fifth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, four picks behind Joe Burrow and one ahead of Justin Herbert, whom the 24-year-old has been continuously compared to over the past two years. While his draft classmates have gone on to do great things, there has been a considerable failure to launch on South Beach for a variety of reasons. Coming off knee and hip surgeries during his final season at Alabama, Tagovailoa suffered a late start as a Rookie, with various injuries dogging him throughout his first two seasons in the league. His relationship with Flores wasn’t necessarily warm either, as he was benched on a number of occasions due to poor play; the lefthander has completed 66.2% of his passes for an average of just 194.2 yards on 5.82 net yards per attempt with twenty-seven touchdowns opposed to fifteen interceptions in twenty-three career appearances, coincidentally earning a 13-8 record as the starter. Though his growth was marginal as a sophomore, it paled in comparison to that of Burrow, who led the Bengals to an AFC Championship, and Herbert, who ranked among the league’s elite in a slew of passing categories. With that said, he hasn’t enjoyed much support along the way either. First and foremost, the Offensive Line has been a glaring weakness for the Dolphins over the past few years, with that position group ranking dead-last in pass-blocking win rate, relinquishing SEVENTY-FOUR sacks since 2020, forty of which have been of Tua. Furthermore, the rushing attack has floundered mightily, ranking twenty-second (105.5 Y/G) and thirtieth (92.2 Y/G) during that period of time, allowing opponents to tee off on what has been nothing short of a one-dimensional attack. With that in mind, the club opted to hedge their bets in acquiring the services of (veteran Quarterback) Teddy Bridgewater in free agency as an insurance policy in case Tagovailoa fails to take the next step. On his fourth team in as many years, the 29-year-old Miami native will be ready if called upon, owning a 33-30 record in sixty-three career starts. In hiring the aforementioned McDaniel, the Dolphins hope that the Offense will come together, which is probable given the young tactician’s pedigree and the ensuing investment that Ross and (General Manager) Chris Grier made on the market following his appointment.
Splashing the Cash
If you want to help your Quarterback out, then you should get him some weapons and protection, particularly when your QB was a top-five pick and is entering a make-or-break campaign. The first (and perhaps biggest) addition is McDaniel, a bright, young, offensive playcaller who spent the last decade learning the craft under (49ers Head Coach) Kyle Shanahan. The 39-year-old spent his first four years in San Francsico coordinating the run game before assuming the role of Offensive Coordinator last season for a unit that ranked thirteenth in scoring (25.1) and seventh in both total yards (388.4) and rushing (127.4), while finishing first in the red zone (66.7%). Conversely, the team that he is inheriting placed twenty-second (20.1), twenty-fifth (323.7), thirtieth (92.2), and thirteenth (61.2%) in those respective categories. In an attempt to bolster the Offensive Line, Miami signed (former Saints Left Tackle) Terron Armstead to a five-year, $75 million contract (with over $43 million in guarantees) in free agency, along with (former Cowboys Guard) Connor Williams to a two-year, $14.0 million pact. McDaniel and Grier also added (former Cardinals’ Tailback) Chase Edmonds to add some depth and versatility to a Backfield that has no clear-cut bell-cow, though the incumbent Raheem Mostert served under the skipper for four years in San Fran. However, the biggest splash of the offseason came in the form of (All-Pro Receiver) Tyreek Hill (pictured), whom the ‘Fins acquired via trade with the Chiefs in exchange for first, second, and fourth-round picks in last Spring’s NFL Draft, along with another fourth and sixth in 2023. Miami turned around and signed the Super Bowl Champion to a whopping four-year, $120 million deal, with an average base salary of $30 million. Simply put, the six-time Pro-Bowler is arguably the most prominent vertical threat in the NFL, with his speed drawing a wealth of attention from opposing defenses, in turn opening up plenty of space for his teammates to operate within. Since 2017, Hill has averaged 83.6 receptions per season for 1,207.4 yards and 10.0 touchdowns on a healthy 14.4 yards per catch, with his versatility on reverses and sweeps making him an ideal fit for McDaniel’s’ creativity. Coupled with (Sophomore Wideout) Jaylen Waddle, who set an NFL record for rookies with 104 receptions, the Receiving Corps is VASTLY improved, which puts the ball squarely in Tagovailoa’s court to deliver this Fall, otherwise the Dolphins will once again be looking for a franchise Quarterback next Spring.
Projected Finish: 9-8
After an offseason full of positives and negatives, the Dolphins appear to be better suited to advance to the playoffs than they have at any point in the last five years. On paper, they’ve significantly addressed many of their weaknesses, while adding a bright-forward-thinking Head Coach with the nous to get the most out of the personnel on hand. However, as much as we’d like to proclaim Miami as a legitimate challenger to Buffalo’s reign in the AFC East, there are still concerns at Quarterback, where Tagovailoa’s development can literally make-or-break the campaign.