What will it take for the Dolphins to avoid another 6-10 season and actually make some noise in the AFC East?
Miami did not sniff the playoffs last season, and losing star receiver Jarvis Landry in the offseason only made matters worse. There is some glimmer of hope though. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be returning to the field from the torn ACL he suffered last summer.
With Tannehill back in the fold, Miami’s brass is banking on a capable talent under center covering up deficiencies elsewhere on the roster.
1st Down: How effective can Ryan Tannehill be without many weapons?
In this 2018-2019 season Miami has the unenviable task of trying to replace the production of former top receiver Jarvis Landry. That’s 112 catches for 987 yards and 9 touchdowns all gone from this Dolphins’ offensive unit. New addition Danny Amendola, along with the returning Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker will be counted on for just about everything in the passing game. This isn’t the best situation for a quarterback coming off an ACL injury to step into, but it’s the harsh reality for both Miami and Tannehill. Any hope they have this season rides heavily on what kind of production the quarterback position will bring.
2nd Down: Can Minkah Fitzpatrick be the defensive game-breaker we all saw at Alabama?
Somehow Fitzpatrick ended up falling to the Dolphins at the 11th pick in the 1st Round of the 2018 NFL Draft. This selection was a steal for Miami considering that Fitzpatrick was seen by many as the best defensive back in that draft class. Fitzpatrick has the physical attributes to be able to play either cornerback or safety, which is a valuable athlete to have. He shouldn’t have any problems gaining meaningful playing experience this season, because he is without a doubt one of the best talents on this Miami defense. If he can step in right away and play like the version of himself we saw in college then Miami could be in for a pleasant surprise on the defensive side of the ball this season. Last season they were the 29th scoring defense, so they can’t possibly be much worse.
3rd Down: Will Kenyan Drake continue to shine in the backfield?
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Last year the Dolphins traded running back Jay Ajayi midseason, which allowed for Drake to become the starting back. He was the #1 for the last six games of the season and was able to rush for the fifth-most yards in the NFL during those weeks. Drake is a young talent who is still developing, and this new season could potentially be a very productive one for him. Miami will need Drake to be the explosive playmaker he has shown flashes of being, in order to compete for any kind of playoff spot. Longtime NFL veteran Frank Gore was also added to the running back stable, and he can serve as a valuable mentor for Drake’s maturation process. This will surely be a telling season for Drake’s career as a starting running back.
4th Down: How hot is the seat for head coach Adam Gase?
Gase has been the guy for Miami since the 2016 season, and he has a 16-17 record for his career including the playoffs. With his starting quarterback back in action, it’s simply time for Gase to put up or shut up. His system will go a long way in determining if Miami can taste some level of success this year. This isn’t the most talented roster in the NFL by any means, but front offices also do not have time to waste. If the Dolphins are anything as bad as their 6-10 showing from last season, then Gase could very well be out of a job by season’s end. With the New England Patriots also in the AFC East division, Miami may need some fresh blood leading their charge as Gase simply hasn’t accomplished much at all since taking over.
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