GARDENS IN MIAMI The Miami Dolphins have concluded their preseason games and training camp. The deadline to reduce the roster from 90 players to 53 players is Tuesday at 4 p.m. Next up is the season opener versus Indianapolis on September 7.
We have learned a lot about this team since training camp began on July 22. Many Las Vegas oddsmakers have given it an over/under win total of 8.5.
There were challenges to the Dolphins’ toughness and ideology, as well as injuries, strong and poor performances, and inconsistent performances.
This summarizes the information we discovered about the Dolphins during training camp.
Top camp performers: Left tackle In contrast to Most Valuable Player, who is, for this reason, the most important/needed performer, Patrick Paul may have been training camp’s Most Outstanding Player, or the best performer. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Malik Washington, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, inside linebacker Willie Gay Jr., wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and edge rushers Chop Robinson and Derrick McLendon were among the other standout players.
Monsters make up the defensive front seven:The front seven has performed so well under defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver that they have a chance to rank among the league’s top five teams. In opposition to the run and pass, they are playmakers. It’s difficult to determine which is the largest beneficiary because they make life simpler for both the offense and the secondary.
Inside linebackers Gay, Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, and K.J. Britt are among the top players on the front seven, along with tackles Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, and Kenneth Grant, the rookie first-round choice, and edge rushers Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Chop Robinson.
These men make a difference. Credit is also given to coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier.
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The front office and coaching are in question:As they begin their fourth season together, McDaniel and Grier have a disgruntled but hopeful fan following. Fans are still dissatisfied with the roster’s greatest alterations, including Grier’s well-known statement that they would invest in the offensive line and McDaniel’s claim that backup quarterback Zach Wilson was a direct, deliberate target.
Center Brewer, left guard Jonah Savaiianea, right guard James Daniels, left tackle Paul, and right tackle Austin Jackson appear to be a strong offensive line. There is a lack of talent on the backup offensive line.
From the perspective of the backup offensive line and quarterback, the starting quarterback, Tagovailoa, is good, but the backups, Wilson and No. 3 Quinn Ewers, are, well, not so good.
In the off-season, these were Grier and McDaniel’s pet projects. The Dolphins’ offensive line and backup quarterback reserves, who were crucial to their lackluster play in recent years, may not see much improvement.
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It will take time to adopt a new approach or philosophy:The Dolphins are changing their roster, moving from a win-now strategy that relied heavily on players in their 30s to a win-with-youth and draftee strategy that relies on younger players. Given that this won’t be a one-year solution, it is unclear if Grier and McDaniel, who have a 28-23 (.549) regular season record and a 0-2 playoff record, will be able to weather the transition.
Special teams are superior.This unit was significantly strengthened throughout training camp by special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman, who tightened them up in his first season with the Dolphins. These guys were on the job regardless of whether it was a kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return, field goal, or extra points.
Both starters and reserves are affected by injuries, which continue to be a serious worry. Key players like slot/nickel cornerback Kader Kohou (knee), wide receiver Tyreek Hill (right wrist surgery and oblique), right tackle Jackson (left foot/leg), running back De Von Achane (calf), backup center-guard Liam Eichenberg (leg), backup center Andrew Meyer (unknown), and a few others were injured or slowed down during training camp.
While toughness and aggression are better, they are not good:Although the Dolphins, who have historically depended on speed and skill, are a tougher team, nobody would think of them as such, if that makes sense. This is a procedure. The Dolphins are working to develop players that are harder and more aggressive as well as adopting a rougher and more aggressive style of play. However, like switching to younger players on the squad, this isn’t a one-year solution. More is required.
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How the Dolphins win: The Dolphins will probably once more rely on a high-scoring offense that is driven by a deep passing game that is supported by Tagovailoa, Hill, and Waddle. Under McDaniel, the defensive front seven ought to contribute more to victory than in previous years.
However, the team’s top weakness is the cornerback, which could cost them games. Whether the Dolphins will play a physical run game is unknown.
Right now, it seems like this team’s primary characteristics will once more be speed and skill, albeit maybe not to the same extent as in earlier McDaniel period years.
