2017 Record - 6-10-0
Head Coach - Adam Gase
2017 Offensive Ranking - 25th (308 ypg, 17.6 points per game)
2017 Defensive Ranking - 16th (336 ypg, 24.6 points allowed per game)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is coming back from the knee injury that kept him out all of last season. Brock Osweiler and David Fales will be ready in reserve.
Kenyan Drake (644 yards, 4.8 ypc average, three TD) and Frank Gore (961 rush yards, three TD with Indy Colts in 2017) will be the primary ball carriers this season.
The wide receivers include Kenny Stills (58 receptions, 847 yards, six TD), DeVante Parker (57, 670, one TD) and Danny Amendola, who caught 61 passes for 659 yards and two touchdowns with New England last year. The tight end position is wide open as A.J. Derby, MarQuies Gray and rookies Mike Gesicki (Penn State) and Durham Smythe (Notre Dame) look to contribute to the passing attack.
DEFENSE - Defensive End Cameron Wake (10 1/2 QB sacks) spearheads the defense while Robert Quinn (8 1/2 sacks with LA Rams) comes over for this season. Andre Branch (4 1/2 sacks) is another factor for the Dolphins on the defensive front.
Kiko Alonso, Stephone Anthony and Raekwon McMillan are the linebackers and rookie Jerome Baker (Ohio State) and Mike Hull will provide depth.
Reshad Jones and Bobby McCain each had two interceptions for a secondary that had only nine interceptions last season. Rookie safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) was a first round pick and might step right in this season.
OUTLOOK - Last season was a wash as Tannehill never played a down while since re-retired Jay Cutler is gone after attempting to fill the role in 2017.
Tannehill has shown he can get the job done and has decent wide receivers and what looks to be a solid duo in the backfield with Kenyan Drake and 14-year veteran Frank Gore.
The defense was respectable last season and with Wake and Quinn looming large on the defensive line, perhaps that will enable more turnovers from the defense, especially in the secondary. Miami was a minus-14 in the turnover category and Head Coach Adam Gase would like to see that change.
Playing in the AFC East is never easy, especially with the New England Patriots dominating year after year. If the Dolphins are to improve this season, the offense has to step up and the defense must come through in crunch time.
Tannehill remaining healthy is the key for this season and success is possible, but the likelihood is a 7-9 finish for the Dolphins as they reload and try to recover from last season's debacle.
2018 TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Tennessee
Week 2 - at NY Jets
Week 3 - vs. Oakland
Week 4 - at New England
Week 5 - at Cincinnati
Week 6 - vs. Chicago
Week 7 - vs. Detroit
Week 8 - at Houston
Week 9 - vs. NY Jets
Week 10 - at Green Bay
Week 11 - Bye
Week 12 - at Indianapolis
Week 13 - vs. Buffalo
Week 14 - vs. New England
Week 15 - at Minnesota
Week 16 - vs. Jacksonville
Week 17 - at Buffalo
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