2018 Record - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Brian Flores
Newcomers for 2019 - Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB), Dwayne Allen (TE), Ricardo Louis (WR), Eric Rowe (DB), Chris Reed (OL), Clive Walford (TE)
Keys on Offense - The Dolphins will have both Ryan Fitzpatrick (2,366 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with Tampa Bay last season) and Josh Rosen, who threw for 2,278 yards with 11 TD passes and 14 interceptions in his his rookie year with Arizona, vying for the starting job.
Kenyan Drake (535 rushing yards, 4.5 ypc average and four TD along with 53 receptions for 477 yards and five TD) will be the primary running back this season. Also in the mix is second year player Kalen Ballage, who showed flashes last season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
The wide receivers include Kenny Stills (37 receptions, 553 yards and six TD), DeVante Parker (24, 209, one TD), Albert Wilson (26, 391, four TD) and Brice Butler. The tight ends are Mike Gesicki (22 receptions) and Dwayne Allen.
Keys on Defense - Lining up front this year will be Jonathan Woodard and Charles Harris on the end spots while Davon Godchaux and top rookie pick Christian Wilkins (Clemson) will be the tackles. Jerome Baker (three QB sacks) and Kiko Alonso (three interceptions) lead the linebacking corps.
The secondary features corners Bobby McCain and Xavien Howard, who led the AFC with seven interceptions last season. Safeties Rashad Jones and T.J. McDonald each had three picks and Minkah Fitzpatrick had two interceptions for a team total of 21, which was second only to Chicago (27 INT) for most in the NFL.
The Dolphins are rebuilding the defense this season after finishing 29th overall, allowing 391 yards per game in 2018. The run defense gave up 145 yards per game (31st in NFL) and the pass defense also finished in the bottom half of the league, giving up 246 yards per game and the scoring defense was 27th overall, allowing 27.1 points per game.
OUTLOOK - It's definitely a rebuilding season for Miami in 2019 and first year Head Coach Brian Flores (coming over from New England as Defensive Coordinator) wants to see the revamped defense, which is going younger, turn things around after allowing the most yardage in team history last season.
On offense, it could be "Fitz Magic" time in south Florida as journeyman QB Ryan Fitzpatrick comes along after most recently playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fitzpatrick has shown a knack for getting his team off to a quick start in recent years as the starting QB before falling off.
He is likely to start, but will also serve as a mentor to young Josh Rosen, who struggled in his rookie season in Arizona a year ago. The running game said goodbye to veteran Frank Gore and will go with Drake and perhaps Ballage this year.
Miami averaged 109 yards per game rushing last season and only 181 yards passing (30th in NFL) while scoring 19.9 points per game, which was 26th overall. The offense should be better this season, but the offensive line must better protect the passers after allowing 52 sacks a year ago.
The Dolphins appear to be over matched heading into the 2019 season in the AFC East, where the New England Patriots are king of the hill until proven otherwise. Buffalo and the New York Jets look to be upgraded this year and Miami (4-2 in divisional play last season) will do well to compete to stay out of the basement.
The first four weeks of the schedule looks to be rough as well, but the Dolphins will have plenty of home cooking with four home games in the first six weeks. All in all, the team will likely take its lumps this year and finish 4-12 as they look toward the future with the rebuild.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Baltimore
Week 2 - vs. New England
Week 3 - at Dallas
Week 4 - vs. LA Chargers
Week 5 - BYE
Week 6 - vs. Washington
Week 7 - at Buffalo
Week 8 - at Pittsburgh
Week 9 - vs. NY Jets
Week 10 - at Indianapolis
Week 11 - vs. Buffalo
Week 12 - at Cleveland
Week 13 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 14 - at NY Jets
Week 15 - at NY Giants
Week 16 - vs. Cincinnati
Week 17 - at New England
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