MIAMI DOLPHINS
2021 Record - 9-8-0
Head Coach - Mike McDaniel
New Additions - Tyreek Hill (WR), Teddy Bridgewater (QB), Raheem Mostert (RB), Chase Edmonds (RB), Terron Armstead (OL), Sony Michel (RB), Alec Ingold (RB), Cedrick Wilson, Jr. (WR), Thomas Morstead (P), Connor Williams (OL)
Offensive Rank in 2021 - 25th (307 YPG); Scoring - 22nd (20.1 PPG)
Defensive Rank in 2021 - 15th (338 YPG); Scoring - 16th (21.9 PPG)
The Dolphins have Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback and the third year player passed for 2,653 yards last season along with 16 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Veteran journeyman Teddy Bridgewater (3,052 pass yards, 18 TD, seven INT) comes over from Denver to back up. The running backs are newcomers to the team as Sony Michel (845 yards, 4.1 YPC average, four TD with the Rams) and Chase Edmonds (592, 5.1 YPC, two TD with Arizona) take over this season with Myles Gaskin, last season's team leading runner who had 612 yards (3.5 YPC) and three touchdowns. The wide receivers will be led by Tyreek Hill, who caught 111 passes last season with Kansas City for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns. Jaylen Waddle (104, 1,015, six TD) and Cedrick Wilson, Jr. (45, 602, six TD with Dallas in 2021) complete the trio. The tight end is Mike Gesicki, who had 73 receptions for 780 yards and two touchdowns.
Emmanuel Ogbah (nine QB sacks) and Jaelan Phillips (8 1/2 sacks) lead the front line while Jerome Baker (team leading 92 tackles) and Andrew Van Ginkel play the linebacker spots along with rookie Channing Tindall (Georgia) and 11-year veteran Melvin Ingram. Xavien Howard (five interceptions) and Byron Jones play the corner spots and the safeties are Brandon Jones, Jevon Holland and Nik Needham, who had two picks last year.
Outlook for 2022 season - The Dolphins were very extreme in 2021 as they started out 1-7 and then reeled off seven straight wins before faltering in a big late season game (at Tennessee) and missed the playoffs. They brought in a new Head Coach this season with Mike McDaniel taking over for the fired Brian Flores, who filed a lawsuit against the league and that brought on much off-season drama.
Miami was also fined 1.5 million dollars for tampering charges (involving Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady among others) and will be looking for a fresh start with the new coaching staff and a rejuvenated Tagovailoa, who has been questioned a lot in his first two seasons in south Florida. With Tyreek Hill in tow for this year teaming with Waddle, the team will have two top targets in their passing game. The running game definitely needs to pick it up after finishing 30th in the NFL in 2021, averaging just over 92 yards per game. There weren't a lot of moves on the defense, which was mediocre last year, but did have 48 QB sacks.
If the Dolphins want to contend with the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots in the AFC East, they have to be able to run the ball better and play enough defense to stop the strengths of those two divisional foes. After all the off-season antics, the Dolphins could use some positive vibes and there is definitely potential for this team to get into the playoffs for the first time in six years, but a lot will hinge on the play of Tagovailoa and how well he adjusts to a new scheme for the 2022 season.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. New England
Week Two - at Baltimore
Week Three - vs. Buffalo
Week Four - at Cincinnati
Week Five - at N.Y. Jets
Week Six - vs. Minnesota
Week Seven - vs. Pittsburgh
Week Eight - at Detroit
Week Nine - at Chicago
Week Ten - vs. Cleveland
Week Eleven - BYE
Week Twelve - vs. Houston
Week Thirteen - at San Francisco
Week Fourteen - at L.A. Chargers
Week Fifteen - at Buffalo
Week Sixteen - vs. Green Bay
Week Seventeen - at New England
Week Eighteen - vs. N.Y. Jets
No comments:
Post a Comment