This team should be much better this year. They have upgraded in quite a few areas over last year’s 7-9 team with very few downgrades. The one thing that will be more challenging is the schedule. The Dolphins face the Colts, Falcons, Saints and Ravens in games two through five. For a young team that is a tough stretch. If they can come out of that at least 2-2 this team will win at least 9 games and I’m personally hoping for 10 or more. The AFC East is weak. The Bills and Jets don’t look good and the Patriots have lost Welker and Hernandez. I know Tom Brady is amazing but he is getting older and he can only do so much. I look for Miami to finish second in the division and get a playoff spot.
OFFENCE
The passing attack should be a LOT better this year and look for the team to be more aggressive on offence. They added Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson and Dustin Keller to the attack. Plus Ryan Tannehill is much more comfortable in his second year and will improve. He played well as a rookie but struggled on 3rd downs and in the fourth quarter. They need him to get better in those crucial areas. The team has needed a pass catching TE for a long time and Keller fits. The team did lose Devone Bess, Anthony Fasano and Reggie Bush but Bush wasn’t used properly by Miami in their passing game, Bess could not go downfield at all and Fasano is a blocking TE. Swapping out Keller for Fasano will definitely help the passing game but hurt the running game. Rookie Dion Sims should play a lot as a blocking TE while Charles Clay will be the second receiving TE. Michael Egnew, a third rounder in 2012, has not impressed and could be cut or traded.
The running game is in good hands even if most people don’t know who the running backs are. Second year back Lamar Miller is explosive and should do well as the feature back. Daniel Thomas is concussion and fumble prone but good as a third down and goalline back. Rookie Mike Gillislee has solid running skills but needs work in the passing game. Fullback Javorskie Lane was solid early last year and then wore down. The Dolphins are phasing out the FB and using more two TE sets which is one reason they did not sign Vonta Leach. Do-it-all returner Marcus Thigpen is explosive in the return game but also gets looks at RB and slot WR. His role is still undetermined.
The offensive line is the biggest concern on the team, mainly at LT. They are moving very disappointing rookie Jonathon Martin (ranked by PFF as 76/80 at T in ‘112) to LT and he has struggled in training camp this year. The good news is that Ryan Clabo (14) is a great addition on the right side and basically replaces Jake Long (46) who has slipped the last two years due to injuries. The interior of the OL should be the same as last year with Pro Bowler Richie Incognito, stud Center Mike Pouncey and either John Jerry, Josh Samuda or Lance Louis at RG (all average at best type of players but not horrible). While the Dolphins have some depth at guard and RT, they have no depth or talent at LT. Rookie Dallas Thomas could play there but he’s not ready.
DEFENCE
While everyone has focused on Miami signing Mike Wallace, the defence is the strength of this team with a chance to be special. Last year their pass defence was lousy and they struggled to collect turnovers. I expect this area to be MUCH improved this year.
The defensive line is loaded with talent. Cam Wake is a beast at LE and had 15 sacks last year. On the interior Randy Starks and Paul Soliai have both made the Pro Bowl and Jared Odrick is finally back at DT full time where he belongs as he played DE on run downs the last couple years. He has looked great in camp so far. Those three will form a fantastic rotation inside. The biggest weakness on this line in the past was the lack of another pass rusher across from Wake. Second year DE Olivier Vernon is very athletic and has been greatly improved this camp. The Dolphins traded up to the #3 pick for Dion Jordan who was a raw athletic freak at Oregon who played more LB than DE. Despite the fact he is coming off of shoulder surgery and was considered raw, he has flashed big time pass rush ability in training camp. The DL is the strength of this team and could be really special this year.
The linebackers were changed in the offseason and this is a good starting group. The Dolphins dumped Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett who played well last year. They were solid athletic LBs who defended the run and pass well. But they were terrible blitzers and didn’t produce big plays. In are Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler, two younger, blitzing LBs that may suffer in pass coverage but the sacks and turnovers should hopefully more than offset the difference. Koa Misi is a solid third LB who plays the strong side but Miami has ZERO depth here. If anyone gets hurt the backups are simply special teams players and the talent drop off would be enormous. Vernon and Dion Jordan could be moved to OLB to make up for it but it’s not a good scenario.
The Dolphins cornerbacks were terrible last year. It is the most improved position on the team in 2013. Starting CB Sean Smith was their best corner last year and he was ranked 74th by PFF. He was very inconsistent and never realized his true potential. Richard Marshall earned the starting job last year and that led to the trade of immature CB Vontae Davis. But Marshall got hurt and only played four games. That led to the playing of S Jimmy Wilson (99) and Nolan Carrol (67) at CB and they were bad and forced into situations they could not handle. They will probably not make the roster this year as CBs. No depth and no talent were the story of the Dolphins CBs last year. This year the Dolphins added Brent Grimes to the mix. He’s tiny and coming off an Achilles injury last year but he’s incredibly athletic and was ranked the 5th best CB in 2011. He has looked fully healthy and great so far and is the Dolphins #1 CB. Richard Marshall is battling Dmitri Patterson to start across from him and both can play the slot. They are solid if not special CBs. After that you have second and third round picks Jamar Taylor and Will Davis at CB. Taylor has been hurt (hernia surgery) and is on the third team but just starting to come on. Will Davis has had a very good camp and is the Dime back right now. The talent and depth here is improved tremendously. The safeties are the same. Steady Chris Clemons makes no big plays at FS but doesn’t give up much either. SS Reshad Jones was ranked the third best safety last year and really came into his own. He’s hoping to repeat and cash in as a free agent next year. Miami does lack depth here so an injury would hurt.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Dolphins have one of the best punters in the league in Brandon Fields. Marcus Thigpen is a great returner. The kicker will most likely be rookie Caleb Sturgis who is currently slowed by a groin injury. He should be OK and replace the much more expensive Dan Carpenter who has choked in recent times, failing to hit the long FG when the team needed him.
Originally Posted by gschwendt
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