NFL
By Monte Perez
The Miami Dolphins are coming into the 2022 season with high hopes and expectations.
Here are 5 questions facing the Dolphins this year
- New Head Coach:
Brian Flores was the first Dolphin Coach since 2003 to have back-to-back winning seasons. His reward, Miami fired him after 3 seasons on the sideline. Miami hired San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. On paper, he appears to be very knowledgeable, organized, and a player-coach. But he is going up against two elite coaching staff in that division. The Buffalo Bills won the AFC East last season, and the Patriots made the playoffs.
- Running Game:
The Dolphins have invested big time in their running game. Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, and Sony Michel will all be competing for playing time. The Dolphins’ offensive line should be massively improved in 2022. Pro Football Focus has them ranked 23rd in the NFL. This unit will have to be better than that if they want to compete against the Patriots and Bills.
- Is this the best WR/TE combination in the NFL?
Tyreek Hill joins the Miami Dolphins after putting up hall of fame numbers with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Hill had 111 catches over 1,200 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns in 2021. Jaylen Waddle set the rookie reception record last season. He had 104 catches and 6 touchdowns. Mike Gesecki had a career-high 73 receptions. This is a unit that could put up monster numbers on the season with both wide receivers having over 200 catches and 2500 yards combined.
- How good can this defense be?
Losing Brian Flores will be an adjustment for this defense. This unit posted the third-highest pressure rate (28.5%) with the seventh-lowest QB rating allowed (85.4), during the regular season. This defense has playmakers. They will need that to compete with the elite offenses in the AFC
- Tua Time is now:
The Dolphins drafted Tua Tagovailoa with the 5th overall pick in the 2020 Draft. In two seasons with Miami, Tua has started 21 games and has a respectable record of 13-8. He has completed 66% of his passes and has 33 total touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Brian Flores treated Tua with kid gloves on. It is time for the Dolphins to be aggressive with him. They have plenty of playmakers around him to succeed.
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