Let’s be honest. Every team in the NFL, including the Dolphins, have
question marks heading into training camp. Therefore, Dolfans need to
take a chill pill before reading my below concerns.
Here are my 5 primary concerns when it comes to the 2022 version of
the Miami Dolphins.
Tua Tagovailoa – OK, this isn’t a surprise as Tua is still an unproven
quarterback. On the plus side, we know he has a quick release and is
very accurate on short passes. But will he be accurate enough and will
his arm be strong enough when he is asked to throw passes 15-40 yards
downfield?
With 2 of the premier playmakers in the NFL in wide receivers Tyreek
Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Tua has to get the ball in their hands.
Sometimes a 5-yard pass will do due to their ability to run after the
catch, but Tua must be able to throw the ball downfield on a consistent
basis for opposing defenses not to crowd the line of scrimmage.
Mike McDaniel – As a 1 st year coach, he will be under the spotlight. He
is purported to be an offensive genius. The 49ers offense was
successful and creative in recent seasons, but how much of that was
McDaniel and how much was 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, a
proven successful offensive coach? We should fine out sooner than
later as Miami’s offense has a lot of playmakers on it.
Josh Boyer – Speaking of coaches under the spotlight, that certainly
applies to the Fins defensive coordinator. Miami has had one of the
NFL’s top defenses the past 2 years, but how much of that was due to
Boyer vs. ex head coach and defensive guru Brian Flores? We should
find out early as the Dolphins return virtually all of their defensive
players from last season.
Offensive Line – When was the last time the O-line wasn’t a question
mark for the Fins? Despite the free agent additions of All-Pro left tackle
Terron Armstead and center Connor Williams plus the return of right
guard Robert Hunt, Miami still has huge question marks on the line.
Liam Eichenberg, who struggled at left tackle last year as a rookie, is
penciled in to be the left guard. Austin Jackson, who has struggled in his
first 2 seasons at both left tackle and left guard, is penciled in to be the
starting right tackle. There will be an open competition for these 2
spots during training camp and it won’t bode well for Miami if
Eichenberg and Jackson don’t claim these 2 spots early on.
Skill players get all the love, but if the big guys up front don’t protect
the quarterback and open holes for the running backs, then the impact
of players like Hill, Waddle and their 3 headed running back monster
(Raheem Mostert, Chase Edmonds and Sony Michel) will be minimized.
Mike Gesicki – I don’t think anyone has any concerns when it comes to
tight-end Gesicki catching the ball. Everyone’s concern is his blocking.
The run game is a big part of McDaniel’s offensive philosophy and one
of the 1 st things he said after being hired sent chills up my spine. “Tight-
ends in my system have to be able to block.”
Has he seen film of Gesicki? Blocking is not his forte. McDaniel says he
is comfortable with Gesicki as a blocker and perhaps with better
coaching and more emphasis on blocking Gesicki can become an
adequate blocker. But don’t be surprised if you see a lot of fellow TEs
Durham Smythe and Adam Shaheen getting playing time on 1 st and 2 nd
down.
Some of these five questions may get answered during the pre-season
while others may not get answered until several games into the regular
season, so be patient Dolfans.
