The seasons in which hoping that the Miami Dolphins could at least be gracious in defeat throughout the season are starting to look more and more like a distant memory. Given what the ‘Fins were able to show last season, plus some great off-season moves both in the free agency market and the draft it’s time to step up and take the AFC by storm. NFL odds experts have all taken notice of what’s going down in the MIA and are starting to ride the wave of the Dolphins being a dominant squad this season with an ease not seen in prior seasons.
What can Miami fans expect for the 2021 season? And what needs to happen in order to find success in the division and then the conference? Let’s break it down.
This Will Be The Season That Makes or Breaks Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa will enter this season as the official starting QB for the Miami Dolphins, that’s a given fact as clear as a South Beach sunny summer day. With the Dolphins already grasping at the idea of knowing that there’s no turning back now after the way they played last year, one can easily argue that all gallons of responsibility will fan on Tagovailoa’s second season in the league. The question here is simple; will the Dolphins be able to have a realistic shot at a postseason run this year? Yes, hands down, if Tua can start out strong and stay consistent as the weeks go by.
On the defensive side of the ball, Miami has little to nothing to worry about, with Brian Flores’ defensive approach to coaching he has managed to build a strong unit on the defensive side of the ball. On the offensive side of the ball, the key is very simple, Tua needs to step up, run the offense, score points and become the leader that Miami so desperately needs. If all pieces fall into place, expect great things.
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God Bless Good Draft and Free Agency Decisions
While in prior seasons, the Dolphins weren’t necessarily the savviest teams when it came to free agency dealings and draft pickings, GM Chris Grier can officially say that he has done his homework and given the team what it needs. Just as previously mentioned, yes, Tua Tagovailoa will be responsible for leading this team’s offense into victory but you never send a single soldier out to war to fend for himself.
GM Grier went out and decided that it was time to stack up in the WR room by adding former Texan Will Fuller in the free agency market and former Alabama alum Jaylen Waddle through this year’s draft. Pitting former Alabama star QB Tagovailoa with former Alabama WR star Jaylen Waddle, it’s a Crimson Tide thing.
By adding Jason McCourty to further beef up a very good secondary already led by the likes of Xavien Howard and Byron Jones Miami can brag about having one of the best lockdown units when it comes to pass defense. Last but not least, between off-season trades and the pivotal move to trade their 3rd pick in the draft, the Dolphins now happily sit on some of the best future draft capital in the league.
Season Predictions
Right off the bat, the first thing that needs to be said is that Dolphins fans should get ready for another double-digit win season. The team has it all, a young core of players hungry to make Miami a football-driven city again, a smart coach and GM combo, and a fan base that knows what it’s like to have a dominant squad that will throw down with anyone in the league. In their division in all honesty their only concern should be the Bills, and it’s not really hard to predict the Fins at least taking one of their two matchups while beating the Jets and Patriots twice.
Other than that, the scheduling Gods have given Miami a true break, keeping them away from games in the cold until January and handing them one of the lighter schedules in the league. Without doing too much math and of course, already thinking of probable losses against the Bills, Buccaneers, Colt, Saints, and Ravens, a 12-5 record sounds just about right and a bid into the playoffs is as fair as it comes.
At the end of the day, the season for Miami will boil down to how fast they hit the ground running from the beginning and how consistent they can stay throughout the season. There’s always something exciting about a playoff-bound team, with Miami, we’re looking at a playoff-bound team with a chip on their shoulder, so imagine the hunger and poise to go out and slay every week.
