What Would Make a Successful Season?
For the 2026 Miami Dolphins, the expectations, as defined by a vast majority of NFL experts and pundits, are extremely low.
An over/under prediction of 4.5 wins is popular.
So, given the bleak forecast, what would define a successful season for the fans?
I have a few thoughts:
1) Malik Willis has a good year.
Not necessarily a Pro Bowl caliber year, and not necessarily the second coming of Dan Marino.
But a year where Willis completes close to 60% of his passes, airs it out on deep balls, showcasing his arm, and creates plays with his legs when plays break down.
And, most importantly, Willis improves as the year goes on.
2) Chris Bell emerges from injury.
The 6’2” standout from Louisville returns early in the season, healthy enough to show that he can be the Dolphins’ WR1.
He develops a rapport and chemistry with Willis that makes fans hungry to witness what is in store for 2027.
3) Chop Robinson and second-year players live up to their hype.
Chop regains his footing from his rookie season and becomes what the Dolphins drafted him to be three years ago: a dominant pass rusher off the edge.
Zeek Biggers, Jordan Phillips, and Kenneth Grant prove that former GM Chris Grier finally got lucky.
With Zach Sieler playing to his potential again, they provide much-needed support up front for a thin secondary.
4) The offensive line finally comes to fruition.
The hope is that the projected starters on the offensive line of Patrick Paul, Kadyn Proctor, Aaron Brewer, Jonah Savaiinaea, and Austin Jackson develop into a cohesive unit that can stay healthy for most of the season.
That will be critical for the success of quarterback Malik Willis and the running of De’Von Achane and will finally give the Dolphins an offensive line that can provide the team with some consistency.
5) Coach Jeff Hafley makes good in-game decisions.
A huge Achilles’ heel of former coach Mike McDaniel, whether the result of bad advice from his assistants or simply incompetence, was extremely poor decision-making during critical portions of a game.
Late play calls, terrible time management, and poor judgment with challenges plagued the team during McDaniel’s tenure.
Coach Hafley needs to show that he is fit for a head coaching job and can handle these pressure situations during a game.
We will know the answer to these questions in the next few months.
What Would Make a Successful Season?
What Would Make a Successful Season?
For the 2026 Miami Dolphins, the expectations, as defined by a vast majority of NFL experts and pundits, are extremely low.
An over/under prediction of 4.5 wins is popular.
So, given the bleak forecast, what would define a successful season for the fans?
I have a few thoughts:
1) Malik Willis has a good year.
Not necessarily a Pro Bowl caliber year, and not necessarily the second coming of Dan Marino.
But a year where Willis completes close to 60% of his passes, airs it out on deep balls, showcasing his arm, and creates plays with his legs when plays break down.
And, most importantly, Willis improves as the year goes on.
2) Chris Bell emerges from injury.
The 6’2” standout from Louisville returns early in the season, healthy enough to show that he can be the Dolphins’ WR1.
He develops a rapport and chemistry with Willis that makes fans hungry to witness what is in store for 2027.
3) Chop Robinson and second-year players live up to their hype.
Chop regains his footing from his rookie season and becomes what the Dolphins drafted him to be three years ago: a dominant pass rusher off the edge.
Zeek Biggers, Jordan Phillips, and Kenneth Grant prove that former GM Chris Grier finally got lucky.
With Zach Sieler playing to his potential again, they provide much-needed support up front for a thin secondary.
4) The offensive line finally comes to fruition.
The hope is that the projected starters on the offensive line of Patrick Paul, Kadyn Proctor, Aaron Brewer, Jonah Savaiinaea, and Austin Jackson develop into a cohesive unit that can stay healthy for most of the season.
That will be critical for the success of quarterback Malik Willis and the running of De’Von Achane and will finally give the Dolphins an offensive line that can provide the team with some consistency.
5) Coach Jeff Hafley makes good in-game decisions.
A huge Achilles’ heel of former coach Mike McDaniel, whether the result of bad advice from his assistants or simply incompetence, was extremely poor decision-making during critical portions of a game.
Late play calls, terrible time management, and poor judgment with challenges plagued the team during McDaniel’s tenure.
Coach Hafley needs to show that he is fit for a head coaching job and can handle these pressure situations during a game.
We will know the answer to these questions in the next few months.
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