NFL 2018 power rankings countdown No. 31: Miami Dolphins
A preview of the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2018 season.
Check back every day for a new 2018 team preview in this year’s NFL power rankings countdown.
Today’s team is the Miami Dolphins.
31. Miami Dolphins
Keegan’s highest rated player: Reshad Jones, safety
Biggest strength: Safety position
Biggest weakness: Quarterback
Best offseason move: Drafting Minkah Fitzpatrick
Worst offseason move: Not finding a long-term solution at the quarterback position
Game to circle on calendar: Week 12, at Indianapolis
Breakout candidate: Mike Gesicki, tight end
Key players in contract years: Frank Gore, Ja’Wuan James, Cameron Wake, William Hayes and Stephone Anthony
Offensive preview
The Dolphins’ offense feels like it is at a crossroads with a lot of veteran players that likely will be with Miami for only another year or two. The Dolphins have downgraded at the quarterback position, moving from Jay Cutler who came in last year at the last minute, to a now-healthy Ryan Tannehill. It feels like this will be Tannehill’s last season in a Dolphins uniform.
The Dolphins made a mistake in not finding a long-term option at the quarterback position, now they will most likely face pressure to draft a quarterback in the first or second round next offseason in a mediocre class.
There are few positives with this Dolphins offense. The additions of veterans Frank Gore and Danny Amendola will help out a locker room that is in need of more leaders, but both of these players are long past their primes.
I really like the Dolphins running back corps. Gore and Kenyan Drake are two running backs with very different skill sets who should be able to complement each other.
The offensive line has some talent as well with names like Laremy Tunsil, Josh Sitton and Ja’Waun James. The line will be the Dolphins’ biggest strength on the offensive side of the ball this season.
Defensive preview
The Dolphins have two talented pass rushers with Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn in the front seven, but the loss of Ndamukong Suh has dealt a significant blow to the defense.
The Dolphins have a decent linebacking corps with names such as Kiko Alonso, Raekwon McMillan and Stephone Anthony. This will help the Dolphins contain top running backs such as Leonard Fournette, LeSean McCoy and Jordan Howard.
The secondary is a little two-sided with a strong group of safeties in Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. McDonald and Reshad Jones, but it has a lot of lackluster cornerback talent. This secondary will therefore be fairly average this season.
Coaching staff/front office preview
I like Dolphins coach Adam Gase a lot and hope he still has a job with Miami next season. In my opinion it would be absurd to fire him this season, even if this Dolphins team is as bad as I expect it to be.
I’m confident Mike Tannenbaum and Chris Grier will be able to turn this team around in the next few seasons. The Dolphins were in the playoffs just two years ago and are a quarterback away from being in contention once again. Miami has a very experienced front office.
Overall outlook for 2018
The Dolphins are strong at a few positions, but they have been in dire need of a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino retied. Miami will post mediocre records until it finds a franchise quarterback, and this season I wouldn’t expect beyond five or six wins for this team.
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