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In 2021, the Miami Dolphins missed the postseason for the fifth season in a row, despite having a winning record the past two seasons. That failure to make the playoffs, as well as other factors, played into the team’s decision to move on from head coach Brian Flores and bring in Mike McDaniel to run the team.
With more cap space than any organization this offseason and a first-round pick, Miami could end up with some talented players that could help the team make that jump to the playoffs.
However, ESPN released their post-Super Bowl power rankings for the 2022 season, and they are predicting the Dolphins to be the 17th-best team, once again falling short of their postseason aspirations.
Here’s what ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques wrote about Miami:
“It didn’t matter who Miami’s next coach was going to be, the task this offseason remained the same: revitalizing the NFL’s 25th-ranked offense from a season ago. The Dolphins have the most salary-cap space in the league and must use it to build around quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which includes bolstering the offensive line and adding a high-level skill player. The 2022 season is a decision year for Miami in regard to Tagovailoa’s future. And after spending the fifth overall pick on him in 2020, Miami has to do whatever it takes to get a return on its investment.”
Louis-Jacques is correct in his assessment of their needs, however, in addition, the Dolphins need to make sure they keep the same defensive philosophy they did down the stretch in 2021 and keep cornerback Xavien Howard in Miami.
Anytime that a franchise loses a head coach, there’s an expectation that the team will take a step back before they step forward, so it’s good to see that there’s some hope that this team is about the same.
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