It’s that time of year again. Here are three burning questions for the Miami Dolphins.
When will it be Tua time in South Beach?
The Dolphins surprised no one when they selected Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the fourth overall pick. Despite his injury history—including the hip ailment that ended his final college season prematurely—he was the perfect fit.
The Dolphins likely won’t rush to start him in Week 1 even if he is feeling 100 percent. This is okay, though, as the rookie will be able to learn from veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. One thing that he will teach the rookie is that sometimes all you need as a quarterback is a little bit of magic, which Fitzpatrick has been known for receiving throughout his career.
Will they finally have a consistent running game?
One of the weaknesses for this team over the last couple of seasons was the running game—or lack thereof. The team’s leading rusher last season was quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, which should explain everything you need to know.
The Dolphins traded away Kenyan Drake to the Cardinals after he wasn’t productive in Miami. But in Arizona, he showed what he could do, which shows in his shiny new contract.
The Dolphins brought in former 49ers running back Matt Breida as well as Jordan Howard, an ex-Eagle. The two have been successful backs in the league, so it will become apparent rather quickly if it’s the system, the playcalling, or something else that makes Miami a tough team to run effectively for.
How will the revamped defense look?
The Dolphins were busy addressing the defensive side of the ball this offseason after last season’s unit was more often than not susceptible to the big play.
Former Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson, ex-Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy, and former Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones all now call South Beach home. It’s never a bad idea to add an established veteran to your defense, but adding one to each layer of a defense is a drastic improvement.
If this defense comes together and the running game gets going, this team will be incredibly improved regardless of who spends more time under center.
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