Can the Miami Dolphins Dominate on Offense or Defense in 2020?
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier comment about the draft at the Miami Dolphins training facility in Davie, Florida on Saturday, April 27, 2019.
The Miami Dolphins have had a rough go the past few seasons. They’ve been either the middle of the pack or towards the bottom of the league in almost every aspect of their game. Their offense has got the job done at times but was nothing to write home about. Their defense has had bright moments but ultimately sunk back to new lows.
2019 had its bright spots but it took a while to get their motor running. At one point in the season, the Dolphins switched from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Josh Rosen, then back to Fitzpatrick. The defense never fired on all cylinders. So their offseason was full of changes.
First, on offense, they went heavy on the offensive line, signed and traded for running backs, and drafted their quarterback of the future. Their receiving unit went relatively unchanged and could be the strength of the offense. Offensively they’ll look to improve the passing game but the focus appears to be a more balanced approach.
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Defensively, they choose to go with leadership and playmakers to bolster up and keep teams scoring in check. Not only did they improve their secondary, but the middle of the defense also got a few upgrades as well. If they can keep receivers covered long enough they won’t need the strongest front as they’ll force enough coverage sacks.
One of the biggest concerns however will be in the RPO plays where the quarterback has a chance to take off with the football. If coverage is great and the quarterback has no choice he’ll have to take off. If Miami can’t contain on the edges or shut down draw plays then their defense will do their job but still bend too often.
If 2019 was all about developing a culture, then 2020 will be about developing an identity. Will the Miami Dolphins be a team that can jump out to an early lead and score points in bunches? Can they be the team that shuts down opposing offenses and dominates the turnover battles? They’ve done a lot to balance both sides of the football but can they dominate on one or the other?
Rick ODonnell aka Caveman Rick has many years covering the Miami Dolphins, Sports, and all sorts of movies and television.
