It is easy to make predictions; it is easier to make bold predictions.
The Miami Dolphins are going to have a bad season. I will not call it their worst season.
It will be a rebuilding year beginning with the new head coach Brian Flores. Flores padded his resume before officially becoming Dolphins head coach. He called the plays for a Patriots defense that held Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams to just three points in Super Bowl LIII, tied for fewest in Super Bowl history, and 260 total yards.
Flores a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots while on the coaching staff was signed to a five-year deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Of the eight new head coaches hired this winter in the NFL, Flores was the only one to receive five fully guaranteed years.
He was an assistant; he is a head coach now. The Dolphins will take time to rebuild.
Flores will now have his defensive scheme on a team that has an excellent defensive foundation with defensive backs. Flores will have the benefit of safeties Reshad Jones, T.J. McDonald, corner Bobby McCain, and the gifted second-year defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. The coach phases in more man coverage, taking his chances at the corner, where the Dolphins are active with Xavien Howard.
There are holes on both sides of the ball. It starts on the offensive side with the quarterback position. Flores and the coaching staff decided by the end of the fourth preseason game on Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter. Eventually, he will be warming the seat for Josh Rosen. When protected, Rosen is a rhythmic precision accurate passer.
With first-time offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea’s system, which mimics the one he learned as the 10-year receivers coach in New England, Rosen is expected to grow. This year will be a bumpy ride for Rosen and Fitzpatrick, but once the Dolphins acquire playmaking more dependable wide receivers and an improved offensive, the best QB will emerge.
Running back Kenyan Drake can help cover the blemishes of the offense if he can have a successful season. Drake is a deceptively smooth runner and highly effective backfield receiver. A notable chunk of Drake’s touches will be shared with 2018 fourth-rounder Kalen Ballage.
I will never accuse an NFL team of tanking; football players are physically putting their bodies on the line every Sunday. It will be a challenging year with positive thoughts on the future. The Dolphins finished 7-9 and second in the AFC East last year. This season I predict a 4-12 season.
