Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Mike McDaniel
Offensive Coordinator: Frank Smith
Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Weaver
Special Teams Coordinator: Craig Aukerman
2024 Summary (W-L Record: 8-9)
Last season for the Dolphins went somewhat similar to the 2022 season. They were simply a different team when Tua Tagovailoa was in the lineup vs. when he wasn’t.
In 2022, Miami was 8-5 when he started and 1-4 when he didn’t, scoring 25.5 points per game with him and 19.2 without.
Last season, they went 6-5 with Tua and 2-4 without him, but the discrepancy in points scored was even greater (24.1 to 13.3). The resulting inconsistency of the offense kept the Dolphins from a 3rd straight playoff appearance:
The defense did seem to take a step forward under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Although it’s hard to fault the previous DC (Vic Fangio), who went on to turn the Eagles into the NFL’s top-ranked defense and won the Super Bowl.
But maybe Weaver’s scheme fits Miami’s personnel better. I like a lot of what he did last season. He certainly kept offenses guessing as the Dolphins ranked 7th in the league in frequency of disguise and 1st in use of simulated pressures, according to
of MatchQuarters.But what ultimately did them in was their inability to make enough impact plays. They finished just 27th in sacks and takeaways.
Receive breakdowns like this directly in your inbox by subscribing here:
Key Additions
RB Alexander Mattison
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
TE Darren Waller
TE Pharaoh Brown
G James Daniels
G Jonah Savaiinaea (2nd Rd, 37th Overall)
C Daniel Brunskill
T Larry Borom
DT Kenneth Grant (1st Rd, 13th Overall)
DT Jordan Phillips (5th Rd, 143rd Overall)
LB Willie Gay
LB K.J. Britt
CB Mike Hilton
CB Jack Jones
CB Kendall Sheffield
CB Jason Marshall (5th Rd, 150th Overall)
S Minkah Fitzpatrick
S Ifeatu Melifonwu
S Ashtyn Davis
S Dante Trader (5th Rd, 155th Overall)
Key Losses
RB Raheem Mostert
TE Jonnu Smith
TE Durham Smythe
LT Terron Armstead
LG Robert Jones
T Kendall Lamm
DT Calais Campbell
DT Da’Shawn Hand
EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah
EDGE Tyus Bowser
LB Anthony Walker Jr.
CB Jalen Ramsey
CB Kendall Fuller
S Jevon Holland
S Jordan Poyer
Did They Address Their Holes?
I think Mike McDaniel is one of the best minds in football, and I have a ton of respect for his offense. Every time I turn on the Dolphins’ All-22, it’s a fun watch. But for whatever reason, he hasn’t been able to have much success without Tua Tagovailoa on the field.
In his 3 years in Miami, the Dolphins have a W-L record of 25-17 and have averaged 26.2 points per game with Tua. Without him, they are 3-8 and have scored just 16 points per game.
Despite how innovative and awesome McDaniel’s offense can be, it doesn’t seem to work without the timing that Tua brings. Which means the most important thing for this team is for him to remain upright and in the lineup.
That’s accomplished in a couple of different ways. The first is with the design of the passing game. The Dolphins use more motion than any team in the league. Much of that is to create predictable defenses and give their speedy wide receivers free releases at the line. This enables Tua to get the ball out of his hands and execute the passing game with that pristine timing.
And when this team is executing with timing, few passing games in the league are better.
But when they’re disrupted for any reason (particularly pressure), things tend to fall apart. Which means protection is paramount to the Dolphins Offense having success. Good protection is what it takes to get to the 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th read consistently, which the Dolphins haven’t been able to do.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins were dealt a severe blow when left tackle Terron Armstead retired this spring. They also lost left guard Robert Jones and tackle Kendall Lamm (who played 44% of snaps last season) to free agency.
There will be new faces across the offensive line this year. Patrick Paul, who Miami took in the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL Draft, will take over at left tackle. The guard positions will likely be manned by Miami’s 2nd-round pick this year (Jonah Savaiinaea) and free agent James Daniels, who is coming back from a torn Achilles last season.
Needless to say, there are a lot of unknowns up front.
So on the question of whether or not the Dolphins addressed this critical hole, the answer is that they did. But did they do it effectively? That is up for debate.
Biggest Questions Entering 2025
The biggest question or issue facing the Dolphins this season appears to be their pass defense in general. As I mentioned above, I like the way Weaver mixed things up last season. He’ll need to do much of the same in 2025 because the Dolphins have some major questions, both in their pass rush and on the back end.
Last year, Miami ranked just 23rd in pressure percentage and 27th in sacks. Who will spearhead a change in this department?
Will defensive tackle and 13th overall pick Kenneth Grant be able to make a difference inside with his high-level athleticism? Will last year’s first-round pick, Chop Robinson, be able to contribute more than 6.0 sacks? Will Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, whose 2024 seasons were derailed by serious injuries at the end of 2023, be able to return to form?
These are all key questions on which the success of the defense will hinge. And some of that is because the secondary is short-handed. Yes, the Dolphins were able to add Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is one of the most versatile safeties in the game (and will fit Weaver’s defensive scheme well). But they aren’t in great shape at cornerback.
Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou, and Kendall Fuller, who played 97%, 67%, and 52% of snaps last season respectively (the three highest totals of any Dolphins cornerbacks), are either playing for another team or done for the season due to injury. Their snaps will be taken by a 31-year old Mike Hilton, Storm Duck, and the volatile Jack Jones.
Having question marks in both the pass rush and defensive backfield is not a great combination entering the season.
On the other side of the ball, the biggest question is whether or not defenses are becoming more equipped to handle Miami’s passing game. For instance, last season they saw the highest frequency of 2-safety coverage in the league. They saw the 3rd-highest rate of zone coverage. They were blitzed the least. Defenses across the NFL made the decision to play with less risk in their scheme and keep the Dolphins Offense in front of them.
And while this had been the trend heading into 2024, it paid off for opposing defenses last season in ways it hadn’t previously.
Miami didn’t attack downfield as much or as effectively as a result. For instance, they ranked just 30th in percentage of pass attempts over 10 yards from the line of scrimmage after finishing 4th in 2023.
They were 2nd-to-last in air yards per completion after finishing 5th the year prior. Not to mention, they had the 3rd-fewest 20-yard pass plays last season after finishing with the 8th-most in 2023.
The injuries to Tua certainly played a factor. But forcing the Dolphins to drive the field instead of getting big plays limited their offense substantially.
2025 Outlook
We’re still sure to see an effective and even dangerous offense in 2025. Miami has speed and talent at receiver and in the backfield in the form of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and running back De’Von Achane. They have a tremendous scheme. They have a quarterback who can orchestrate it at a high level.
But as always, they’ll have to figure out how to succeed when their scheme is neutralized. Can they win when conditions aren’t perfect? Will they have the ability to counter teams that are physical and punch them in the mouth?
They tend to use their speed in the run game and attack the perimeter. But can they run effectively between the tackles (where they attacked with the 3rd lowest frequency last season according to NFL Next Gen Stats). Can they win simply by moving the line of scrimmage?
Can they succeed in those situations where everyone knows what’s coming and they just have to execute better than their opponent? That’s been the issue with this team for 3 years on both sides of the ball. Until we see proof that they can, there’s no reason to assume this season will be any different than the previous three.
Check out our other team previews here:
Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns
New York Giants
New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Chicago Bears
San Francisco 49ers
Dallas Cowboys