With the 101st season of the National Football League fast approaching, it’s time to look at which teams could make a splash in the 2020 season. One team which most certainly requires some consideration is the Miami Dolphins, who were transformed under Brian Flores in the 2019 campaign. Flores is clearly relishing his first-time appointment as head coach and, after a fairly successful draft, the Dolphins may be considered outside contenders for the playoffs.
Flores Looking to Build on Last Season
Serving as a coach for the New England Patriots for just over ten years has clearly given Flores the wherewithal to succeed in a head coaching role. During his spell at the Gillette Stadium as scouting assistant and coach, the Pats enjoyed the most successful spell in their history. They won four Super Bowl championships in 2004, 2014, 2017, and 2018.
The Miami Dolphins have missed out on the playoffs for three consecutive seasons now, and Flores’ first season in charge got off to a terrible start. They lost their first eight games throughout September and October, but then Flores managed to oversee a drastic turnaround in their fortunes. In the remaining nine fixtures of the campaign, the Dolphins managed to win five games. This included a stunning 27-24 victory over the Patriots in the final round of fixtures. If the Dolphins can continue their strong form from the second half of the 2019 season into the new campaign, they could have a chance of making the playoffs for the first time since 2016. As of June 2, Flores’ side is at odds of 800 with Betway to win the AFC East, with the Patriots placed as favorites at 125. As underdogs, the Dolphins may relish the opportunity to cause an upset.
Tua Tagovailoa Leads Miami Dolphins’ Strong Draft Selections
One of the main things working in Flores’ favor this season is the fact that the Dolphins had a reasonably strong draft. The most promising acquisition by far was Tua Tagovailoa, one of the game’s primary up-and-coming talents. The 22-year-old was the fifth overall pick of the 2020 draft, highlighting just how highly regarded the 2018 Sporting News College Football Player of the Year is. The Dolphins signed him on a four-year deal worth $30.28 million, and expect him to be the future franchise passer.
Some news outlets including SBNation have speculated that Tagovailoa may walk straight into a starting berth under Flores, beating out the veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick during the preseason. The new teammates of the Hawaii-born player have already expressed their excitement to have him on board in the 2020 campaign. Mike Gesicki said that Tagovailoa’s college career at Alabama speaks for itself, and his performances have proven that he is more than ready to make the step up to the NFL.
The Dolphins went into the 2020 draft with the most salary cap space and the most draft capital in the division, and this was used wisely in a number of areas. Some other great picks to enhance their roster included Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt, and Solomon Kindley.
Will Lack of Wide Receivers Be an Error?
The main thing that the Dolphins were criticized for during the 2020 draft was their failure to draft any wide receivers. Instead, they opted to bring in running back Matt Breida to pair with Jordan Howard. They drafted wide receiver Malcolm Perry but opted not to sign him.
Flores does have some decent wide receivers at his disposal in Matt Cole and Isaiah Ford, but if he is to continue with his rebuild he will need to address this position in the near future. The main issue is that the Dolphins may not be able to get the best out of their new star quarterback if they don’t have top players to get on the end of his plays.
After a few seasons in the shadows, the Dolphins could be about to experience a change in fortunes. They had a promising draft and brought in one of the top talents in the country. On top of that, it seems that the head coach knows what he’s doing. Miami are still outsiders, but they might have a chance at proving their doubters wrong.
