Miami Dolphins Expectations Running High

The start of Miami Dolphins training camp is only a month away. The team has not released it’s training camp schedule but typically the team starts at the end of July. We are only days away from the end of June. With the start of camp around the corner expectations are running high throughout the organization and it’s fan base.

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At the center of the hype is Ryan Tannehill who players have been raving about this off-season. Through mini-camps and OTA’s Tannehill has reportedly looked very good. That is a good sign for a team who needs a fast start in 2015. Tannehill, reportedly, has even found some deep ball connections.

Now surrounded by an almost entirely new receiving corp, Tannehill is going to need to hit on all cylinders once camp arrives. It’s been reported that Tannehill and new tight end Jordan Cameron have developed very good chemistry thus far as has Tannehill and veteran receivers Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills. Rookie DeVante Parker has missed most of the off-season after having a pin in his foot replaced.

The biggest question mark remains the offensive line but there is a big option still on the market in guard Evan Mathis who was released by the Eagles. The Dolphins while interested have shown no interest in getting him signed ahead of the training camp sessions. The Dolphins appear ready to enter training camp with the biggest questions at both guard positions where Jamil Douglas, a rookie and 2nd year guard Billy Turner appear to be the frontrunners for both positions.

Jumping to the other side of the ball excitement is growing at what was considered a weak position, linebacker. Koa Misi recently told the media that he is more comfortable this year on the inside and is looking forward to another season in the middle. Misi should benefit from the addition of Ndamukong Suh on the defensive line. Outside Jelani Jenkins will return and Chris McCain is confident that he can hold the other outside spot down without any problems.

Excitement has brewing since Miami made a play for Suh at the outset of free agency. One of the worst teams against the runs in 2014, the Dolphins went all in this off-season to fix the defensive line problems. These changes which also included 2nd round pick Jordan Phillips has Dolphins fans and coaches excited about what 2015 could bring the team. It’s a cautionary tale as big ticket free agents haven’t exactly worked out for the Dolphins in the past.

With both the offense and defense getting major facelifts for the upcoming season expectations should be running high. The top of the schedule is favorable with an opening day trip to Washington to face the Redskins and another road trip to Jacksonville. The Dolphins asked the NFL to put the team on the road as often as possible early to allow some completions to be made in regards to the stadium renovations.

The schedule also pits Miami against the Bills, Jets, Titans, and Texans in the first seven weeks of the season. They will travel to London in week four and then return for a week five bye. The biggest game to start the season should be New England in week eight. While the Dolphins have struggled against the Jets and Bills, the team is poised to make a run at the AFC East but will need to beat both teams on their first go around as both games are home games for the Dolphins…including the London game.

The Dolphins, if the coaches and players opinions are true, could enter the New England contest with one or even no losses. It would be the best start to a season since 1992 when the started the season 6-0. While the team looks to be in a good position to start the season, the 2nd half of the season gets tough but by then Miami should be firing on all cylinders and winning builds confidence.

New faces rarely translate to success early but this years squad appears to be different. Suh is one of the best if not the best defensive tackle in the NFL and the addition of former Lion C.J. Mosley give the team much needed depth that could help the rotation of Mosley, Earl Mitchell, and rookie Phillips. Offensively veterans Jennings, Cameron, and Stills gives Tannehill his best weapons since arriving. While many fans will point statistically to Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline the truth is that the aforementioned trio are better fits for the Dolphins offense without the drama Wallace brought to the team.

While the Dolphins have, on paper gotten better there is no denying that the run to the top of the AFC East won’t be tough. New Enlgand returns as the NFL’s reigning champions and both the Jets and Bills have new head coaches and stout defenses. The Jets have potentially the best cornerback group in the NFL and the Bills have one of the top running backs in the league. It all adds up to the whole package.

Unlike New York and Buffalo, Miami has no quarterback controversy or question marks and quarterbacks, as Miami fans well know, can have a huge impact on a teams season. It all adds up to expectations and those expectations are again high. In a month we will start to see if what contact-less practices have built are indeed the truth.