2015 Miami Dolphins: Health a major concern
By Sean Denison
Last season, the injury bug hit the Miami Dolphins like a welterweight prizefighter. The Dolphins were forced to put their gloves up in defense while being jabbed, slowly and methodically, put up against the ropes, and endured this pain nearly every week of the 2014 NFL season. Then, as we all gasped for breath in horror, we witnessed what seemed to be the final knockout blow.
It came in early November in Detroit when the Dolphins high-priced All-Pro offensive tackle Brandon Albert went down with a season ending ACL injury. But even from the very start of the Dolphins 2014 season, Miami simply just couldn’t catch a break.
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Pro bowl center Mike Pouncey was unable to play due to a hip injury suffered in the offseason; in week one of the regular season it was Dannell Ellerbe; in week two it was Knoshown Moreno; and then this vicious, disturbing cycle continued with a different player on the injury report every single week.
Ultimately, the injury bug played a role in the 2014 NFL season for the Miami Dolphins. How big of a role? Who knows—we still had horrible coaching, tackling, and our kicker couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. But for the sake of argument, we can take a look back at the 2014 Miami Dolphins and blame the injuries they suffered as a big reason why they fell to 8-8.
When it comes to injuries, if this upcoming season is anything like last season, the Dolphins could be doomed; if it’s completely different—and the Dolphins somehow are blessed with a streak of good luck—the Dolphins have the potential to make a playoff push— and dare I say—challenge the Patriots for the AFC East crown for the first time since 2008.
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This team, on paper, looks great. Injuries aside, this team looks to have a solid quarterback, a running back on a mission to prove himself again like he did last year, a receiving corps better fitted for our system and quarterback, arguably the most dominant defensive line in the league, pro bowlers scattered throughout the roster, and a fan base eager to make some noise after years and years of disappointment, heartache, and downright embarrassment.
It’s ironic that as I speak—or type for that matter—the Dolphins currently have a few injury situations that could be problematic. Brandon Albert and DeVante Parker are still questionable for the start of the regular season. But according to multiple reports, their recovery seems to be good and optimism has been thrown around this organization like a “who likes who” rumor at a middle school dance.
We all understand that this upcoming season has the potential to be like a good date that later turns into something serious, or a complete disaster like a blind date—set up by your friend who thinks they know what type of person you’re seeking—completely blowing up due to the fact that they don’t agree with you politically, religiously, or understand the brilliance of the comedic value you bring to the table.
Let’s hope that this somehow becomes a marriage and something we look forward to every week of the season. Let’s get to know these Miami Dolphins, wine and dine them, introduce them to our parents, and hopefully get the nerve to get down on one knee—proposing our love and commitment to them—and produce a beautiful diamond-encrusted ring that resembles a Super Bowl ring with the 2015 Miami Dolphins engraved on it.