5 Reasons for Dolphins fans to be excited
By Jack Scharr
Heading into the 2017 season there are a lot of positives for Dolphins fans to look forward to. Here are the top five reasons Dolphins fans should be excited for the coming season.
As we look forward to the 2017 season for the Miami Dolphins there are plenty of reasons that fans can be excited. With the additions of key players to the hopeful growth and development of young standouts, the Dolphins should see a push forward in next season’s success. These are the top five reasons why Miami should improve in 2017.
Adam Gase – Success rises and falls on leadership. It doesn’t matter how much talent you have on a team if you don’t have a great leader then your team will never rise to the top. Adam Gase is the head coach that the Dolphins have been looking for. He is tough, honest, and creative but most of all is a great leader. The Dolphin’s players are excited to play for Gase and other players want to come to Miami because of him. Regardless of if you are sold on Gase as the answer Miami has searched for, you cannot disregard the impact he has had on the Dolphins so far. He has been able to hold on to talent like Reshad Jones and Kenny Stills, he has put together an effective offense by playing to Miami’s strengths, and he is providing continuity for Tannehill as the offensive coordinator. Having Gase back with an improved roster and allowing for Tannehill time to get better in his system should only show more dividends of Gase’s success.
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Charles Harris – Many people have talked up Harris so far as the pass rusher of the future. He is already being praised for his time at OTA’s even though there aren’t any pads on now. The biggest thing about Harris though is the youth he brings to an aging defensive line. Harris is only 22 years old playing on a line next to Cameron Wake (35), Suh (30), Andre Branch (27), and William Hayes (32). He is a young talent prospect that can learn from these veterans and bring the needed speed and youth that has been missing from this position. Harris may never be Cameron Wake or Jason Taylor, but he has the potential to be a very talented pass rusher and the time to develop into an impact player for Miami.
Matt Burke – Matt Burke is probably one of the people I am most excited about when I look to the 2017 season. The Dolphins have elevated a coach that has been with the team for years, who understands the talent on the roster, and has made the most of the players he has been given. Last season Burke was given a linebacker corps with only one solid starter on it in Kiko Alonso. He had a number of backups that were starting at positions and was trying to rekindle of a once star that had fallen the past few years. Even though Miami struggled heavily at the linebacker position, Burke helped Alonso to turn around his career and play once again at a high level. He coached up reserves to play well, like Mike Hull, when injuries struck the roster. With new focus given to the defensive side of the ball and talent finally joining Alonso at the linebacker position, Burke should create a strong nosed, tough defense that will be hard to run on and scary to throw against.
Lawrence Timmons – The last two people I will focus on are additions to Miami’s weakest position from last season, Timmons and McMillan. Timmons is a pro, simple as that. His career in Pittsburgh speaks for its self as he has dominated the middle of the field for years. He is a strong leader and a tough run stopper. Timmons will be the anchor of the Dolphins defense this season and will be the nasty presence that has been so desperately needed against the run. Even though he has aged and some say has lost a step, he is still playing at a high enough level to get a lot of interest in the offseason. Although he is not the long-term answer for Miami, he will bring a few good years and will be able to coach up young talent into greatness.
Raekwon McMillan – McMillan is the other talent at linebacker that the Dolphins will see a huge turnout from. Where Timmons is the aged veteran, McMillan is the young talent that Miami needed at the linebacker position. McMillan was a tackling machine in college and that is something Miami needs desperately at the second level. Too many games were lost due to poor tackling last season and McMillan will be able to help solve that. He is also quick enough to cover tight ends and help in coverage. He may not be the top linebacker coming out of the draft, but McMillan is someone who is always around the ball making plays and will be the consistent play maker that is needed at linebacker.