Realistic expectations for the Miami Dolphins 2018 season

There is a lot of things that can go right and wrong with the Miami Dolphins 2018 season but what are the realistic expectations for the fans?

When it comes to predicting the 2018 Miami Dolphins season, it is rather difficult. A lot is predicated on how quickly the Dolphins begin to find a cohesive balance on both sides of the ball. It comes down to injuries both for the Dolphins and other teams they will face.

Each week is a new week. It’s a cliché. It is also true. The Dolphins have a lot of work to do between now and the start of the season and rhythm once the regular season arrives will be a key for the offense and the defense.

Many in the media believe that Miami is a two to six win team in 2018 and judging by what has been shown through three pre-season games, there is not a lot that would make them change their minds. However, the starting units have not played poorly. They have simply played vanilla.

There have been positive signs of growth with the first team offense and according to Adam Gase he isn’t ready to throw out his playbook for the league to see just yet. Assuming that is actually true, there is more to see from the Dolphins but how much?

Defensively the Dolphins have looked like swiss cheese at times. Holes on the front, in the secondary, and at linebacker. While the Dolphins first unit did a good job for the most part against the run in-game three, there are still kinks that need to be worked out and frankly at some positions we don’t know who the starters will actually be.

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Fans need to realize that this season is both one for patience and to a degree excitement. Lofty expectations may be fueled by rose-colored glasses. That annual, “We got this” feeling. Reality is always a bit different. Fans should be excited but with a tempered enthusiasm. While it’s unlikely the Dolphins whiff and go 2-14 they very well be no better than 8-8.

Miami’s offense should be fine. There will be some bumps but the Dolphins are going to run an up tempo attack. Short passes and a running game will mix with a occassional deep pass but don’t expect the Dolphins to air it deep all the time. Miami has a solid running game and the offensive line is playing well.

Additionally, we have yet to see Ryan Tannehill move out of the pocket and Tannehill is a much better quarterback when he is out of the pocket. There is no question that Gase is keeping him firmly surrounded through pre-season to keep him healthy. The season rides on the health of Tannehill.

Once the season starts fans should expect more of Mike Gesicki and the tight-ends. They should not expect to see Gesicki working on his blocking in real games. Gase seems to be getting that part of Gesicki’s game worked in pre-season. A smart move for a player who should be fine running routes. He and Tannehill have been working on their timing together after practices.

The offense may start the season slow but if everyone stays relatively healthy, there should be solid progress from week to week and Miami’s offense could very well be good enough to keep them in games.

Expectations for the offense? Be patient. There is a better chance that the offense impresses when the shackles of pre-seasons meaningless games go out the window. There won’t be any more 4th team substitutions and the offense will have far more time to get into a consistent rhythm.

The defense however may be a different story.