Is Miami Dolphins Josh Rosen set to become the starter
By George Keim
Josh Rosen is set to become the starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, just not as soon as you think.
It is my prediction that Rosen will be given the keys to the franchise at the completion of week 4. Follow me here, the logic makes perfect sense.
The Miami Dolphins have a brutal 4 game stretch to start the season. Each of their first 4 opponents made the playoffs last year, with no team finishing less than 10-6.
The Dolphins open at home with the Baltimore Ravens. Traditionally the Ravens have given the Dolphins fits. Unless Brian Flores can dial something up defensively to confuse the young Ravens’ quarterback, I don’t see this game being any different.
The dreaded New England Patriots come to town in week 2. We all know the Patriots penchant for losing in Miami but unfortunately I feel like this one could get ugly. Bill Belichick doesn’t like to be embarrassed and last season’s loss to Miami was as about as embarrassing as it gets. Many put that loss on Belichick for the Rob Gronkowski debacle on the Miami Miracle play. Belichick will be out for revenge.
In week 3 the Dolphins play their first road game in Dallas. The Dallas Cowboys have been mentioned in some circles as a championship caliber team. Winning on the road in the NFL is tough and the Dolphins will prove that in week 3 in Dallas.
Miami returns home to host the Los Angeles Chargers in week 4. The Chargers were in the conversation as the best team in the AFC for much of last season. That should hold true again this season. The Chargers are loaded and the Dolphins are not, chalk up another loss for the Dolphins.
There’s a good chance the Dolphins will be winless at this point of the season as they go into the bye week. This is when Brian Flores makes the change to go with Rosen. Rosen will have had the opportunity to watch and learn during the first 4, really tough, games of the season. The bye week comes at a perfect time and will provide the coaching staff 2 full weeks to get Rosen ready for another home game against a much lesser opponent in the Washington Redskins.
From this point the Dolphins brass will have 12 weeks to decide if Josh Rosen can be the long-term solution at the quarterback position. If he is, then the Dolphins rebuild is set up to be much quicker. If he’s not the solution then the Dolphins will be in a good position to address the quarterback position in the 2020 draft.
Rosen has to play a lot this year, there’s just no way around it. When the Dolphins invested a 2nd round pick in this guy it wasn’t to be a back-up to a journeyman quarterback. A thorough evaluation must happen and I think this is the blueprint the Dolphins will use.