There will be some expectations for the Miami Dolphins this coming season, but which individual players have the most to prove in 2021?
The Miami Dolphins were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last year. After enduring a 2019 season that saw them get off to an 0-7 start and a 5-11 finish, the team made huge strides by finishing with a 10-6 record. They will enter the 2021 season with a moderate level of expectations, as fans are anticipating a further leap forward in head coach Brian Flores’ third season in Miami.
But with expectations comes the potential for letdown and failure. The Dolphins have been in similar situations in the past, in which they come off of a promising season only to deflate and be sent back to square one. There is reason to believe that this particular regime will produce a different outcome, but cautious optimism should certainly be a theme amongst the Miami fan base this season.
Not only do the Dolphins as a team have something to prove, but plenty of individual players do as well. There are young guys on the roster that are trying to find their spot in the rotation, and veterans who are looking to secure their next contract. While they will be doing their best to accumulate wins for the franchise, they’ll have the added incentive of making names and paydays for themselves as well.
So, which Miami Dolphins player has the most to prove this upcoming season?
Mike Gesicki
The pass catching group for the Miami Dolphins has a lot of hype to live up to. The team spent the off season adding weapons to Tua Tagovailoa’s arsenal, and they are expected to give the offense a much-needed boost. The guy who will have the most to prove out of the bunch is tight end Mike Gesicki.
Coming off of a breakout year in what was a limited offense, Gesicki now has expectations to live up to. He put up over 700 yards last season and was in the top 5 in multiple tight end statistical categories. There is even chatter about whether or not he can be one of the premier players in the league at his position. Should he remain healthy, Gesicki could flirt with 900+ relieving yards when all is said and done.
He’ll need a big performance this year. His future with the Miami Dolphins is unknown, as his current contract expires after the upcoming season, which would make him a free agent. Whether he hopes to get paid by the Dolphins and stay in Miami, or cash out with another franchise, Gesicki will have to take another leap forward in his development.
Tua Tagovailoa
As far as the media and a good portion of the fan base is concerned, no one has more to prove this season than Tua Tagovailoa. This may be true, depending on which side of the fence you’re on.
There is the Colin Cowherd/Chris Simms camp, which believes that Tagovailoa doesn’t have the necessary tools to be successful and is already a bust. They point to his unimpressive rookie numbers and his multiple benchings as the signs of immediate failure. But there is the other side, that grants Tua something of a pass for his rocky debut. They see the lack of off-season preparation as well as below-average (at best) weapons to work with as the culprits, and are giving him a chance to prove that he can be more successful in Year 2.
The Dolphins’ front office has done their best to put a solid product around Tagovailoa on both sides of the ball, which they are hoping can make up for any of the growing pains that the quarterback may come across. But there will come a point when Miami has to count on their franchise poster boy to put up big numbers and win some important games.
All eyes, whether optimistic or not, will be on Tua Tagovailoa this upcoming season.
Andrew Van Ginkel
Andrew Van Ginkel has given the Dolphins plenty of reasons to make him a starting outside linebacker, but he will need to make some big plays this season in order to further solidify his spot.
Van Ginkel’s fellow starting linebackers are both proven commodities. Jerome Baker got paid recently and will anchor the unit for years to come, and Benardrick McKinney brings a Pro Bowl pedigree as one of Miami’s free agent signings. So, unlike Gesicki, Van Ginkel won’t be trying to prove his worth for a pay day (yet). For the upcoming season, he’ll be doing his best to hold down the edge in hopes of being a long-term starter.
So what does Van Ginkel have to do to keep kosher with the coaching staff? There will be a new edge rusher on the opposite side in rookie Jaelan Phillips, and the veteran will have to do his best to keep up with the new beast. Van Ginkel was a big part of Miami’s defensive turnover success, forcing three fumbles and returning one for a 78 yard touchdown against the Rams. He finished the season with 5.5 sacks, a number that he should look to replicate or surpass in 2021.