1. If Ryan Tannehill can become a more consistent and precise passer, he has a chance to be a top-10 quarterback. He’s already top 10, if not top five, in mobility. Second-year coordinator Bill Lazor will continue featuring this in his Eagles style system. As a pure passer, Tannehill is more mechanically sound than, say, Cam Newton, which is why he’s increasingly steadier in and out of the pocket. He’s also cast in a system that will unburden him by calling a lot of quick-timing throws. The Dolphins were wise to sign the now-27-year-old to a long-term contract this past offseason. Tannehill’s value is poised to jump this season.
2. A year ago, Tannehill was strapped with a receiving corps that was lethargic in spots and unreliable in others (pretty much wherever Mike Wallace lined up). Now, running a three-receiver base offense, Miami might have the most complete receiving corps in the NFL. They drafted Louisville’s DeVante Parker in Round 1 and traded for smooth former Saint Kenny Stills, who can provide a potent vertical element within the context of an offense. They also signed 10-year veteran Greg Jennings from Minnesota. Jennings has caught at least 59 balls in each of the last seven years (excluding an injury riddled 2012 campaign in Green Bay), but he may not even get on the field considering big-bodied Rishard Matthews is a more unique matchup creator at No. 4 and second-year slot man Jarvis Landry is too good in space to sit for longer than the occasional breather. Several of these receivers will have to settle for smaller numbers; with ex-Browns tight end Jordan Cameron also arriving via free agency, there simply won’t be enough catches to go around. That’s a great problem to have.
3. Lazor’s scheme is similar to Chip Kelly’s, only with more pre-snap motion and shifts. The Dolphins are more experienced in it now, and with their offensive line woes not fully corrected but amended enough to keep most pages of the playbook alive, this could be one of the league’s most difficult offenses to gameplan against.
4. A name to keep in mind: Damien Williams. The undrafted second-year running back plays with a burst, most evident in the passing game. He won’t supplant fourth-year finesse back Lamar Miller, but he should warrant 10-12 meaningful snaps a contest.
5. A guy on this defense worth mentioning but who hasn’t been covered is weakside linebacker Jelani Jenkins. The 2013 fourth-round pick has near sideline-to-sideline speed and innate quickness in the box. He’s also adept in most coverage situations.
