PFT: 5 questions Miami Dolphins

[Daytona Fin]

The Dolphins held their playoff destiny in their hands heading into the last two weeks of the regular season, a fairly remarkable position given the turmoil on and off the field caused by an offensive line that was far harder on members of the Dolphins than they were on the opposition.

Miami couldn’t beat either the Jets or the Bills in those final weeks, however, and Miami missed the playoffs before making major changes this offseason. General Manager Jeff Ireland was fired, four-fifths of the starting offensive line changed and a new offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, was brought in to help coach Joe Philbin try to make the playoffs for the first time since coming to Miami.

If you saw our preseason power rankings, you’ll know that there isn’t much optimism at PFT about that happening. If the Dolphins are going to prove us wrong, these are five areas where they’ll need to get positive answers.

1. Is Ryan Tannehill the answer at quarterback?

Tannehill entered the NFL with limited experience as a starting quarterback, but the Dolphins took him eighth overall in 2012 and teamed him with his college coach Mike Sherman in hopes of making a quick transition to the NFL. Tannehill has done that in one respect as he’s made all 32 starts through his first two seasons and he’s shown the kind of tools that you want to see from a starting quarterback. Consistency has been an issue, though, and it remains unclear whether or not he can vault to the next level.

Having an offensive line interested in stopping defenses from pounding him to the turf would be a good start, but Tannehill can also help himself by making quicker decisions before the pressure gets to him. Playing in Lazor’s system should help with that, although there will still be a need for Tannehill to show he can make the right decisions whether or not a defender is bearing down on him.

One way to help could be to get Tannehill throwing on the move more often as he’s been more successful in that area than he’s been when he delivers his passes from the pocket. His athleticism has always been a plus and Sherman’s scheme didn’t always take full advantage of that in Tannehill’s first two seasons. He’s played well in the first two preseason games, which creates some optimism for what’s to follow.

2. Will shuffling the linebackers lead to better results?

The Dolphins brought in two free agent linebackers last year and said goodbye to Karlos Dansby only to see Dansby thrive in Arizona while Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler helped man a linebacking corps that struggled against the run and the pass. Ellerbe played in the middle last year with Wheeler and Misi flanking him, but things will look different this time around.

Misi is in the middle, a new position for him, while Ellerbe has kicked outside in hopes that he’ll be freed up to make more plays from that spot in the defense. The group had a poor first preseason outing, which has opened the door for fifth-round pick Jordan Tripp to gain some snaps with the first team. Whoever winds up filling out the group come the regular season, there needs to be a serious improvement in execution if the Dolphins defense is going to be stingy.

3. Will Mike Wallace’s second year in Miami be more productive than his first?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/20/five-questions-miami-dolphins/

 

[fishfanmiami]

To me the biggest questions are still at OL , the running game and linebacker.
Tanny and the passing game should be aces from what i've seen so far.

 

[oasis]

1. Yes
2. Probably not, unless Tripp and McCain blossom earlier than expected and replace Wheeler & Ellerbe
3. Yes
4. Enough to be better than last year, especially in pass pro
5. Definitely

 

[doughbraz54]

1. I am fully confident Tannehill will be our QB for the next 8-12 years and do a good job at it as well. This offense will benefit Tannehill and help him take the next step.

2. Can we just get rid of Ellerbe and Wheeler and call it at that? I mean do we really need them screwing it up anymore? Hopefully Tripp and McCain can step up and take over.

3. Has to be. Wallace didn't have a great year last year stats wise. Yes he took pressure off everyone else because defenses feared the deep ball but that can't be his only use at the money he is making. He needs to step it up this year.

4. Well when you see the crap we had out there last year I think so. The run blocking is still questionable but our pass protection has looked much better thus far this preseason.

5. Yes. Losing Jones for the first four games will hurt but I think our secondary will play well this year.

 

[DolphinDevil28]

**** pft