Miami was looking for a high-energy leader who could relate to the young on the roster. Most of all, though, the Dolphins were looking for someone to jump-start quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Gase has received praise from his former quarterbacks, including Jay Cutler and Peyton Manning with Manning saying, "He's extremely bright on all things football, an excellent communicator and always eager to learn more."
Gase takes over amid a dramatic offseason that included a blockbuster deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, a star running back who jumped ship, and a draft day saga that resulted in Miami getting arguably the best offensive lineman on the board in Laremy Tunsil.
When your top draft pick gets caught up in a marijuana scandal and a potential NCAA violation scandal all in the same night, it's not the traditional way to kick off a changing of the guard in the NFL, and Mike Tannenbaum, the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, said about as much to Sports Illustrated.
"The optics were far from perfect, but we kept it in the context of a good kid who loves football and is a good person," Tannenbaum said of the decision to take Tunsil, once considered the draft's likely No. 1 overall pick. "We just felt like it was too good an opportunity to pass up."
Still, giving Tannehill a bit more protection could go a long way in 2016, so the gamble could be a good one. An improved offensive line combined with the magic that Gase typically can work on quarterbacks are reasons to keep your eye on the Dolphin.
Quarterback
Tannehill was awarded a four-year extension last season as a sign of faith from the Dolphins, but he didn't display major progress on the field. However that could change under Gase, who is already allowing Tannehill more freedom, including the ability to audible — a concession the previous coaching staff did not permit. The Dolphins added some competition for veteran second-stringer Matt Moore, drafting Brandon Doughty out of Western Kentucky in the seventh round.
Running back
Lamar Miller left for the Houston Texans during free agency, so the Dolphins are left with second-year man Jay Ajayi as their starter. In limited time last season, he scored one touchdown and averaged 3.8 yards per rush. Damien Williams will compete with third-round pick Kenyan Drake for touches. Drake never rose to the top of a competitive depth chart at Alabama, but his upside and his speed make him an attractive option for Miami.
Wide receiver
Jarvis Landry was among the best receivers in the league last season, his 110 catches ranking fourth in the NFL. Last year's first-round pick, DeVante Parker, showed impressive flashes once he was finally healthy enough to get onto the field. Kenny Stills is a deep threat. Third-round pick Leonte Caroo scored 10 touchdowns despite only playing in eight games at Rutgers, and he could help Tannehill and the Dolphins in the red zone. Miami also signed Griff Whalen from the Indianapolis Colts as a possibility in the slot.
Tight end
When the Dolphins brought Jordan Cameron in from the Cleveland Browns last March, they thought they were giving Tannehill an effective red-zone target. But Cameron didn't live up to expectations with only three touchdowns and fewer than 400 yards receiving. He's hoping Gase can better utilize his ability. Dion Sims served well as the backup last year with 18 catches and a touchdown, and the Dolphins also drafted Thomas Duarte out of UCLA in the seventh round.
Offensive line
The biggest addition is Tunsil. The Dolphins benefited from the draft day drama surrounding him and took the former Ole Miss star when he dropped to their spot at 13th overall. He could initially start at guard despite playing tackle in college. Center Mike Pouncey is among the best in the game, going to three consecutive Pro Bowls, and tackle Branden Albert also went to the Pro Bowl last year. The unit needs to take a big leap this year in protecting Tannehill, who got sacked 45 times in 2015, though a good chunk were probably his own fault.
Defensive line
The four-man front got a makeover in free agency. Olivier Vernon left for the riches of the New York Giants, but the Dolphins added a pair of veteran ends in Mario Williams (Buffalo Bills) and Andre Branch (Jacksonville Jaguars). Assuming Williams is happy again after a lost season in Buffalo and Cameron Wake can bounce back from Achilles surgery, Miami could have a scary pass rush. Tackle Ndamukong Suh had a disappointing debut season in Miami despite signing a nine-figure contract last year, but he also seems re-invigorated under Gase.
Linebackers
Kiko Alonso should man the middle after coming over in a trade from Philadelphia. The Dolphins see enormous upside in him despite his thinner frame. Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins start alongside Alonso.
Secondary
It underwent a makeover in the offseason with Byron Maxwell arriving from Philadelphia after a disappointing year and Isa Abdul-Quddus coming over the from Detroit Lions. Pro Bowl corner Brent Grimes was released. Reshad Jones is one of the most active safeties in the game with five interceptions and 135 tackles in 2015. The Dolphins really liked what they got in the second round in cornerback Xavien Howard. He ran a 4.58 in the 40 and has NFL-caliber size (6-0, 201) and strength. He could compete to start in his first year.
Special teams
Sixth-round pick Jakeem Grant had four touchdowns on returns at Texas Tech and should give the Dolphins an explosive element. Andrew Franks looks to be the kicker again, but he had limited opportunities (16 attempts) and missed the same number of extra points (three) as field goals.
Coaching
Gase, who previously served as offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, gets his big shot. His defensive coordinator is Vance Joseph, who had been the defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. Clyde Christensen, the former quarterbacks coach for the Colts, is the new offensive coordinator.
