Three reasons to be optimistic about the Miami Dolphins

For a while, the Miami Dolphins looked like the team to beat in the AFC. With Tua Tagovailoa battling multiple concussions and a five-game losing streak that stretched from December into January, the Dolphins simply ran out of steam down the stretch.

The Dolphins return most of the starters from the No. 6-ranked offense in the NFL, and head coach Mike McDaniel has another offseason to play mad scientist with his roster.

Below are three reasons for the Dolphins to be optimistic heading into 2023:

1. Tua Tagovailoa taking concussion issues seriously

The Dolphins looked nearly unbeatable with a healthy Tagovailoa under center this season, posting an 8-5 record with him as the starter. However, they lost four of the five games he missed, including the playoffs, after he suffered multiple concussions.

But the 24-year-old QB recently admitted he had taken up judo during the offseason in an effort to better understand body movement and how to properly fall without putting his head at risk.

Tagovailoa led the NFL in passer rating (105.5), ranked fifth in passing yards per game (272.9) and tied for eighth in touchdown passes (25). If the Dolphins can keep him on the field for an entire season, they will be a legitimate threat in the playoffs.

2. They have the best one-two punch at WR in the NFL

Tyreek Hill (1,710 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (1,356 yards) ranked second and seventh, respectively, in receiving yards in 2022. Waddle also led the NFL with 18.1 yards per reception.

Collectively, the duo totaled 194 receptions on 287 targets for 3,066 yards and 15 touchdowns, and they had a combined 46 receptions of 20 or more yards and 13 receptions of 40 or more yards.

Whether it’s Tagovailoa or Skylar Thompson under center in 2023, the Dolphins should still have one of the NFL’s more potent passing attacks.

3. Mike McDaniel 

The first-year head coach seemed to push all the right buttons during the first half of the season as Miami had an 8-3 record and appeared to be firing on all cylinders. Four straight losses by one score and a blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers down the stretch derailed any early-season momentum the team had built.

Still, the Dolphins improved from 25th in total offense in 2021 to sixth, 17^th in passing offense to fourth, 30th in rushing offense to 25th and 22nd in scoring offense to 11th all thanks to McDaniels’ stretch-the field, attack-the-defense offensive philosophy.