Here we go. In conjunction with Episode 1.8 of 3 Yards Per Carry, here are 35 detailed reasons why we should be more optimistic about the 2018 Dolphins as opposed to the 2017 Dolphins.
01. It is typical of teams that bounced DOWN the previous year (10-6 to 6-10) to bounce back UP the next year. Average bounce back is worth an extra win or two. Or three. Just the way it seems to work out.
02. Two division foes will be under tremendous pressure to play high caliber, high pick rookie QBs, both of whom are (and I hate this term but it's true) raw as hell. Potentially 3-4 games vs. rookies.
03. The head coach who was still wet behind the ears in 2016 and 2017 has done away with being a players coach and is a lot more demanding of his players, sending strong messages. This is a good thing.
04. The de facto offensive coordinator (Gase) also seemed to be disabused of some wrongheaded notions about rigid personnel packaging, narrow play calling, over-relying on key players. He's diversifying significantly.
05. Gase has assembled more of the egghead types on his offensive staff that 'get' him, to be part of the offensive game planning. Whatever Gase's potential truly is, we're closer to seeing what they hired.
06. Eric Studesville is a legit strong hire that deserves mention on his own. Miami had a cocaine-addled run game coordinator who got fired mid-year. Now they have a real one.
07. Similar to Gase, inexperienced Matt Burke seems (based on statements, priorities) properly disabused of antiquated notions about the need for speed, hybrid linebackers, and dime defense.
08. Tony Oden and Renaldo Hill are legit strong hires that deserve mention on their own, and you're going to see a lot more Saban-inspired coverages, better communication in the defensive backfield.
09. For that matter, Kris Kocurek is also a smart, scheme compatible hire. Whatever is the end potential of this scheme, a guy like Kocurek gets us closer to it.
10. Front office prioritized quarterback protection. Josh Sitton is one of the best pass protecting guards in football. He not only locks down his own spot, but is a stabilizing presence protecting Laremy Tunsil's inside post leg.
11. More QB protection gifts from the front office: they set aside a significant amount of cap money to make sure Ja'Wuan James comes back (after missing 8 games in 2017).
12. Mike Pouncey was a good pass protector in 2017 but his inability to practice with the team detracted from chemistry. They've replaced him with a cerebral player of similar production, but one who will practice.
13. Still on theme of QB protection, Frank Gore has always been one of the best at backfield protection, and now the big, strong Kalen Ballage comes on as one of the best in college football at that task.
14. Ryan Tannehill is planned to return and Tannehill > Cutler/Moore. It's really simple. There are things about Tannehill we've taken for granted. Cutler missed passes Tannehill can make in his sleep.
15. Tannehill's knee reconstruction surgery leaves less of a risk overhang than his previous decision to leave it alone and try and let scar tissue stabilize the partial tear.
16. Tannehill responds to adversity. Complacency is his enemy, but he responds strongly to adversity. I can cite plenty of examples if you want.
17. Lost a quick-pass option (Landry), but added FIVE legit quick-pass options to replace (Amendola, Wilson, Gesicki, Gore, Ballage). Tannehill's ranking goes WAY up when getting ball out < 2.5 seconds. More QB protection.
18. Speaking of QB protection, ground game helps all QBs. But Tannehill (since A&M) is more sensitive than most. Getting Frank Gore and Kalen Ballage reduces risk of Drake's trademark lack of durability.
19. Front office set offensive themes of SPEED, INTELLIGENCE, and MATURITY. All are steps in a good direction, even before you get into the individual players involved.
20. Front office set defensive themes of SPEED, COVERAGE, and MATURITY. Again, steps in exactly the right direction, even before accounting for individual players.
21. Maybe for the first time since coming to Miami, Gase has a broad enough base of personnel to use a full array of personnel packages, e.g. 12 personnel, 21 personnel, 22 personnel, even a pseudo FB like MarQueis Gray.
22. Nice acuity in the acquisitions of Albert Wilson and Danny Amendola. Watch the way KC used Wilson and Tyreek Hill (Jakeem Grant?) chemistry, and the way NE used Amendola and Brandin Cooks (Kenny Stills?) chemistry.
23. Mike Gesicki is an animal in the passing game. He is the best tight end Adam Gase has ever had, and Gase's predilection toward Y-ISO makes the position important to his offense.
24. Watch the way Mike Martz (a mentor of Adam Gase's) used Robert Holcombe in 1999, and think the name: Kalen Ballage.
25. Dowell Loggains found 360 snaps and 152 touches/targets for Tarik Cohen in 2017. This bodes well for Jakeem Grant, as does the acquisition of two good screen blocking WRs in Albert Wilson and Danny Amendola.
26. Excellent they were able to upgrade the pass prowess and speed at the TE position while maintaining block prowess with a Durham Smythe, A.J. Derby, and MarQueis Gray. More QB protection.
27. I may not have as high opinion as most on Josh Sitton's run blocking prowess, but strictly speaking he's better at it than Jermon Bushrod was, and Kilgore's run blocking is no worse than Pouncey's was in 2017. Slight upgrade.
28. Robert Quinn has not been a stellar pass rusher in a number of years, but he is better at it than Andre Branch. A full year out of Hayes would be nice, and Branch himself was unhealthy in 2017. Charles Harris should develop.
29. Three valid safeties, especially one with extensive slot acumen (Fitzpatrick), allows Burke to put Dime on field in 3rd & Long (where we were the worst defense in football), and that's a big deal.
30. Three valid safeties, especially one of which is over-sized (McDonald), allows Burke to experiment with Big Nickel (4 DL, 2 LB, 2 CB, 3 S) instead of Base in order to help Base pass defense (ranked #26 of 32 in YPA).
31. Speedy linebackers Jerome Baker and Terence Garvin should also give Burke options in Base to help the #26 of 32 ranked Base personnel pass defense, especially in defending tight ends (ranked #32 of 32 in FtsyPPG).
32. Three valid safeties, especially one with extensive slot acumen (Fitzpatrick), allows Burke to improve the run defense in Nickel (ranked #30 of 32 in YPC) in situations that aren't necessarily pass-oriented.
33. Xavien Howard is a third year player (typically ascending) whose light clicked on halfway thru 2017, and that can be a BIG deal as a corner who can be the MEG (man everywhere he goes) corner in Oden's coverages.
34. Most of improvement tends to come from maturation of previous draftees, signings. New acquisitions tend to be overrated. Most agree Miami drafted well 2015 to 2017. Those drafts coming into full flower?
35. Ja'Wuan James (25), Robert Quinn (27), Bobby McCain (24), and Jordan Phillips (25) are entering contract years, and that's typically a good thing for young starters positioned to make an impact.
