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3 bold predictions for Dolphins 2022 season

By Russell S. Baxter

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - AUGUST 20: Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins looks on during a preseason NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - AUGUST 20: Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins looks on during a preseason NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – AUGUST 20: Chase Edmonds #2 of the Miami Dolphins runs upfield during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – AUGUST 20: Chase Edmonds #2 of the Miami Dolphins runs upfield during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

The Miami Dolphins have posted consecutive winning seasons but neither resulted in a playoff berth. New head coach Mike McDaniel has a talented squad.

It was a very active offseason in South Florida. It began with the dismissal of the head coach and the hiring of a fresh face. The Miami Dolphins are now under the guidance of Mike McDaniel. General manager Chris Grier added new offensive weapons for young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The trade for speedster Tyreek Hill and the free-agent addition of wide receiver Cedrick Wilson should open things up all over the field. The offensive line and backfield have a new look as well.

Elsewhere, the defense took a step forward in 2021. This is a club that knows how to make the big play on this side of the ball. The Dolphins came up an NFL-high 29 takeaways in 2020 and followed that up by forcing 26 turnovers a year ago. Expectations are high regarding this club. So are the following predictions unrealistic?

3. Dolphins finish in NFL’s top half in rushing

While this may not sound like an amazing feat, it would be a dramatic turnaround for a team that has struggled to run the football for far too long. A year ago, only the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons gained fewer yards on the ground than the NFL team from South Florida.

From 2017-2020, the Dolphins were ranked 29th, 18th, 32nd and 22nd, respectively, in the league in rushing offense. And it’s worth noting the last Miami finished in the upper half of the NFL in this category was 2016, when the Dolphins were ninth in the league running the ball. That also marks the last time the team reached the playoffs.

There are new faces in the backfield in Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. The offensive line has been bolstered by free-agent additions in left tackle Terron Armstead and center Connor Williams. This ground attack will be much-improved in 2022.

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