2014 Miami Dolphins Preview

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                                                                         Anthony Sanchez

The Miami Dolphins seem to be heading into the 2014 season more focused and vested into bringing back the wining tradition that this organization is use to. The players, coaches and upper management have made it a point to commit to one another on & off the field. The team has adopted the slogan "Stronger Together", you can see it on the practice field, on the sidelines, during the preseason games and in general whenever they talk about the team & organization as a whole.

This is Dennis Hickey's first year as general manager for the Miami Dolphins and up to this point has done an outstanding job of overhauling the team with talent. Dennis Hickey wasted no time once he was brought on board by attacking free agency adding players of need, the big splash was the signing of left tackle Branden Albert who has been all the Dolphins expected. Ultimately Judgement was going to be given on the draft and he proved to us what some knew, but many did not and that is Dennis Hickey has an eye for talent. The priority was offensive line and he began the draft by taking in the first round with the nineteenth pick right tackle Ju'wuan James who so far has been solid throughout the preseason. Many of the Players drafted this year by Dennis Hickey have made contributions to the team whether at their positions or on special teams all throughout training camp and preseason games. Another player that was drafted by Hickey is wide receiver Jarvis Landry from LSU who was taken in the second round pick sixty three and he has been playing pretty good, making tough receptions, returning kicks and just seems to be a player that will develop into something special.

 This is year three for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, there was limited growth with Mike Sherman as his offensive coordinator, but now under new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor he seems to be doing more as far as going through his reads, getting the ball out quicker and moving around the the pocket.

I am the first to admit there are no more excuses for Ryan Tannehill, the offensive line looks better, there is depth at wide receiver with Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, Rishard Matthews and Rookie Jarvis Landry, the running backs are Lamar Miller, Knowshon Moreno and Damien Williams, the tight ends Charles Clay, Dion Sims and Harold Hoskins.  An important point to bring up is also the style of offense that Bill Lazor brings which should fit the speed an quickness that is on the team.

The defense in my opinion should be even better, I have them being a top ten defense that can continue to cause turnovers and bring pressure especially with their talented defensive line. There were some additions to the defense in the off season; defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, safety Louis Delmas, cornerback Cortland Finnegan and the move to resign defensive tackle Randy Starks was huge. The defense will also benefit from the young cornerbacks Will Davis and Jamar Taylor 

who seem to be healthy and both had very good training camps.

The Questions that still remain unclear are; will coach Bill Lazor's offense bring versatility and in turn translate to more touchdowns? Will making the move of linebacker Koa Misi from outside to middle linebacker and moving Danell Ellerbe from middle to outside linebacker stabilize the linebacker unit? Will cornerback Cortland Finnegan regain his Pro Bowl caliber style of play? Will the suspensions of defensive end Dion Jordan and safety Reshard Jones have a major impact?

In my opinion the Miami Dolphins will have a pretty solid year and yes make the playoffs, I might be alone in this sentiment nationwide, but I see a pretty good offensive line, I see an offense with additional weapons & dynamic offensive style, a top ten defense and I finally see a better collaboration between coaching staff and management. I believe at the end of the season the Miami Dolphins will finish 10-6 and in the playoffs.

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