2011 Miami Dolphins Predictions
Once upon a time, you could pencil Miami in the playoffs about every year. The Dolphins qualified for the postseason 21 times between 1970 and 2001. They’ve only made one trip to the playoffs since.
Following back-to-back 7-9 seasons, the Dolphins are looking to make the playoffs for just the second time in 10 years
Offense: Miami ranked 30th in the league in scoring in 2010 with 17.1 points per game. It ranked 21st in total offense with 323.1 yards per contest.
Miami’s running game slipped from fourth in the NFL in 2009 to 21st last season with 102.7 yards per game. With the once dynamic duo of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown no longer around, the Dolphins will turn to former Saint Reggie Bush and former K-State standout Daniel Thomas to reignite the running attack.
Under center, the Dolphins are prepared to give Chad Henne another shot. Henne, who’s 13-14 as a starter, completed 61.4 percent of his throws for 3,301 yards with 15 touchdowns and 19 interceptions last season. Former Carolina Panther Matt Moore is currently listed as the No. 2 on the depth chart.
Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall wasn’t able to match the numbers he put up while in Denver. After three-straight seasons with at least 100 catches, 1,100 yards and six touchdowns, Marshall only had 86 grabs for 1,014 yards and three scores.
Davone Bess continued to show why he is considered one of the best slot receivers in the game. He caught 79 passes for 820 yards and five touchdowns.
All-Pro left tackle Jake Long anchors a line that has been bolstered by the addition of center Mike Pouncey.
Defense: Miami’s defense was not the problem in 2010. The Dolphins ranked sixth in the NFL in total defense with 309.3 yards allowed per game. They ranked seventh against the run and eighth against the pass.
They finished 14th in scoring defense with 20.8 points allowed per contest, but this number is skewed because turnover problems put the defense in bad positions.
The defensive line consistently performs at a high level, and we can expect no different in 2011 as long as Randy Starks, Kendall Langford and Paul Soliai stay healthy. The return of 2010 top draft pick Jared Odrick should give this unit an added boost.
Cameron Wake was a monster at outside linebacker last year, finishing third in the league with 14 sacks and earning a Pro Bowl trip. Koa Misi recorded 4.5 sacks while playing opposite Wake.
Karlos Dansby, last year’s prized free agent acquisition, gave the Dolphins the upgrade they were looking for at inside linebacker.
In the secondary, Vontae Davis has emerged as a shutdown corner, which means Sean Smith must step up as teams look to throw away from Davis.
Yeremiah Bell and Chris Clemons make up a solid safety duo.
Prediction: 3rd Place AFC East – Defensively, the Dolphins are about as good as any team in the league. Offensively, they aren’t even close. Their offensive shortcomings are a big reason why they’ve lost nine of their last 10 inside Sun Life Stadium. NFL odds makers have listed the Dolphins at +900 to win the AFC East.
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