Head Coach: Joe Philbin
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Sherman
Defensive Coordinator: Kevin Coyle
Owner: Stephen Ross
Stadium: Sun Life Stadium
Capacity: 76,100
Super Bowl Wins: 2
Offense
Having finished 22nd in the NFL in 2011 with 5,078 yards of total offense, the Miami Dolphins have their work cut out for them this season. Miami has endured too many mediocre quarterbacks in recent years, having to go to battle with the likes of Pat White, Chad Pennington, Matt Moore, and A.J. Feeley, among others. Drafting Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill in this past Aprils NFL Draft was not the move a lot of people were hoping for in South Florida, especially after the Dolphins whiffed in their attempt to land Peyton Manning. There arent many tools to work with on this offense. Slow growth has to be the plan for new coach Joe Philbin, freshly arrived from a tour of duty as the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.
Grade: D+
Defense
Sports betting lines Miami held firm on this side of the ball last season. The Dolphins defense was entirely capable in 2011. It finished 15th in the NFL by giving up a total of 5,522 yards and an average of only 95.6 yards per game on the ground. Last years effort, if reduplicated this year, will satisfy everyone in the organization. This is not Miamis problem, to be sure.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
The Dolphins, under punter Brandon Fields, averaged 40.7 net yards per kick on 93 punts. Miami kicker Dan Carpenter hit only 78.8 percent of field goals last season, missing four kicks in the 40-to-49-yard range and botching one kick under 30 yards in length. The sportsbook odds will improve for the Phins if they can figure out the placekicking part of the equation. Unless or until that happens, Miami will struggle, especially when one realizes that with a balky and inconsistent offense, this team will attempt a lot of field goals. Miami has to get to 88 percent efficiency if not 90.
Grade: C
Prediction
The foremost betting websites will tell you that the Dolphins dont have a chance of competing with anyone in the AFC East, except perhaps the New York Jets if they falter. New England is the king of the division, and Buffalo is much improved. If Miami won six games, it would be a decent season relative to the talent on the offensive side of the ball.
2012 Schedule
Week 1 – at Houston (1:00 PM ET)
Week 2 – vs. Oakland (1:00 PM ET)
Week 3 – vs. New York Jets (1:00 PM ET)
Week 4 – at Arizona (4:05 PM ET)
Week 5 – at Cincinnati (1:00 PM ET)
Week 6 – vs. St. Louis (1:00 PM ET)
Week 8 – at New York Jets (1:00 PM ET)
Week 9 – at Indianapolis (1:00 PM ET)
Week 10 – vs. Tennessee (1:00 PM ET)
Week 11 – at Buffalo (Thursday, 8:20 PM ET)
Week 12 – vs. Seattle (1:00 PM ET)
Week 13 – vs. New England (1:00 PM ET)
Week 14 – at San Francisco (4:05 PM ET)
Week 15 – vs. Jacksonville (1:00 PM ET)
Week 16 – vs. Buffalo (1:00 PM ET)
Week 17 – at New England (1:00 PM ET)