After eight weeks in the NFL season, the Miami Dolphins sit 1-7. After a 10-6 season where new players showed promise, this rough start is surprising to say the least. After starting multiple rookies last season, those rookies were expected to take leaps forward and it just hasn’t happened yet. Disappointing performances from their free agent signings are to blame, as well.
Some things you can’t prepare for. Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left week two’s game against the Buffalo Bills after just four pass attempts due to broken ribs. Tagovailoa would miss the next three games. Jacoby Brissett filled in during Tagovailoa’s absence. Brissett had 858 passing yards with five total touchdowns and two interceptions.
The offense that was expected to take a leap has failed to meet expectations thus far. The Dolphins have the third least yards per game with a total of 301.9, and the sixth least rushing yards with a total of 629, which is an average of 78.6 yards per game. The Dolphins have been relying on the pass game thus far, having the second most pass attempts per game with 316. Both Brissett and Tagovailoa haven’t pushed the ball downfield, resulting in the Dolphins having the lowest yards per attempt in the NFL with 6.1 yards. With no running game and a lackluster offensive line, the offense hasn’t taken the leap forward that many expected them to.
The once dominant defense has taken a step back compared to last season. The defense has given up the most yards in the NFL with 3,255 total yards given up, an average of 406.9 yards per game. With 233 points given up, the Dolphins defense has given up the third most points in the NFL. The turnover forcing has also taken a step back. In 2020 the Dolphins forced 29 turnovers, but throughout the eight games in 2021, the Dolphins have forced just nine turnovers.
During the 2020 offseason, the Dolphins opted to ignore positions such as running back, offensive line, linebackers and for the most part a wide receiver. Their prized free agent signing wide receiver Will Fuller V has played just two games for the Dolphins, compiling four catches for 26 yards. The offensive line woes continue, as the leap that Miami expected Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt to make hasn’t happened yet. The Dolphins offensive line has given up 19 sacks in their first eight games.
Usually, when a team has a bad season, their team looks forward to having an early draft pick. This doesn’t apply to the Dolphins. The front office shipped away their 2022 first-round draft selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in the trade up to pick No. 6 from pick No. 12. After week eight, the Dolphins first-round pick is the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
After eight weeks, the Dolphins season seems to have hit its lowest point. Despite the bad start, the Dolphins play the Texans, the Jets twice and the Panthers and Giants in their next six games. All five are winnable games and need to be won in order for the Dolphins season to have any chance of being salvaged.
