One Palm Beach Post sports journalist — we won’t reveal his name, but it rhymes with Lowe Chad — predicted the Dolphins would start this 2024 season with a record of 7-1.
So, yeah, that didn’t work out.
That veteran scribe — well-regarded and fashionable, we might add — cited Miami’s manageable schedule, especially early in the season, as well as key additions like Shaq Barrett, Jordan Poyer and Odell Beckham, Jr.
Well, Barrett quickly retired. Poyer has struggled. And OBJ didn’t have his first Miami catch until Week 9.
It hasn’t gone right at all for Miami, with a 2-6 record entering Week 9 of 18 in the NFL schedule.
The loss of Tua Tagovailoa to a concussion for four games was devastating.
But even with that injury, Miami should be better than 2-6.
The Dolphins are 26th in the NFL with a point differential of -63.
Miami is 31st in the NFL in scoring offense and 17th in scoring defense.
Here are our Miami Dolphins midseason grades
Miami Dolphins offense report card
Quarterback
The Dolphins are 24th in the NFL in passing yards per game and passing yards per play.
Tua Tagovailoa has played well in three of four games.
Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley did not play well in their four total starts
Grade: C–
Running Back
The Dolphins are 9th in the NFL in rushing yards per game and 17th in rushing yards per play.
De’Von Achane leads the Dolphins with 37 catches and also 420 rushing yards.
Miami has posted between 149 and 183 team rushing yards in each of the last four games.
Grade: B
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Wide Receiver
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are ranked 58th and 79th at wide receiver by Pro Football Focus.
Through 8 games, Hill has 4 catches of 25 yards or more and Waddle has 1.
Last year, Hill had 22 catches of 25 yards or more and Waddle had 8.
Tua has missed 4/8 games. But after 30 such catches last year, Hill/Waddle are on pace for 10 in 2024.
Grade: C–
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Tight End
Jonnu Smith has become a factor as the season has progressed.
Julian Hill and Durham Smythe are graded 64th and 70th by Pro Football Focus at their position.
Hill has eight penalties. Smythe has three.
Grade: C–
Offensive Line
Terron Armstead is ranked by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s No. 1 tackle. They rank Aaron Brewer as the NFL’s No. 2 center. Austin Jackson, Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones are ranked 42nd to 58th at their position.
Eichenberg has six penalties. Jackson has four.
Miami’s pass protection and run blocking has improved throughout the season under the leadership of position coach Butch Barry.
Grade: C+
Miami Dolphins defense report card
Defensive Line
Calais Campbell and Zach Sieler have been very good. Da’Shawn Hand has been solid.
The Dolphins are 13th in rushing yards per game allowed.
Grade: B-
Linebacker/Edge
The Dolphins are 14th in rushing yards per play allowed.
Miami is only 30th in sacks per opponent pass attempt.
Bradley Chubb hasn’t played this season. Jaelan Phillips is out for the season.
Chop Robinson is developing. Emmanuel Ogbah is playing through injury.
Jordyn Brooks and David Long have some OK and some not-so-great moments.
Grade: C-
Defensive Backs
The Dolphins are 4th in passing yards per game and 13th in passing yards per play allowed.
Dolphins defensive backs have only two interceptions.
Jalen Ramsey is the No. 2 CB in the NFL as graded by Pro Football Focus. Kendall Fuller has been a good addition.
Miami needs Jevon Holland to return to the lineup and play the best football of his career.
Grade: B-
Special Teams
Miami is 8th in punt return average and 10th in kickoff return average.
Miami is 22nd in punt return coverage and 1st in kickoff return coverage (9 returns, 24 touchbacks).
Jason Sanders has missed four field goals. A Blake Ferguson field goal snap rolled on the ground.
Jake Bailey is 27th in net punting and had a punt blocked.
Miami’s special teams are ranked 32nd by Pro Football Focus. The Dolphins have 11 special teams penalties.
Grade: D-
Coaching
Despite key injuries, Miami can’t justify losing to Tennessee, Indianapolis and Arizona.
The Dolphins needed to find a way to win at least one, if not two, of those games.
Miami’s defense has wilted late in games, but been OK overall.
The Dolphins are 6th in the NFL in third-down defense. They’re only 27th in defensive takeaways.
At times, Miami has been undisciplined.
Miami Dolphins special teamsWeak link for too long
The Dolphins are 9th in the NFL in penalty yards, despite one game fewer than teams with more.
Mike McDaniel has given his team a chance in recent weeks with a commitment to the run.
But perhaps he could have made more tweaks to the offense in the four games Tua missed.
Special teams have been poor.
The bottom line is that 2-6 is not acceptable to anyone — owner, general manager, coaching staff, players or fans.
Our challenge for this staff? Find a way to go at least 6-3 or 7-2 on the back end.
At this point, a 9-8 final record would be commendable.
Grade: C-
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