The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins are preparing to hit the field for the first time during the 2025 NFL regular season, opening their year with a visit to the Indianapolis Colts. Earlier this week, in preparation for the Dolphins’ season premiere, we opened our mailbag, bringing you a chance to submit your questions for us to answer.
Now it is time for us to bring you some answers. Below you will find a selection of the questions asked in the comments of the mailbag article.
That is a great question, and one for which Mike McDaniel, hopefully, has the answer this year. I think the two-high safety was absolutely a big part of the issues, along with the defenses knowing to stay home and clog up the middle of the field. Why was that so effective in year three when teams should have been able to make that same adjustment in the first two years of McDaniel in Miami? I think the lack of a run game was a big part of it.
In 2023, Miami had 2,308 rushing yards on an average of 5.1 yards per carry. Last year, those numbers dropped to 1,795 yards on a 4.0 yards per carry. Defenses in 2024 did not worry about the running game nearly as much as they did in 2023, allowing both safeties to work up high and linebackers to remain in the middle of the field, rather than trying to get up to the line of scrimmage to stop the run.
Defenses also started pressing the Dolphins receivers more. Rather than giving wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle space to counter their speed, the defenses moved up and started jamming the receivers, throwing off the timing of Miami’s offense, with the two-high safeties able to assist on the coverage of the deep routes if the receivers broke free.
Finally, injuries played a factor. Hill was clearly not himself all season and Waddle missed two games. The Dolphins should have been able to adjust, but they were just off all year, and the injuries just added to the issues.
This year, McDaniel has to prove that his offense is not stagnant but can react to the defensive adjustments each week and the offense as a whole, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the two receivers, can stay healthy. Miami also needs running back De’Von Achane to play like the breakout player he is projected to be in 2025.
I know it sounds cliché, but I do think the culture matters, and the team has changed. McDaniel wants the team to take accountability for themselves, and the players last year were not ready to do that. This year, it does sound like the team learned from their struggles last year and have fully bought into their expected roles this year. I think you see that with the list of captains selected for the season. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, center Aaron Brewer, fullback Alec Ingold, linebacker Jordyn Brooks, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, and...
