FanPost

Making the case that Miami is a playoff team with their offense alone

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2014 is a make or break year for The Miami Dolphins and especially for the man pictured above. The interesting thing about this team is that most Dolphins do believe that Miami is a 10 win team this year. Other fans around the league don't think quite the same as they feel that the Dolphins will still be stuck in mediocracy like they have been the past few years, but I'm here to argue that us Dolphins fans may not be so crazy after all and we actually may be onto something. I'm obviously a Dolphins fan but I try to be realistic and I know that this article will reflect a lot of Dolphins fans opinion about our offense but I'm going to defend why it's not so far fetched that the Miami Dolphins could be a playoff team this year with their offense they have. They have potential to be a scary unit on that side of the football and in this offensive league, Miami could just have the offense to take that next step

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The NFL is an offensive driven league. With the explosion of Fantasy Football and Commissioner Roger Goodell trying to make the game more safe for its players, the league has made rules to help the offense. Defensives are so limited on where they can hit a player and how much contact a player can have on a QB and what they can do to receivers in coverage. The league, especially this year, (See all the preseason defensive penalties) helps the offense and luckily Miami's strongest point on the team is the offense. A lot of those fans who say the Dolphins aren't making the playoffs probably never heard the name Bill Lazor. Bill Lazor was the QB coach for the Eagles last year and look at what he did with Nick Foles last year. Imagine what he can do with Tannehill, who has the mechanics and has shown flashes of being an elite QB at times. Lazor will bring over a variation of the fast paced Chip Kelly offense, which last year put up some impressive numbers. Tannehill could really take that next step from being a good to great QB but the key is having weapons and depth and the Dolphins do have both. The Dolphins backfield will consist of Lamar Miller and offseason addition Knowshon Moreno who also put up impressive numbers last year. Granted he had all time great QB Peyton Manning in control of that offense but you can't say Knowshon still won't contribute in a system that will give him good looks running the football and also give him an opportunity to help protect the QB in passing situations. Which will help that offensive line that gave up 58 sacks last year. Did I mention that although the interior line is still suspect, the tackle positions have improved tremendously with Brandon Albert and Rookie Jawun James? The RG position in particular needs work but being in a fast paced offense will give Miami an advantage and put defenses on their heels. This will help the offensive line get a step lead on defenses and you've heard how football is a game of inches. Although protection is still a concern, you do have to think Miami has put their line in a better position to get on blocks quicker with faster plays but back to the weapons this offense has.

Many people will think of Mike Wallace being Miami's best receiver and although he didn't put the numbers up on the field that his contract expects but he is in fact the best receiver the Dolphins have and here's why. Wallace is a deep threat and in many ways, a "one trick pony" but when he is on the field, defenses have to respect him and his ability because they have studied the tapes and they do know he can burn you deep. This is all true but he won't catch nearly as many passes or get nearly as many looks as you'd think because I just said he is Miami's best receiver and he is but he isn't because of how many catches or touchdowns he will have. It's the simple threat of him going deep that will give other receivers like Hartline, Clay, Gibson, Matthews, and Landry an opportunity to make plays. Wallace will help other guys get open. Hartline is a security blanket for Tannehill, and is very consistent with his play. Defenses have to respect that but when you have to respect Hartline and Wallace on the outside, what happens in the middle of the field? Charles Clay got the nickname "Big Play Clay" for a reason last year, and that's because he made some big plays and really stepped up and took his game to the next level. Expect him to be even better this year people! This guy is a legit baller but when defenses key on him, what about the threat of Gibson and Matthews? Gibson was really starting to come into his own last year before he got injured. I fully expect him if healthy to take another step up this year. Gibson and Matthews both have toughness and to thrive in this offense they have to be tough. Matthews had flashes last year as well but I guarantee in this offense they get more looks than last year. There's FIVE legit weapons right there in the passing game and I didn't even talk about the exciting rookie Jarvis Landry. If you've watched the Dolphins in the preseason any then you've seen some big plays from this guy. Landry reminds me a lot of a guy up in Minnesota last year who tore it up. You might have heard of him, Cordarrelle Patterson? Landry has flashes of that type of big play ability. I'm not saying he is the next ROTY but he really is a playmaker and he showed at LSU that he also can be a reliable target.

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The Face Of The Future ^

Think of all the young weapons this team has in the passing game. This could really be a big year for the Dolphins offense. Lazor has done nothing but help develop Tannehill this offseason and break old habits that Sherman implemented in his mind. This offense has TONS of potential and the only thing I see that slows them down is a strong pass rush but if Tannehill has learned how to get rid of the ball quicker and our offensive line is improved, how do you manage to cover ALL these weapons while getting to the QB. If people are relying on our line to suck they will just rush 4, which will be great for that read option or great in giving Tannehill time to pick apart a defense. Once they start bringing more pressure, that'll play into our offense being so fast paced and getting the ball out quickly to Gibson, Clay, and Matthews. Due to being conditioned to losing every year, I do expect less as a fan and while I do only think we will win 8 games this year, I also realize there is massive potential on offense to take that next step. I challenge you Dolphins fans to share this article and share why you think YOUR team could put up some points this year and be a force to be reckoned with. From now and until the season starts, every time your friend gives you crap about how bad the Dolphins are and how bad they are going to be, you share this article with them. Come December I could just look like an blind idiot that refused to look at things logically for saying all these things about our offense and hell we could still just be subpar, but the potential is there and it looks like if things pan out, we could be very very scary on offense.

Follow me on twitter @OfficialZT please note that my name IS Zach Thomas but I am NOT the former pro bowl Dolphins Linebacker Zach Thomas. Simply just a fan.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Phinsider's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of The Phinsider writers or editors.