Kelly: Overlooking Dolphins in AFC East Hierarchy Is Disrespectful
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I know a backhanded compliment when I hear one because I’m the king of delivering them.
Say something nice, then follow it up with a harsh criticism to soften the open-handed slap.
That’s exactly what former NFL quarterback and ESPN commentator Dan Orlovsky did discussing the Miami Dolphins during a morning segment on "Get Up," which broke down the “Way-Too-Early Prediction of Which Team Wins AFC East in 2023?”
“This was the No. 1 pass offense in football last season when Tua was healthy,” Orlovsky said. “I love Tua as much, if not more than anybody, but he hasn’t played a healthy season ever.
“If Tua is capable of playing the great majority of their games, then Miami is going to be a phenomenal football team,” Orlovsky continued. “Vic Fangio is as big an addition as anybody has added in football.”
BILLS SHOULD BE FAVORED
Despite the confidence in Tagovailoa, Orlovsky and former Dolphins executive Mike Tannebaum picked the Buffalo Bills to win a fourth straight division title.
I don’t object to that selection because you can’t take the crown until someone chops off the king’s head. That’s why I still have the Bills ahead of Miami in the division.
The Dolphins had three shots at the Bills last season and finished 1-2.
In fairness to the Dolphins, the last loss came in the playoffs with Skylar Thompson, Miami’s third-string quarterback, as the starter because Tagovailoa was sidelined by his third concussion that season, and Teddy Bridgewater had injured his thumb two weeks before.
But the Dolphins qualified for the postseason last year, unlike the Jets, who former NFL linebacker-turned-analyst Rob Ninkovich, who spent two years with the Dolphins, and Mike Greenberg, the host of the show, picked to win the division.
A discussion about the Jets potentially adding Odell Beckham Jr. kicked off the Way-Too-Early prediction, and it was obvious the commentators were evaluating what the Jets could become with Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP, at the helm.
Problem is, that trade with Green Bay to acquire Rodgers hasn’t been consummated yet.
EARLY ODDS ARE IN
The early betting odds are out, and both the Jets and Dolphins have been given a 9.5 over/under line, so it is not out of left field for analysts to favor the Jets over the Dolphins. But the "Get Up" crew did show their New York bias on this one.
The last time the Jets made it to the playoffs was 2010. That’s 12 seasons of mediocrity to shed. It doesn’t come off overnight, just as Dolphins fans are aware.
It takes time, and steady improvement, sound moves like the Dolphins have done the past two offseasons to enhance Miami’s roster.
“To write off the Patriots, do that at your own risk. That’s a ridiculous mistake to make,” Greenberg said. “Somehow we haven’t even mentioned the Miami Dolphins, who have gone out and made the most aggressive moves you could possibly make on their defense. They have (Bradley) Chubb. They have Jalen Ramsey. They have a track team at wide receiver. If Tua is healthy, and that is the big if …”
Miami added Fangio, who replaced the imposter (Josh Boyer) pretending he was the architect for Brian Flores’ blitz-happy defense.
Miami also added Ramsey, who arguably is one of the top five cornerbacks in football, to pair him with Xavien Howard, who is in the same discussion. If healthy, they should be the best pair of cornerbacks in the NFL.
Their presence on the field should allow Fangio to get super creative with his play-calling.
The Dolphins also upgraded the roster at linebacker (David Long Jr., who is replacing Elandon Roberts), and slot receiver and punt returner (Braxton Berrios).
GESICKI IS ONLY OFFSEASON LOSS
Sure, the Dolphins lost tight end Mike Gesicki, but last season proved he wasn’t a good fit for this offense. Eric Saubert, who played for offensive coordinator Frank Smith previously, very well could be a better fit. And Tanner Conner could take a massive step forward after the undrafted rookie, a former college receiver converted to tight end by the Dolphins, spent the entire season on the 53-man roster.
Injuries played a major factor in that unit’s struggles. The unit can also be enhanced through the draft, where the Dolphins have four selections, two of which are in the second day of the draft, and with the post-draft wave of free agency, which is the equivalent of rummaging through the clearance rack trying to find a bargain.
Plenty of those bargains either live in South Florida full time, or want to call this community home, so the Dolphins have a built-in advantage there. It’s just a matter of adding the right pieces.
The offseason overhauls aren’t complete. There’s still plenty of work for every team to do, and that includes the Bills, who lost Tremaine Edmunds to the Chicago Bears in free agency, and the Jets, who still need to finalize the Rodgers trade.
But to not view Miami as a contender for the AFC East title is disrespectful, especially if Tagovailoa’s durability is the only glaring wart.
