2013 Miami Preview | Predictions
The last time the Dolphins made it to the playoffs was in 2008 when they went 11-5 and won the AFC East. What made that season so impressive was the fact that they only won one game the year before.
2013 Dolphins Futures
- Super Bowl Odds: 40/1
- AFC Conference Odds: 18/1
- AFC East Odds: +325
- NFL Regular Season Wins: Over 8 (+100) Under 8 (-130)
2013 Dolphins Predictions:
- Place they’ll finish in AFC East: 2nd
- Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 6th
- [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Since that dramatic turnaround, this team has been consistently average with a 7-9 record in 2010 and 2012 sandwiched around six wins in 2011.
Joe Philbin took over as head coach in 2012 and while he appears to have Miami moving in the right direction, this could be a make or break season given that the expectation level has been dialed-up pretty high. One of the biggest keys to turning the corner with a winning season will be the continued development of second-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
He was one of five rookies in the NFL that was named its team’s starter for the 2012 season. He did not have the kind of success like Andrew Luck did with Indianapolis in the AFC; however he did show some flashes of brilliance that has Dolphins’ fans encouraged that he can develop into the franchise quarterback that this team has been missing since Dan Marino ran the offense.
To help his cause, the Dolphins signed free agent wider receiver Mike Wallace this offseason to add a legitimate threat to a passing game that was ranked 26th in the NFL last year. Reggie Bush is now in Detroit, so it will be up to Lamar Miller and Daniel Thomas to fill the void in the running game.
The biggest hole to fill on this side of the ball is up front with the loss of All-Pro lineman Jake Long, which is easier said than done. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Miami’s defense continues to improve, but it was still ranked 21st in the league in yards allowed and 27th against the pass.
That could be part of the reason it decided to trade up in the draft to select lineman/linebacker Dion Jordan from Oregon with the third overall pick. Many saw this as a risky move, spending that much on a pass rushing specialist, but Philbin will be considered a genius if Jordan can play to his ability at the next level.
The Dolphins used a second and third round pick to draft cornerbacks and added some depth to the linebacking corps by taking Jelani Jenkins in the fourth round.
Looking at the projected win total for this team, some of the early enthusiasm for a winning record has fallen off with a money line that now favors the UNDER on eight wins.
While they would need a number of breaks to fall their way, I still see the Dolphins winning nine games this season in a somewhat watered-down AFC (after Denver and New England) which will be enough to make a return to the playoffs as the final wildcard team.
With NFL Preseason Week 3 games here Cappers Picks NFL Football handicappers have been hard at work putting out the team by team Football Predictions and NFL Season Previews for those of us who can’t wait.
Bet on the Super Bowl XLVIII winner, plus 2013 Conference and Divisional winners today.
