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× JOSH ROSEN BECOMES THE FRANCHISE
QUARTERBACK. Miami has little talent
around the 2018 first-round pick, but it’s
more than Rosen had in Arizona, where
he floundered as a rookie behind the NFL’s
worst (and most injury-riddled) offensive
line. When comfortable,
Rosen is a rhythmic, pre-
cision passer. That’s the
style of quarterbacking pro
football is built on, and it’s
a prerequisite in first-time
coordinator Chad O’Shea’s
system, which mimics
the one he learned as the
receivers coach in New
England for 10 years. Rosen
has a bumpy ride this sea-
son, but the Dolphins come
away thinking that once
they find more dependable
wideouts (veteran Kenny Stills is their
only one), a pure slot receiver (Albert Wil-
son is serviceable but not quite ideal) and
stronger O-linemen, Rosen will emerge.
× KENYAN DRAKE DISAPPOINTS. Fans
have high hopes for Drake , a deceptively
smooth runner and effective receiver
who draws comparisons with James
White. Indeed, Drake is dangerous,but not as re- l iable or
refined as the Patriots’
pass-catching tailback. A good chunk
of Drake’s touches go to 2018 fourth-
rounder Kalen Ballage.
× THE DEFENSE STRUGGLES. It won’t be
as bad as last year, when Dolphins op-
ponents produced more big plays than
Broadway. New coach Brian Flores,
the former New England coordinator,
replaces the old regime’s zone-based
scheme with a Patriots-style system that
is heavy on single-high man coverage.
But the transition is rough, as most of the
holdover personnel are suited to the old
scheme. Linebacker is the
shakiest position. Young in-
cumbents Raekwon McMil-
lan and Jerome Baker, and
especially undisciplined
veteran Kiko Alonso, are
run-and-chase ’backers
in a system that favors
thumpers.
× FLORES ADJUSTS. Instead
of forcing his defensive,
predominantly man-to-man
scheme upon personnel
mostly better suited to a
zone, Flores employs more
basic Cover 3 looks, particularly early on.
He gradually becomes more comfortable
with his safeties, especially second-year
Swiss army knife Minkah Fitzpatrick .
The coach phases in more man cov-
erage, taking his chances at corner,
where the Dolphins, beyond playmaker
Xavien Howard, are not particularly deep
or diverse.WHAT LIES AHEAD
These Dolphins are rebuilding, but they are not tanking, and a difficult season
will be made brighter when they pull off a few upset wins behind their new quarterback.WeaknessSI’S 2019
PREDICTION
4 – 12
2018 RECORD 7– 9
SEP T. 8
VS. BAL
SEP T. 15
VS. NE
SEP T. 22
@ DAL
SEP T. 2 9
VS. LAC
OC T. 6
BYE
OC T. 1 3
VS. WAS
OC T. 2 0
@ BUF
OC T. 28
@ PIT
NOV. 3
VS. N YJ
NOV. 10
@ IND
NOV. 17
VS. BUF
NOV. 24
@ CLE
DEC. 1
VS. PHI
DEC. 8
@ N YJ
DEC. 15
@ NYG
DEC. 22
VS. CIN
DEC. 29
@ NE
POSITION
RANKINGS
QB
27
RB
29
WR/TE
25
OL
25
FRONT 7
31
DB
24
AN
DY
LYO
NS
/GE
TTY
(^) IM
AGE
S (^) (D
RA
KE)
; (^) M
ICH
AEL
(^) RE
AV
ES/
GET
TY
IMA
GES