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Fearless predictions for the 2022 Miami Dolphins season | Habib

hal habib, palm beach post
·4 min read
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MIAMI GARDENS — The Dolphins play the visiting New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon, but why wait for the opener to see how the season plays out?

Fearless predictions for 2022:

· Receiver Erik Ezukanma is listed as third team. Even on a team with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Ezukanma, will emerge as the best rookie on the team.

· Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, whom Emmanuel Ogbah calls “one of the most-hated dudes” in the NFL  because of his constant yapping, will drive one opponent helmet-swinging psycho. Luckily it’s unlikely to be Myles Garrett since they both play defense.

· Jaelan Phillips will lead the team in sacks with 14.5.

· Hill will lead the team in receiving yards with 940.

· But Waddle will lead the Dolphins in receptions with 96.

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Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill (left) and Jaylen Waddle during practice.
Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill (left) and Jaylen Waddle during practice.

Chase Edmonds should rise among running backs

· Chase Edmonds will prove to be the best threat at running back even though the carries, yards and receptions will be spread out.

· The TuAnon crowd and the Tua bashers will come together, united in the firm belief that the other side’s knowledge of football is comparable to a three-day-old cheddar chalupa.

· Dolphins players and fans will be up in arms when Jevon Holland is listed as just an alternate for the Pro Bowl. He’ll make the game anyway as a fill-in. The situation doesn’t mean Holland wasn’t initially robbed and shouldn’t have been initially voted in. It’s reflective of the fact that nationally, the football world isn’t used to paying attention to the Dolphins. That begins to change in 2022.

· Mike McDaniel will literally throw a flag at a media member for asking a five-part question during his news conference.

· NFL Films will put a mic on Jerome Baker. And his mother. And the world will be better for it.

· The Dolphins will wear throwback uniforms for the Oct. 23 Sunday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fans will clamor for them to become their full-time uniforms. Players will, too. So will (ahem) certain media members flummoxed that it hasn’t already happened. Until Stephen Ross signs off on it, it’ll never happen.

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· While on the subject of throwbacks … Some columnist (ahem) will suggest it would be cool if the Dolphins brought back the Horrible Hanky for at least the Steelers game. You know there will be Terrible Towels at Hard Rock. This shouldn’t look like a game at Acrisure/Heinz Field/Three Rivers/Forbes Field, folks.

Look for Mike Gesicki to continue catching passes

· Everyone will be reminded why catching passes is Mike Gesicki’s day job — and one he does well.

· Emmanuel Ogbah will bat down so many passes that moon balls become a thing.

Dolphins edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah bats down a pass by the Jets' Zach Wilson.
Dolphins edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah bats down a pass by the Jets' Zach Wilson.

· At least one flat screen will be destroyed when the 1,039th screaming Kevin Hart commercial airs during a game.

· The Bills will sweep the Dolphins for the third straight season. We knew Buffalo was good, but that Thursday night blowout against the Rams was off the charts. On the 50th anniversary of 17-0, members of the '72 Dolphins will sweat out this  annual toast.

· Skylar Thompson won’t play in 2022. He will be the Dolphins’ backup QB in 2023.

· Alec Ingold will make the fullback position cool again.

· Every newspaper in the market will have a mention of Conner Tanner instead of Tanner Conner. At least one will refer to Connor Williams as Conner. (Says a columnist as he checks to see which of those errors he already has made.)

· While on the subject of spelling … My iPhone’s autocorrect eventually will catch on that Terron Armstead’s first name is not “Terrible.” (Yeah, that really happened.)

· People around the league will figure out that they need to account for guard Rob Hunt even when he’s not catching passes.

· Defensive tackle Zach Sieler makes more plays than people realize. In 2022, they’ll start to realize.

· The Patriots will learn that spending three days in South Florida to get used to our September heat and humidity is three years shy of the minimum requirement.

· Not a day will pass this season when Jason Jenkins will not be greatly missed by this organization and community.

Hal Habib covers the Dolphins for The Post. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Fearless predictions for the Miami Dolphins' 2022 season