What network analysts, others are saying about Dolphins and where they belong in AFC

What analysts are saying about the Dolphins, who appear to have their most talented team in two decades:

▪ ESPN’s Louis Riddick: “I know this is a big if. But if Tua [Tagovailoa] can make it through 15, 16, 17 games, where he’s available in the postseason, Miami is winning the AFC East. Book it. This defense will make huge strides in 2023. Jalen Ramsey is going to be up there for Defensive MVP. Him and Jevon Holland will be the best defensive backfield in the NFL. Miami is winning the East. That’s it.

“We saw in the playoffs and we saw down the stretch they were very thin in the secondary as far as playmakers were concerned and they needed some help, needed some movable chess pieces to go along with the other real fine weapons they have on that side of the ball [and they got that with Ramsey].

“What do you think this defense is going to look like, especially if Vic Fangio can get the defensive front and the pass rush to really ramp it up? Bradley Chubb has to ramp it up. Jaelan Phillips has to take another step. When you put this all together, if Tua can stay healthy, this team is ready to rock and roll and make some noise in the AFC, no question about it.”

But Riddick added this: “The way in which they managed football games needs to really be watched this year. With Mike McDaniel, I’m not saying he has to run the ball 30 times a game. When he strategically and smartly runs the football, this offense is virtually unstoppable.”

Last season, the Dolphins rushed 390 times; only Tampa Bay (386) ran fewer times. McDaniel said recently that he should have run the ball more. By comparison, the Super Bowl teams (Chiefs and Eagles) ran 417 and 544 times, respectively.

The Dolphins’ 4.3 per carry average was just below average (18th), but top backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson averaged 4.9 and 4.7, respectively. So the Dolphins probably can run the ball, but they need to do it more.

▪ ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky: ”There are two elite AFC teams -- Kansas City and Cincinnati. We know those two teams are going to be great again. And then there are teams that are really, really good.

“Miami is in that group. It’s Miami, it’s Buffalo, it’s the Chargers, it’s probably Jacksonville… Baltimore if they keep Lamar Jackson. Now, we’re looking at a [Dolphins] roster that has weapons on the outside, a quarterback that played tremendous football when he was healthy. And they’ve got a defense that can help. This is a team that can be AFC title contenders. They’ve got to run the football a little bit better. [But] this is a really good roster.

“Tua will have the best season of the AFC East quarterbacks. I get [surprised] with how much people think Tua stinks. What Tua did last year was really high level. I’m banking on Tua staying healthy. At some point, you catch a health break and every fall doesn’t result in a concussion.”

▪ ESPN’s Marcus Spears: “If Tua stays healthy, this team can absolutely get to the AFC Championship with that defense and that offense. Chris Grier has done a good job. Ramsey is going to have a resurgence.”

▪ Former Eagles executive Joe Banner, now with the 33rd Team: “Miami got a very good player [with Ramsey], but they are acting like they are all in as Super Bowl contenders this year. They may be a year early on that.”

▪ Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs said simply: “Dolphins [are] loaded.”

▪ NFL Net’s Bucky Brooks: “On offense, they have two guys who can be No. 1 receivers in Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. On defense, you have Xavien Howard joining up with Jalen Ramsey, two No. 1 [corners]. And when we think about the fit in scheme, [Chargers coach] Brandon Staley was the defensive coordinator for the Rams when Jalen just got there. He put Jalen in that STAR position, let him play inside and nickel some. Each week it changed.”

Brooks said Fangio will do the same with Ramsey in Miami.

▪ ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum: “They are clearly in the go-for-it mode. The big key is Tua. He has played only 71 percent of snaps since he has been the starter. Most starters are well over 90 percent. The offensive line is going to have to be more consistent. Mike McDaniel has done a great job with Tua, in terms of getting the ball out of his hands. The biggest question about Tua is durability and that could ultimately be what separates Miami from the powers in the AFC.”

▪ Peter King: “The Dolphins are all-in for 2023. Miami will contend if Tua Tagovailoa can stay on the field most or all of the regular season. That’s a certainty. But this [Ramsey] deal is an admission the Dolphins won’t be a title team without major improvement on defense.

“The new coordinator, Vic Fangio, is piece one of the rebuild. Ramsey is an important second piece. The Dolphins in 2022 allowed 113 more points (one TD per game) than the Bills and had interceptions in just five of 17 games.”