Dolphins 2022 midseason superlatives: The best and worst after 9 games
At the halfway point of the 2022 NFL season, the Dolphins are 6-3 and third place in the AFC East behind the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa starting and finishing games, the Dolphins are 6-0 and currently on a three-game winning streak after his return from a concussion.
The Dolphins will host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday before a Week 11 bye and a tough December slate that includes three consecutive games on the road. As the Dolphins enter the second half of their schedule, here is the best and worst from the first half of the 2022 season:
Offensive MVP
Tua Tagovailoa: A strong case could be made for wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who has recorded the most receiving yards in the first nine games of a season and is on pace for the first 2,000-yard season in NFL history. Hill putting up these numbers with three quarterbacks makes it even more impressive.
However, the Dolphins’ 6-0 record with Tagovailoa starting and finishing games can’t be ignored. The third-year quarterback has blossomed alongside first-year head coach Mike McDaniel. Tagovailoa ranks first in passer rating (115.9), ESPN’s all-encompassing QBR metric (79.9), yards per attempt (9.2) and touchdown percentage (6.9 percent).
Defensive MVP
Jevon Holland: It’s hard to pick from a defense that brought back all their major contributors but has underachieved. Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins has probably been the most consistent but lacks the splash plays. Jaelan Phillips has come on strong as of late. But Holland gets the nod here. In his second season, Holland leads the team in interceptions (two), pass breakups (five) and is tied for second on the team in tackles (50). He has mainly roamed the secondary as a free safety, but the season-ending ACL injury to Brandon Jones has led to an increase in snaps closer to the line of scrimmage for Holland. This could allow him to showcase his skill set as a blitzer more, just as he did as a rookie.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
N/A: The Dolphins haven’t had an offensive rookie contribute enough to merit this award. Seventh-round quarterback Skylar Thompson filled in for Teddy Bridgewater against the Jets and then made his first career start against the Minnesota Vikings but quickly left the game with a right thumb injury.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Braylon Sanders made his NFL debut against the Detroit Lions and caught two passes but fumbled on his first career reception. Fourth-round wide receiver Erik Ezukanma has been a healthy scratch for all nine games.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Kader Kohou: In the span of a few weeks, Kohou went from an undrafted feel-good story to one of the defense’s more important players. With season-ending injuries to Nik Needham and Trill Williams, as well as Byron Jones remaining on the physically-unable-to-perform list, Kohou has stepped into a starting corner role opposite Xavien Howard. Kohou, a reliable tackler and sticky in coverage, is the latest undrafted defensive back find for coordinator Josh Boyer.
Most positive development
Tagovailoa’s growth in Year 3: Despite a tumultuous sophomore season for Tagovailoa, Dolphins brass stuck with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 Draft. They paired Tagovailoa with a coach in McDaniel who has embraced him and instilled an offensive sceheme that accentuates his talents. The combination of Hill and Jaylen Waddle, along with better protection and a more consistent running game have allowed come into his own as player. The work Tagovailoa put in in the offseason has also paid dividends and now he looks like one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.
Most disappointing development
The regression of the defense: The Dolphins opted to retain the core of their 2021 defense, along with Boyer, hopeful that the strong second-half finish resembled the unit more. However, the defense has struggled to recapture that form, ranking in the bottom-half of the league in points allowed per game and yards allowed per game. Injuries have been impactful but the defense is facing many of the same issues as the first half of 2021: lack of pass rush, third-down struggles and missed tackles. With the offense starting to take off, a turnaround on defense could be the key to a playoff appearance - and deep playoff run for the Dolphins.
Best offseason move
Trading for Hill: The price to get Hill — a package of five picks and a $120 million extension — was hefty but worth it. After starring in explosive Chiefs offenses for years, Hill has taken it to another level in Miami, on a record-setting pace. He has transformed the Dolphins offense, seemingly unguardable weekly, and likely on his way to NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors if he maintains his production.
Worst offseason move
Not stocking enough CB depth: This is a bit of 50-50 hindsight, as the expectation was that Byron Jones would have returned to the lineup by now. And the Dolphins couldn’t have foreseen season-ending injuries to not only Needham but Williams and Mackensie Alexander. However, the Dolphins saw how injuries to their top corners played a role in their 1-7 start last season and would have been wise to allocate more cap room — or one of their four remaining 2022 Draft picks — to another cornerback.
Predicted 2022 finish
10-7: The Dolphins are right on track with the Miami Herald’s preseason prediction of 6-3 after nine games but probably more impressive than most expected. Miami’s offense looks as formidable as any in the league but the defense is concerning, despite stepping up with key stops late. The Dolphins have the look of a dangerous wild-card team and could possibly even win the AFC East with some big division victories in the second half of the season.
This story was originally published November 7, 2022 at 5:47 PM.
