Kelly: Ten issues the Dolphins need to fix, FAST | Opinion
At some point desperation will set in, but for now the Miami Dolphins are seemingly staying composed despite getting off to a nightmarish 0-3 start this season.
There’s a laundry list of areas of concern, things to address that might change the season’s trajectory.
It’s not too late for the Dolphins to resurrect hope, but a loss Monday night could fuel the doubt. That’s why there’s no better time to address the problems than now.
Here’s a look at what has been working against the 2025 Dolphins.
The foundation of the roster is flawed
There was a point during the exhibition season where Miami was down to one healthy running back. Miami added the starting cornerbacks — Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones — a month before the regular season started. The offensive line features two back-end-of-the roster players — Larry Borom and Kion Smith — who are handling starting roles. This is all an example of roster mismanagement from general manager Chris Grier, who has held that role since 2016 and gained all power in 2019 because some of these problems were self-inflicted.
Teams have caught up on Mike McDaniel’s playcalling
In the first two seasons of Dolphins coach McDaniel’s tenure as head coach the Dolphins possessed one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses. Tyreek Hill flirted with becoming the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver twice (2022 and 2023). Miami had a relatively balanced offense in the first two years, but the offense has lost its big-play bite, and consistently abandons the run. Teams have backed up the safeties and crowded the middle of the field on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Miami has been unable to adjust.
Has Tua Tagovailoa’s second hip injury taken some juice off his arm?
Before his 47-yard reception against the New England Patriots, Hill hadn’t caught a pass for more than 30 yards in a full year. Considering he’s this generation’s most dynamic deep threat, and still possesses track-like speed, it’s hard to justify how limp Miami’s passing game has become without questioning whether Tagovailoa has the arm to throw downfield. The hip injury Tagovailoa sustained at Alabama, before getting drafted, extracted some velocity off his passes. So we have to wonder if the hip injury that shelved him for the season’s final two games in 2024 has further reduced the volume on his deep passes.
O-line depleted by injuries limits offense
James Daniels, the top free agent addition this offseason, started all of three snaps before Miami lost him to a pectoral injury, and Austin Jackson re-aggravated his left foot injury, getting placed on injured reserve. That forced Borom into the starting lineup, and the Dolphins have Smith and Daniel Brunskill competing for the starting right guard spot after Smith was benched in the second half of the Bills loss last week. Having Tagovailoa’s blind side compromised by substandard protection isn’t ideal because it forces the quarterback to rush his process.
Defensive front is struggling versus the run
The Dolphins lost an 18-year NFL veteran in Calais Campbell who has probably forgotten more football than his replacements (Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers) collectively know. The Cardinals, the team Campbell left the Dolphins for as a free agent, have the fourth-best run defense in the NFL (allowing 76.3 rushing yards per game) while the Dolphins possess the fourth worst (allowing 145 rushing yards per game). This unit won’t improve until Miami’s rookie defensive linemen improve, becoming more stout against the run, or Miami ads a veteran defensive lineman (say Christian Wilkins).
Defense hasn’t produced a turnover
Miami is one of three teams that hasn’t recovered a turnover this season, with Sunday’s opponent, the New York Jets, and the Washington Commanders being the other two. The zone coverage Miami’s defense plays the majority of snaps is mainly beneficial when having effective pass rushing pressure, and that’s not the case so far this season. And it doesn’t help that the offense has consistently turned the ball over, resulting in Miami being tied with Dallas for the worst turnover differential (minus-5) at this early stage of the season.
Blitzes aren’t getting home
Through three games, the Dolphins have blitzed opposing quarterbacks more than any other team in the NFL, yet have the fewest amount of pressures. This is a complicated problem that has many factors. It doesn’t help that the secondary is allowing loose coverage, or that all three of the quarterbacks the Dolphins have played are mobile. Miami has rarely forced opposing offenses into difficult third-down snaps, which doesn’t allow defenders to pin their ears back and hunt the quarterback without fear of a run.
Offense continues to abandon the run
The Dolphins have the fourth-highest yards-per-carry average (5.17) in the NFL, but have the seventh-lowest yards per game average (89.7) heading into Week 4 games. Miami has the NFL’s fewest rushing attempts (52) after three games, but plenty of that has to do with the game situations the Dolphins find themselves in. The Dolphins would benefit from starting games on offense, possibly setting the tone of the game.
Special teams needs to tighten the screws
The Dolphins have made one special teams mistake per loss that turned the tide of the game. Against Indianapolis Matt Judon roughed the punter, negating the Colts’ only punt of the game. Miami allowed New England’s Antonio Gibson to produce a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and Zach Sieler roughed the punter against Buffalo, ending a fourth-quarter series where the Bills secured the win. If Miami’s special teams hadn’t allowed the two miscues, it’s possible they could have beaten the Patriots and Bills.
Limited production from tight ends
Last season Jonnu Smith set franchise records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns from a tight end, but Miami traded him to Pittsburgh and hoped Darren Waller, who retired in 2024, would be a suitable replacement. Unfortunately, he has been shelved the past three games because of a hip injury and Julian Hill and Tanner Connor have collectively contributed four receptions for 29 yards. A productive pass-catching tight end often serves as the safety valve for quarterbacks looking for first-down conversions.
This story was originally published September 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM.
