Media has built the 2023 Phins up all offseason… Are they about to tear them down?
The Miami Dolphins have pushed their chips into the pot for this upcoming season to have a ‘legit shot’ at the Super Bowl. We’ve been told all offseason that they will be a very good team. Then this Training Camp there was said to be a different vibe and the hype grew louder. Even the pay per head services had high expectations ranking the Phins tied for 9th best odds to win the Super Bowl at +2200, which is the best we have seen in many, many years. But many in the media who were reporting ‘special mojo’ over the last couple of weeks are now starting to chirp about ‘concerns’.
What’s the deal? Where are the Dolphins really?
In the end, it doesn’t matter what the fans think or the media reports. Ultimately, all that really matters is what the Dolphins team believes and what they do on gameday.
Hype trains always teeter on the edge of derailment
The bulk of the Dolphins success in 2023 starts and ends with our young QB Tua. This a prime moment because he is still on his rookie deal for 2023, which is why the Dolphins were able to max out the rest of their salary cap by paying and trading for talents such as Hill, Ramsey, Armstead, and Chubb. However, the Dolphins have already picked up Tua’s fifth-year option that is just over $23 million for the 2024 season, so the Phins won’t be able to afford all their other high-priced players in 2024. This is one of many reasons why this is a make-or-break year for this franchise.
Training camp didn’t start out well with one of our high-priced acquisitions in Ramsey getting injured. But Tua showed that his confidence was at an all-time high after gaining 10 pounds of muscle and looking settled in his second year in Mcdaniels’ offense.
The rest of the organization seemed to take notice and the regime seemed to back him for the first time completely. This a great change from previous years where he was constantly being questioned and second guessed as the franchise QB of this team or even starter of this team.
The biggest question for most of the offseason was can he stay healthy and how good can this offense and team be if he can beat the injury bug?
It made sense after all, Miami was 9-1 in the first 10 games Tua started last year. With most of last year’s team returning, the talent on this team is now arguably one of the more talented rosters in the entire league. So, with all these big-time players on both sides of the ball, if Tua can continue his upward trajectory and of course stay healthy it is fair to say he can be a true MVP candidate!
Right?
Media is a two-sided coin, and they choose when to flip
With Waddle and Cam Smith getting injured, the offensive line struggling, and a poor showing against the Falcons as a backdrop to Tua’s worst day of practice on Sunday, the media has started to hint at troubles ahead more and more.
Their word isn’t gospel… but neither should it be dismissed.
Now I’m not saying the 2023 Miami Dolphins are fine or in trouble. I’m simply saying let’s give this thing some time. Let’s at least see the 1st stringers for a drive or two in a preseason game, or better yet a few Regular Season games before we proclaim Tua or the 2023 Dolphins are this or that.
There’s no doubt that we Phins fans are hungry and desperate. This is as critical and hopeful season as we Dolphins’ fans have had for a long time. I know it’s hard to be patient to wait and see what this team is really made of come the Regular Season! But you never know, maybe this 2023 Dolphins team will surprise us and deliver big! Crazier things have happened you know!