The noise around the team is getting louder and louder
Starting with Tua, the Miami Dolphins must be laser-focused on the challenges and goals they have for this upcoming season. And the noise that’s rising steadily, but surely, around this team must be ignored or it will become a distraction to get them off track. It seems more and more that every little negative moment gets magnified and becomes a story of possible problems. As an example, today Tua ended the Texans’ practice with a pick 6 and it was a story of concern because Tua has had a few interceptions over the last couple of days.
I’m not saying this is great news, but players experiment in practice and coaches experiment in practice, so you’ll get moments like this. But, this fixation on every little negative moment is starting to fuel a narrative that will increase the challenge. And given the schedule the Phins have, they don’t need even an extra drop of challenge.
Unfortunately, the Dolphins can’t directly control what is said, so they must produce good results no matter what the narrative is. This is why the 2023 Dolphins must keep their eye on the ball like never before and change the narrative by how they produce on the field. And starting to show that laser-focus this preseason game against the Texans would be a great start.
AFC East will be a brutal battle for supremacy
This season the Dolphins can’t come out slow or get lost in a string of losses because both the challenges and expectations for this team are sky-high. Come what may, the Phins must make good this season! And if we have learned anything this offseason, the media will flip the switch at the drop of a hat. And, in all fairness to the media and the fans, if the Dolphins do lay a big egg this season, a harsh and negative narrative will be warranted. But, we are a long, long way from there.
This is why all the talk of the Phins dominating early in the offseason made me nervous. The AFC is loaded and all four teams will be tough outs. You can bet with the best pay per head on that.
The Bills are the reigning champs, have Josh Allen, and have had 4 consecutive seasons of double-digit wins. You can’t be the division champs unless you beat the champs.
The Jets now have future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers, a stud young wide-receiver, deep running back group that now includes Dalvin Cook, to go along with a stout defense.
Then there are the Patriots, who may not have as talented a roster as the other AFC teams, but they still have Belichick as the head coach, which means you can never count them out. As we saw last year, their defense can make them a tough out and have them hanging around late in the season.
That’s nearly half the schedule where Miami will have to be at their best to get the “W”. Division opponents are always tough… and that much tougher when they have a competent roster. I’ve been prepared for a knockdown, drag-out brawl to win the division and it’s looking more than ever that’s what it will be.
Good. It will make the victory, if we get it, that much sweeter!
Phins must be at their best with the best chance they’ve had in decades
With only 17 regular season games, football has very little room for error. This team has enough to win and win big, but this is a time for practice and experimentation. So, maybe we wait and see how the starters do together in the preseason game on Saturday before we start writing the 2023 Phins obituary. Go Phins!!!