MIAMI – The Dolphins 2017 season is finally ready to begin.
We had to wait a week because of Hurricane Irma, and the Dolphins don't play a home game in South Florida until October, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. We have football back.
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It's year two of the Adam Gase era, and somehow year one ended up in a playoff berth. This, despite a 1-4 start and a late season injury to starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Fast forward to this season and Tannehill never did get his knee right, and now Jay Cutler is out of retirement to be the Dolphins starting QB. Only in Dolphins-land can this story be true.
Cutler is the definition of a streaky quarterback. When he's on, he looks like one of the best QB's in the league. When he's off, he looks like he should be retired and in the television booth.
Given the options Miami had post-Tannehill injury, the Dolphins are fortunate Cutler fell into their laps. If his consistent? No. But, he is a long time NFL starter who's had success with Gase. Cutler should be the least of Miami's concerns, if you can believe that.
The Dolphins still have a lot of the same questions entering this season than they ended last season with.
Can the offensive line pass protect and give their QB time, and can the defense stop anyone?
Gase's quick pass system should help Cutler stay on his feet, especially with the Phins trio of talented wide receivers. If that o-line doesn't protect Cutler, it could be a mess of turnovers for one of the most turnover prone QB's in the league.
Miami will look to ride Jay Ajayi early and often, and I think he's more than up for the task. Ajayi is the real deal. He just needs to remain healthy.
The defense is where the real issues are for this team. They weren't just bad in 2016. They were, at times, historically bad. In theory, it's hard for them to be much worse, and remember, somehow they made the playoffs last season.
I still have major questions at linebacker, and the secondary appears prone to allowing big plays at any moment. It's not a good formula.
The Dolphins aren't getting any favors having to play 16 straight weeks because of Irma, including another trip to London.
The good news is the schedule is soft in the early going. Unlike last season, they have the potential to get off to a good start, despite the travel issues.
A bad start could doom this team to a 5-11, 6-10 record, but somehow I still have faith this team could have a winning record.
I really like Gase. He gets it. He knows how to deal with the players, and he deserves a ton of credit for not letting this team collapse after a 1-4 start last season.
The Dolphins margin for error is razor thin.
Will the Dolphins make the playoff this season? That may be asking a lot. I really think last season they were ahead of plan on wins and losses.
It helps that Miami is in a division where they get to play the Jets and Bills twice. They have to take advantage of those games.
One thing is for sure; this team will have few dull moments. Between a QB like Cutler who is so boom or bust, playmakers like Ajayi, Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills and a defense that can give up points in a hurry, Dolphins games will be entertaining.
Like their QB, Miami will have plenty of good, bad and ugly.
Call me a bit optimistic, but I see the Dolphins finishing 9-7.
Enjoy the season!