Dolphins are intelligent creatures that have a playful nature about them. There is something that feels harmless and peaceful about them. Research indicates that they tend to travel in groups of 12, although for the sake of this story, that is too many men on the field.
But the problem with dolphins, or most animals for that matter, is that they need to be allowed to live freely in the ocean. Now I am not a PETA apologist here, as some animals are raised in those environments, but in this case, the analogy works quite nicely.
Have you ever seen those pictures of people that have a fancy car in the driveway, but a house that is falling apart? That’s the Miami Dolphins.
An aquarium has cool exhibits, up-close-and-personal experiences that would otherwise never happen, and most importantly, the animals to fill them. The football Dolphins have cool weapons on offense like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but they play in an aquarium. They cannot roam freely. They are capped on what they can do, much like the rest of the team.
The unfortunate thing is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the reason why. His limitations have become the Dolphins limitations. Instead of thriving in the ocean, Miami’s team will need to be fed by the staff and kids on field trips from school.
Maybe it’s about time to point out that the hype is completely out of control.
Are the Dolphins being overrated?
There’s just something about change that is exciting. Whether good or bad, it always stirs up a crowd, for better or for worse. Like the addition of the smartphone to everyday life, that can be seen two ways.
Maybe you enjoy being constantly connected and all of the luxuries new age technology afford us. On the other hand, the implementation of this technology make it impossible to escape, while social media ruins all social skills and kills more and more brains with each passing day.
Well that was a rosy way of looking at things huh?
Let’s try another one. Wendy’s famous “4-for-$4” was an instant success in the fast food community. However, economic changes brought an end to the classic meal deal in favor of the “Biggie Bag,” which is essentially the same thing for a dollar more.
For the Miami Dolphins, does hiring another first time head coach finally translate to wins or does the Mike McDaniel regime become another rinse-and-repeat type situation?
There are tons of moving parts on offense, with new receivers like Hill and Cedrick Wilson joining the team alongside running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. That doesn’t even begin to factor in the pressure that new left tackle Terron Armstead must be experiencing, transforming the worst-ranked offensive line in football last season into at least an average unit.
On the defensive side of the ball, things are largely still the same, which is a good thing considering the final nine games they played in 2021. Miami ranked second in points per game, allowing only 15.6, and third in total defense, allowing only 275.9 yards per game.
With that being said, does the changeover on offense combined with a stagnant defense really equate to a big season like the popular belief seems to be?
The Dolphins through the betting lens
Tagovailoa is listed at +6000 on FanDuel to win the NFL MVP award. Now unfortunately for him, he probably won’t be the MVP of his own team, let alone the league as whole. That instead will go to Armstead and although you can’t bet on that, it’s a great pick anyway. Offensive lines can make or break a season and with his veteran leadership, plus talent, Armstead becomes a vital player in the Miami offense.
On defense, Christian Wilkins will continue to be a force on the defensive line, aiming to build off an 89 tackle season which saw him finish tied for the league lead at the defensive tackle position. The big personality and fan favorite has seen his production increase after each year, leading us to believe that he will surpass the 4.5 sacks he totaled in 2021.
Sadly there are no futures bets available, but perhaps Wilkins can be a fixture in your weekly prop betting.
BetBasics Best Bet
The Dolphins might be overrated, but it’s unlikely that they are bad. Surely they can manage at least nine wins after somehow making it to that total last year. DraftKings is being ever so kind to us and granting us a +100 on the over nine wins. This is a big deal because PointsBet is -140 for the over 8.5, so there’s some value to be had if you believe they can eek out a 10th win. Worst comes to worst, DraftKings’ bet will settle as a push, meaning you’ll get your money back, if they finish with exactly nine wins.
Here’s a bonus pick too. McDaniel’s team is unlikely to have two 1,000 yard receivers. Whether that is because of injury, Tagovailoa’s deficiencies, or even just a run heavy scheme, I highly doubt both Hill and Waddle go over their totals. Pick your favorite, in my case I believe it will be Waddle, and take the under 925.5 receiving yards on DraftKings. He’s already dealt with injuries this offseason and now Tua will be like a kid on a holiday morning throwing to Hill all season long.
Hype is a wild thing that more often than not gets out of control. When it builds up so much, the end result is destined to be failure. Now I’m not saying the Dolphins will fail in 2022, but expectations are fairly crazy. Betting and sports in general are about projections, predicting where things will land. However, Tagovailoa hasn’t shown me anything to this point that instills belief in Miami.
In this case, I’ll need to see it before I can believe it. Would Hill really feel the need to praise his quarterback in the media every chance he gets if the Dolphins signal caller was really that impressive? At this point it comes off as a guy that wishes he could get back with an ex.
No matter what though, as always, the party is on in Miami, but probably not for the Dolphins who are still stuck in the aquarium.