Listen Now! Miami Dolphins have high hopes despite injury to big offseason acquisition
The AFC East may be the most closely contested division in the NFL in 2023.
The Buffalo Bills head into the season as Vegas’ odds on favorites to come out on top. Not far behind are the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. The New England Patriots have the longest shot, based on oddsmakers.
If you ask anyone in South Florida, they believe the Dolphins’ chances to win the division, or at least nab a wild card spot, are really good.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they’ve already lost their highly-decorated offseason acquisition when cornerback Jalen Ramsey suffered a knee injury on the second day of camp.
Previous podcasts:
Jacked in Jacksonville: Jaguars prepare for season with have high expectations, looming questions
Tough topics: Sports columnist discusses transgender athletes, sportswashing, pickleball, more
Moving on up: UCF is finally in a Power 5 conference; will they prove they belong this year?
Still, with Xavien Howard, Jevon Holland and Bradley Chubb, among others, leading a talented defense, they might be able to absorb the loss.
What it really comes down to is the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
When he was healthy and able to start in 2022, he was 5-2.
His concussion was one of the scariest and most notable moments of the 2022 season.
In the time since, he’s worked to strengthen his neck and shoulder muscles while taking jiu-jitsu to learn how to fall better. He’s also sporting a new helmet that claims to cut down on the possibility of a concussion.
If he can stay in the game, the Dolphins could have one of the most explosive offense in the league. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both had monster years in 2022 despite rotating through three different quarterbacks.
There’s also still the possibility that running back Dalvin Cook could join the team.
There’s a lot of variables heading into the 2023 season.
One person who’s been on top of the Dolphins every step of the way, including as training camp has rolled on over the past few weeks, is Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.
Joe’s covered the Dolphins for more than a decade and he is the latest guest on “The *State* of Florida Sports Podcast.”
Joe will discuss Tua and the things he’s doing to stay upright.
"There's been some debate about whether or not he's better being nimble and agile or being thicker, and I think Tua decided he's better off being thicker and that's what he is," Joe says during the podcast. "He did some neck strengthening exercises in the offseason too, which could be helpful, but the truth of the matter is it just needs to get rid of the football in a more timely fashion."
He also talks about Tua’s protectors, and offensive line that hasn’t exactly been top-of-the-line over the past few seasons.
In addition, Joe will give us the latest updates on Ramsey, who underwent knee surgery last week.
"Ramsey is talking about returning late in the season ... but the Dolphins certainly aren't gonna rush Ramsey back," Joe says. "And of course, it's the Dolphins' luck. Ramsey is a guy who's been healthy throughout his career, and of course he gets injured on the first or second practice that he's ever put on the aqua and orange, so certainly a big challenge for the new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio."
He’ll also tell us if he sees the Dolphins bringing in Cook, or any other free agents, before the season gets going.
And we’ll get his season predictions on how things will go for the Dolphins.
If you love the Dolphins, the NFL or the top-notch reporting by Joe Schad, you have to listen to this podcast.
Join the legions of listeners who have downloaded us and find out why we give you the best sports breakdowns in the state.
We can be downloaded wherever you listen to podcasts, or simply type in “The *State* of Florida Sports Podcast” into your favorite search engine. We also can be found on any of the 17 USA TODAY-Network Florida websites.
If you like it, you can check out previous shows, which feature current and former professional athletes and coaches, as well as our stable of journalists who cover beats and write columns, all of whom have a tie to the Sunshine State.
Contact Walters at twalters@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Podcast looks at Dolphins camp with beat writer Joe Schad
