The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 season got here to a disappointing finish as they didn’t qualify for the playoffs regardless of enormous preseason expectations. The main focus for the crew needs to be determining what went unsuitable, how it may be mounted, and what adjustments have to be made through the 2025 offseason. Who starred, who’s growing, and who disillusioned?
Miami has to reply a variety of questions. Who was their “secret famous person” this 12 months. Professional Soccer Focus launched their record of “unheralded stars who fly below the radar” on Wednesday. Bradley Lockler put collectively a listing of 1 participant from every crew who qualify for his record based mostly on “how good their seasons have been relative to the broader dialogue.”
I feel he received it unsuitable for the Dolphins.
Not due to how the participant performed, however as a result of it’s exhausting to say his choice was “below the radar.”
Lockler chosen defensive deal with Calais Campbell as Miami’s secret famous person. He defined the decide, writing:
The Dolphins could possibly be one of many poster youngsters for a crew chock-full of underrated gamers, leaving this a tricky choice. It’s exhausting to go unsuitable with Campbell, who was nonetheless terrific at 38. His 85.9 PFF run-defense grade ranked twentieth amongst certified defenders, and he complemented it with a ten.8% pass-rush win price and 39 pressures. Down Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips for many of 2024, the Dolphins relied on Campbell to defeat blocks as greater than a stopgap signing.
I feel the true motive Lockler picked Campbell was merely his age. Sure, at 38, Campbell is exceeding all expectations, and I’m hopeful he’s again subsequent 12 months with the Dolphins. He is a good participant, however calling a six-time Professional Bowl, member of the NFL All-Decade crew for the 2010s, and a future Corridor of Fame participant as a “secret” appears off.
If Campbell is Miami’s secret famous person, I nominate 5 different gamers because the “super-secret superstars” for the 2024 Dolphins:
2024 Miami Dolphins “Tremendous-Secret Superstars”
5. Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker
For Ogbah, even his place is listed incorrectly. The Dolphins name him a linebacker, however he was a hand-in-the-dirt defensive finish for rather more of this season. If Ogbah was on the sphere (and even when he was not), Miami regarded much more 4-3 than they did in a standard 3-4 set. Ogbah’s profession with the Dolphins appeared effectively over after his 2023 season, the place he made one begin in 15 appearances and appeared like a forgotten member of the protection below Vic Fangio. With Anthony Walker now the defensive coordinator and Ogbah returning as a late addition to the crew, he offered a spark as a cross rusher. He totaled simply 5 sacks on the 12 months, however he positively appeared to be a key participant – particularly with the in-season harm to Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb lacking your complete 12 months.
4. De’Von Achane, working again
I debated whether or not or to not embody Achane, as a result of he appears to be extra of a family title than among the others on the record, however his play earns him a spot right here. He began 16 of the crew’s 17 video games, carrying the ball 203 occasions for 907 yards and 6 touchdowns. He additionally caught 78 passes for 592 yards and 6 touchdowns. His 281 touches have been greater than double anybody else’s on the crew and his 78 receptions have been third on the membership. His 1,499 yards from scrimmage have been almost 500 yards greater than anybody else on the crew this season. He’s listed as a working again, however he shortly grow to be extra of an offensive weapon than a working again. Heading into his third season, the expansion and evolution of Achane can be one thing to look at.
3. Jordyn Brooks, linebacker
Miami signed Brooks as a free agent in March, including the previous first-round decide from the Seattle Seahawks. The crew primarily traded linebackers with the Seahawks, who signed Jerome Baker, the Dolphins former third-round decide. Baker was traded to the Tennessee Titans through the season, whereas Brooks cemented himself into the Miami protection. Beginning all 17 video games, Brooks recorded 143 tackles, three aks, six passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries. He completed tenth within the league in tackles, and he was a stable presence in the course of the protection all year long.
2. Jonnu Smith, tight finish
Two years in the past, Smith was coming off two unhealthy years with the New England Patriots, the place he simply by no means appeared to suit the offensive scheme. The previous third-round decide by the Tennessee Titans joined the Atlanta Falcons to revive his profession. He caught 50 passes for 582 yards and three touchdowns with the Falcons, however was launched after the season. With head coach Mike McDaniel saying through the offseason that the following evolution of his offense is the tight finish place, the Dolphins added Smith on a two-year contract. He rewarded the crew with profession highs in catches (88), yards (884), and touchdowns (8). Smith ought to be a Professional Bowl participant this 12 months and is unquestionably a “super-secret famous person” at this level.
1. Zach Sieler, defensive deal with
At this level, it seems like persons are purposely ignoring Sieler. The previous seventh-round decide by the Baltimore Ravens, Sieler has grow to be a harmful power in the course of the Dolphins’ line of defense. He backed up 2023’s 10-sack season with a second-consecutive 10-sack efficiency this 12 months – the one defensive deal with to achieve double-digit sacks every of the final two years. The final time Miami had a participant with 10 or extra sacks in two straight seasons was Cameron Wake. It looks as if, every time the Dolphins want a play, Sieler is the man who’s going to get it accomplished. Sieler was named the crew MVP this 12 months – he’s clearly a famous person to the Dolphins and the followers. Now the NFL must take discover of him.
