Arnav Raina ‘28
EE Staff Writer
With starting quarterback for the Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa sidelined with a concussion and backup Skylar Thompson out with a rib injury, could this be the end of the Dolphins for the 2024 season before we know it? Reports show that Tagovailoa will only be out for the next 4 weeks, but the impact of his absence might be too much for the team to handle. The Miami Dolphins currently rank last in the league in points per game, averaging a measly 11. They went from being ranked 3rd in points in 2023 to currently trailing teams like the Giants, Jaguars, and Patriots.
The trouble started in Week 3 when Skylar Thompson stepped in as the starter, managing to put up an underwhelming 3 points to the Seattle Seahawks defense ranked 17th overall according to ESPN. This is especially concerning considering this is the 2nd game in which eight-time Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill has recorded 40 or fewer receiving yards. Hill had an impressive Week 1 to start the season, racking up 130 yards off 7 catches including an 80-yard touchdown. For being one of the fastest players in the NFL and having the nickname, Cheetah, Hill’s production has started to slow down.
Heading into Week 4, things are only bound to get worse. Now with Thompson out with an injury, it is up to third-stringer Tim Boyle to bring this team back to the headlines. Boyle’s brief appearance near the end of Week 3 showcased his skills, and it wasn’t pretty. He was only able to complete 7/13 of his passes for 79 yards. For an explosive offense involving the Blur Brothers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, alongside elite running back De’Von Achane, getting into the end zone should be easy. Hill was voted as the #1 player in the 2023-2024 NFL Season by his peers. Being above superstars like 3-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes or 2-time MVP Lamar Jackson says a lot about his talent. So the answers to all their struggles start with one player: their quarterback.
The obvious solution to this would be to bring in a better quarterback. Veterans like Ryan Tannehill or promising young talent like Bryce Young could be what it takes to turn this team around. Although Tannehill is at the age of 36, his familiarity as a formal Dolphin would be better than Boyle who has only played in 21 games over a six year span. On the other hand, a trade to acquire Young isn’t a horrible idea either. Despite being recently benched in Carolina, Young was the #1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which displays the potential he has. Being on a struggling Panthers offense, which went 2-15 his rookie year, there wasn’t much for him to contribute. The situation Young was placed in wasn’t ideal for his growth into the NFL. However, trading him to this talented Miami offense might just be the solution for him to flourish.
The current situation in Miami is uncertain and projected to get worse. Without swift changes from the front office, this team’s promising season could wash away. Without a competent quarterback, they are on track to go 6-11 and miss the playoffs entirely. With the right changes, they can turn into the playoff contenders we saw last year, maybe even better. Who knows? Time will tell.
Photo courtesy: NewsNationNow.com