Dolphins’ 2023 midseason superlatives: The best and worst after 9 games

With an electric offense and defensive upgrades, the Dolphins entered the 2023 season as a dark horse candidate to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Miami has shown glimpses of being an elite team with the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense and a steadily improving defense but has struggled against top-tier competition.

The Dolphins’ bye week just so happens to be at the halfway point of the regular season and at 6-3 and in first place in the AFC East, Miami has put itself in a good position to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The team will host the Las Vegas Raiders after the bye week, one of five home games in the second half of the season.

With the Dolphins off this week, here are the best and worst from the first half of the 2023 season.

OFFENSIVE MVP

▪ Tua Tagovailoa: The unprecedented accomplishments of wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is on pace to break the single-season receiving record and have the league’s first 2,000-yard season, have rightfully put him in consideration for the Most Valuable Player Award. No non-quarterback impacts the game as much as Hill with his speed and the attention he garners from the opposing defense.

However, the Dolphins’ offensive success starts with Tagovailoa, whose continued mastery of the scheme has helped take the unit to new heights in 2023. Tagovailoa leads the NFL in passing yards, touchdown passes and quarterback rating and is still in the mix for the MVP award.

DEFENSIVE MVP

▪ Bradley Chubb: Inside linebacker David Long Jr. has come on strong in recent weeks, showing the versatility that made him an ideal running mate with Jerome Baker. However, Chubb has been playing his best ball since last season’s trade deadline deal. He leads the Dolphins with six sacks and is tied for sixth in ESPN’s pass rush win rate, defined as how often a defender beats his block within 2.5 seconds.

Chubb has looked more comfortable reunited with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and has resembled the elite pass rusher Miami envisioned when it gave up significant draft capital and a signed Chubb to a lucrative extension last year.

OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

▪ De’Von Achane: Achane’s role was limited in the first two games of the season because of injury, but he quickly made a name for himself, rushing for 203 yards in the team’s 70-point outburst against the Denver Broncos.

On an offense full of track stars, Achane has added a different — and more explosive — dimension to the running game. Achane doesn’t have enough carries to qualify but before a knee injury that has sidelined him for the last four games, he led the NFL in yards per carry (12.1) and ranked second in yards (460).

Achane appears poised to return after the bye for the Raiders game, which will be a boost to an offense that still ranks second in rushing yards.

DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

▪ N/A: Cam Smith is the only defensive rookie on the active roster after defensive tackle Brandon Pili was waived and re-signed to the practice squad. But Smith, the team’s top pick in the 2023 Draft, wasn’t able to carve out a role as Jalen Ramsey and Nik Needham started the season on IR and the physically-unable-to-perform list, respectively. With both back, it seems unlikely Smith sees defensive snaps the rest of the season, barring a spate of injuries to the position group.

MOST POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT

▪ Offensive line: Injuries and substandard play handicapped what was one of the league’s better offenses in 2022. And instead of making major upgrades to personnel, the Dolphins opted to stick with the same group, only inserting Isaiah Wynn at left guard. The offense line has made significant improvements and is one of the driving forces for the offense’s continued growth in 2023. Tagovailoa has been pressured a league-low 74 times and while his quick release helps, Miami’s offensive line is blocking better.

The Dolphins ranked 22nd last season in ESPN’s pass block win rate, defined as how often a unit sustains its blocks for at least 2.5 seconds but has improved to 17th this season. As for run blocking, the Dolphins have improved from 21st in ESPN’s run block win metric to sixth this season. These strides are all with Miami using five different starting combinations in eight games because of injury.

MOST DISAPPOINTING DEVELOPMENT

▪ Offense’s road struggles: For as great as the Dolphins’ offense has been this season, it’s looked more mortal away from Hard Rock Stadium. In four home games, Miami is averaging 43.5 points and 516 total yards. In its five games out of Miami Gardens, the offense is averaging 22.2 points and 370.8 total yards. Some of the Dolphins’ toughest competition so far has come on the road, but similar issues as last year, including pre▪ snap penalties and slow starts, have followed the offense in the specter of a raucous crowd. These problems only make it even more important the Dolphins win their division and can host at least one playoff game. Fortunately for Miami, five of its final eight games are at Hard Rock Stadium, where the team has won 16 of its last 18 matchups.

BEST OFFSEASON MOVE

▪ Hiring Butch Barry as offensive line coach: Much of the credit for the Dolphins’ improved line must go to new offensive line coach Butch Barry, whom head coach Mike McDaniel brought in during the offseason to replace Matt Applebaum. Under Barry’s watch, right tackle Austin Jackson is playing the best football of his young career, right guard Robert Hunt has continued to establish himself as one of the league’s best interior linemen and even Liam Eichenberg has filled in well for Connor Williams at center. Players have noted Barry’s direct and meticulous teaching has been helpful for the unit.

WORST OFFSEASON MOVE

▪ Not finding a clear-cut backup center: This might be a bit contradictory after noting Eichenberg’s work at center. But that wasn’t necessarily the Dolphins’ plan in the offseason. The team signed Dan Feeney from the New York Jets to back up Williams. But with Williams sitting out spring workouts for contract reasons and Feeney dealing with an injury, Eichenberg took snaps at center. Feeney was traded on roster cutdown day, leaving Eichenberg as the No. 2 option. And he has started four games this season as Williams has dealt with a groin injury. Eichenberg is now an option to start at left guard, though, with Robert Jones the latest offensive lineman to go down with an injury. As Hunt returns from his knee injury, the Dolphins could start Lester Cotton at left guard and keep Eichenberg in a reserve role. But it’s a precarious spot as Miami seemingly deals with an offensive line injury every week.

PREDICTED 2023 FINISH

▪ 13-4: The first half of the Dolphins’ schedule was filled with tough road matchups, including games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, and Philadelphia Eagles, along with a neutral site game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But Miami will play five of its final eight games at home, including four of its final five at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins will likely be favored in all but one remaining game — Week 17 at Baltimore — and should go on a bit of a run as they win the AFC East for the first time since 2008.