The Miami Dolphins completed their second season under head coach Mike McDaniel with an 11-6 regular-season record and a wild-card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs to end their playoff hopes.
While Miami may not have accomplished everything they would’ve liked to in 2023, they still did have some impressive showings up and down both the roster and coaching staff.
As we reflect on the year that was, let’s take a quick look at four things that went right for the Dolphins during their 2023 campaign.
QB Tua Tagovailoa playing all 17 games
There were real questions about Tagovailoa ever stepping on a football field again after his 2022 season ended early due to multiple concussions. Not only did the former first-round pick return, but he also had the best year of his young career.
Starting all 17 regular-season games, Tagovailoa recorded career highs in completion percentage (69.3%), touchdowns (29) and passing yards (4,624).
The 25-year-old still has plenty of questions to answer, but whether he can stay healthy for a full season is no longer one of them.
Relying on Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane
Miami re-signed their entire running back room from 2022, drafted one from Texas A&M in the third round and signed an undrafted free agent from BYU after the selection process ended.
All of that culminated in the league’s sixth-best rushing attack (132.4 yards per game).
The duo of Mostert and Achane combined for 1,812 yards and 26 touchdowns on 5.8 yards per carry. They also added another 372 yards and six scores on 52 receptions.
Their dominance can’t be overstated, and as long as both are healthy next year, Miami shouldn’t have to worry about their rushing attack.
WR Tyreek Hill's dominance
It didn’t matter that Hill was banged up all season, he continued to put on a show each and every time he stepped on the field.
While he ultimately came up short of his 2,000-yard goal, The Cheetah still put up 119 receptions, 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns in a phenomenal season. And, he did all of that while playing just 63.3% of the team’s offensive snaps.
Through two seasons, there hasn’t been any dropoff in his numbers from his time in Kansas City. In fact, his 2023 season saw him set or tie career highs in receptions and yards, and he’s only scored more than 13 touchdowns once (2020 with the Chiefs).
Hiring OL Butch Barry
The Dolphins have struggled to find consistency at the offensive line coach position for a decade. Over the last nine years, the unit has had 10 different coaches, but it looks like they may have found one to stick.
Despite all of the injuries to the group (Terron Armstead missed seven games, Isaiah Wynn missed 10 games, Connor Williams missed eight games, Robert Hunt missed six games and Austin Jackson missed one game) things didn’t look horrible up front.
The patchwork offensive line helped Miami be the sixth-best rushing attack and allowed Tagovailoa to be sacked at the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL.
Barry’s work with this group is impressive and deserves to be praised.
