The Miami Dolphins have a talented roster ready to make an impact in the 2021 NFL season. But who are their key ‘Olympic Podium’ players?
The Miami Dolphins enter the 2021 NFL season full of optimism for the year ahead. As the only AFC team with a winning record to not make the playoffs, they should be confident in their ability to bridge that small gap in the coming months.
The front office has added key pieces in the offseason through both trades and the draft to improve their weaknesses. Most notably, their receiving corps has received upgrades in free agent Will Fuller and top draft prospect Jaylen Waddle.
With a defense that is among the league’s best units and offensive weaponry across the board, the Miami Dolphins will be an outside bet for AFC East glory. Key players will need to produce their best when it matters to make this come true. But who are the most important players on the roster?
With just over a month to go before Week 1, we highlight the most important players using another major sporting event taking place this year. The 2021 Tokyo Olympics finally got underway after much delay and the world’s best amateur athletes will compete to take home gold for their nation.
Which players on the Dolphins’ roster would rank highest on the podium with as a medalist for the team’s needs? We take a look.
3. Bronze Medal: Tua Tagovailoa, QB
Tua Tagovailoa entered the NFL with a huge amount of hype and expectation. After leading an Alabama offense that was electric, the wider league audience expected huge things.
Instead, Tua turned in a fairly typical rookie season. He showed signs of great promise but he struggled to read NFL defenses and familiarize himself with his new offensive scheme. He had a 7-3 record as a starter but lost the key game of the season against the Buffalo Bills, 56-26. The then-rookie threw five interceptions across the season but three of them came in the aforementioned horror show against the Bills.
Still, there should be huge positivity in the organisation surrounding their young quarterback. His five interceptions came from 290 pass attempts with a rate of only 1.72 percent, the second-lowest season figure in Dolphins’ history. He threw for 1,810 yards while playing only a slight majority (53 percent) of offensive snaps. The Dolphins’ tight ends collectively had a receiving total of 1,061 yards, a franchise record. His aggression and confidence in taking on opposing defenses was evident in every play.
If Tua focuses on his deficiencies over the offseason and comes into 2021 with a greater familiarity with his offensive scheme, he is destined to be a future star. He deserves his “bronze medal” rating of importance amongst his peers.