Miami Dolphins Betting – Henne Can’t Take Dolphins To The Playoffs
Miami’s online betting chances for the upcoming season is on the shoulders of one man: their much-maligned quarterback who may be on his last legs in the Sunshine State. While he’ll put up a good effort, the Dolphins will be on the outside looking in when playoff time rolls around.
- Head Coach: Tony Sparano
- Offensive Coordinator: Brian Daboll
- Defensive Coordinator: Mike Nolan
- Owner: Wayne Huizenga/Stephen Ross
- Stadium: Sun Life Stadium
- Capacity: 75,192
- Super Bowl Wins: 2
Offense
Miami’s offense was middling, for lack of a better word as they was 21st in the league in total and rushing offense, and 19th in the air. Chad Henne had the chance to cement his role with the team, and now there are reports that the Dolphins were looking for a replacement. The backfield duo of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams is aging (and they’re both free agents), but the Dolphins hope that second-round pick Daniel Thomas can add some life to the running-back position. They have a talented trio of receivers in Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and Brian Hartline, and tight end Anthony Fasano had a career year. There are weapons in the passing game for new coordinator Brian Daboll to take advantage of to try and boost the Dolphins’ NFL betting odds.
However, Henne is on his last chance to impress coach Tony Sparano, because if he has another season in which he throws 15 touchdowns, but is picked off 19 times (the Dolphins had 31 giveaways as a team), he won’t last in Miami. The line was shaky, allowing 38 sacks, and hopefully first-round pick Mike Pouncey (twin brother of Maurkice, Pittsburgh’s Pro Bowl center) can step in right away. Then there is the Brown/Williams situation: it’s not worth it to keep both, but one isn’t good enough.
Grade: C
Defense
Under coordinator Mike Nolan, the Dolphins improved from 22nd to sixth in total defense, ranking seventh against the run and eighth against the pass. Outside linebacker Cameron Wake emerged as one of the best pass rushers in the league, finishing third in the NFL in sacks, while Karlos Dansby controlled the inside after his move from Arizona. The secondary may be the best group on the unit, and outside of 33-year-old safety Yeremiah Bell, who led the team in tackles, they’re still young as fellow safety Chris Clemons and the corner duo of Vontae Davis and Sean Smith are 25 or younger. Reshad Jones will push Clemons, who had some groin issues, and competition is only good for a team’s NFL betting odds. The line does a good job of tying up tackles, even though you won’t find the trio of Kendall Langford, Paul Soliai and Randy Starks at the top of many highlight packs.
The Dolphins would do well to find a pass rusher to play opposite Wake, although Koa Misi is still young at 24 and going into his second season. Linebacker Channing Crowder has to step up his game to keep his spot beside Dansby, but overall, the Dolphins have a defense that should be even better in Nolan’s second season at the helm. Having a dynamic player like Wake really helps as it causes teams to draw up plans for him, which frees up everyone else.
Grade: B
Special Teams
Nolan Carroll and Patrick Cobbs split kickoff-return duties, leading the Dolphins to 22nd in that category, but they were 15th in the league in punt returns thanks to Bess. Miami wasn’t great at covering either category, coming in 28th in covering kicks and 22nd in punts. That makes their defense even more impressive as they often had to battle from less-than-desirable field position.
Brandon Fields was sixth in average punting and 11th in net punting, so he’s doing his share: the punt-cover team has to be better in 2011. Meanwhile, Dan Carpenter hit 30 field goals, which was tied for fourth in the league, but he was 29th in conversion percentage. After his Pro Bowl season in 2009, more was expected out of Carpenter and he’ll have to improve his success rate.
Grade: C+
Prediction
The Dolphins are listed at +700 to take the AFC East for the first time since 2008, +2000 to win the AFC and +400 to win the Super Bowl according to NFL betting odds, but after two playoff trips in the last decade, the postseason should be their only goal. Even then, it’s going to be difficult to get out of the East with New England and the New York Jets there.
A lot of their success is going to depend on Henne or whoever their quarterback is, because the defense isn’t going to be able to carry the Dolphins to the promised land. Henne will likely have to do it without much of a running game, and that’s going to be tough to do. Henne is a good quarterback, but unless he can take a big step in his development, Miami isn’t worth laying a wager on in your online betting book.
2011 Schedule
- Week 1 – vs. New England (Monday, 7:00 PM ET)
- Week 2 – vs. Houston (4:15 PM ET)
- Week 3 – at Cleveland (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 4 – at San Diego (4:15 PM ET)
- Week 6 – at New York Jets (Monday, 8:30 PM ET)
- Week 7 – vs. Denver (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 8 – at New York Giants (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 9 – at Kansas City (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 10 – vs. Washington (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 11 – vs. Buffalo (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 12 – at Dallas (Thursday, 4:15 PM ET)
- Week 13 – vs. Oakland (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 14 – vs. Philadelphia (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 15 – at Buffalo (1:00 PM ET)
- Week 16 – at New England (Saturday, 1:00 PM ET)
- Week 17 – vs. New York Jets (1:00 PM ET)
