NFL Miami Dolphins

5 Things We Learned From the Miami Dolphins’ 2014 Season

5 Things We Learned From the Miami Dolphins' 2014 Season

Miami Dolphins
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Miami Dolphins fans thought they'd finally get to watch their favorite team in the playoffs at the start of the 2014 season. Midway through it looked like a possibility but the Joe Philbin-led team let fans down for the second consecutive season. There is plenty of talent on the team but a few scenarios prevented them from punching their ticket for January.

5. Kevin Coyle Will Be On His Way Out

Kevin Coyle
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kevin Coyle Will Be On His Way Out

Kevin Coyle
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The season started out great for Coyles' defense, ranking in the top five in total defense heading into their Week 12 contest against the Denver Broncos. After that game in which the Broncos ran for over 200 yards, the wheels fell off. In the final six games of the season, opponents averaged over 32 ppg. Owner Stephen Ross will all but force Philbin to fire Coyle much like he made Philbin fire Mike Sherman after last season.

4. Miami Has Found Their Running Back For The Future In Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller
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4. Miami Has Found Their Running Back For The Future In Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller
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Miller finally had his coming-out party in his third season out of the University of Miami, surpassing 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry off of just 216 carries. The only issue with Miller is that he wasn't utilized enough in key moments of the game; you can blame some of the fourth-quarter losses on offensive coordinator Bill Lazor after he failed to utilize Miller to run the clock out.

3. The Offensive Line Still Needs A Lot Of Work

Offensive Line, Miami Dolphins
Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Offensive Line Still Needs A Lot Of Work

Offensive Line, Miami Dolphins
Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

After allowing 58 sacks in 2013, it was key for the Dolphins to improve their line in 2014 and they did just that by signing Branden Albert and drafting JaWuan James in the first round of the NFL draft. Short story short, it wasn't enough after Albert went down with a season-ending injury and Daryn Colledge was still allowed to play. It wasn't quite 58, but the 2014 sack number ended at 46 and somehow quarterback Ryan Tannehill is still walking.

2. Ryan Tannehill Is On The Verge Of Becoming Elite

Ryan Tannehill
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2. Ryan Tannehill Is On The Verge Of Becoming Elite

Ryan Tannehill
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People will look at the Dolphins' 8-8 record and think the above statement is absurd, but if you watched Miami play this season it's clear that Tannehill is only a step away from being an elite talent in today's NFL. He still needs work on his deep ball but how can anybody be confident in standing in the pocket when they've been sacked 102 times in two years? With a solid line next season he'll be a shoo-in for the Pro Bowl.

1. Lack of Leadership Starts With Joe Philbin

Joe Philbin
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1. Lack of Leadership Starts With Joe Philbin

Joe Philbin
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For the second consecutive season Philbin has been on the butt end of locker room controversy, starting with bully-gate last season and ending this season with the Mike Wallace drama. Not to mention his failure to commit to Tannehill during the London trip in the beginning of the season. Players say they're behind Philbin but I don't buy it one bit. If he wants to succeed as a head coach in the NFL he must change his demeanor.

 

Tyler Olson is an NFL and Miami Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @to2471 and connect with him on Google.

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