The Miami Dolphins have spent the last week relaxing and recovering away from the football field, as they enjoyed a bye week.
Prior to their time off, Mike McDaniel’s team played nine contests that brought them to a 6-3 record entering their break.
Before the second half of Miami’s 2023 campaign kicks off, it’s a good time to reflect on the first half and look at some of the best and worst performances from those wearing aqua and orange.
Here are some studs and duds through their first nine games:
STUD: RB Raheem Mostert
DUD: Team preparation and IQ
Miami is in the middle of the road for penalties accepted (14th-fewest at 6.0 per game), but they’re worse on the road (10th-most at 7.2 per game).
Those penalties have been costly, as they’ve played a large part in their three losses, negating a lot of their big plays.
STUD: WR Tyreek Hill
Through nine games, Hill has recorded 69 receptions, 1,076 yards (NFL-leading) and eight touchdowns (NFL-leading).
He’s on pace to break the league’s receiving yards record and set career highs in both reception and touchdowns.
DUD: The TE room
Durham Smythe has recorded 17 receptions for 168 yards, but he’s really the only tight end who’s done anything.
Undrafted rookie Julian Hill has brought in just one reception for four yards in seven games.
They’ve also been asked (maybe unfairly) to block some defensive ends/edge linebackers one-on-one, and it hasn’t worked out well.
STUD: LB Bradley Chubb
In nine games, Chubb has recorded 40 tackles (seven for a loss), 10 quarterback hits, six sacks, a league-leading four forced fumbles and one pass defensed.
DUD: CB Eli Apple
Apple has appeared in seven games for the Dolphins this season, recording 31 tackles, six passes defensed and a half sack. According to Pro Football Reference, he’s allowed a 64.6% completion percentage and a 94.1 passer rating when targeted.
STUD: DL Christian Wilkins
Wilkins has recorded 38 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, a career-high 4.5 sacks, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery in nine games, as he’s been effective against the run and pass.
