If I had a dollars for every time someone asked how good will the Miami Dolphins be in 2012 I’d probably retire early.

Does Joe Philbin have what it takes to lead the Dolphins to a winning season in 2012?

 

I always give the same answer: The Dolphins are a .500 team that can win two extra games with solid quarterback play, and a healthy roster. Or the Dolphins could lose two extra games because of mediocre quarterback play, and an injury-depleted roster.

It’s REALLY that simple.

The NFL is built for teams to hover around .500, and Miami’s schedule isn’t as fierce as it was in 2011 (the ONLY games that are scary are the season-opener against Houston, San Francisco and the two AFC East games against New England).

Plus, the Dolphins won six of the final nine games last season, and lost four fourth-quarter contests – Cleveland, Denver, New York Giants and Dallas – where a victory was within the team’s clutches if one aspect of the squad had performed in the game’s closing minutes.

That means last year’s team coulda, shoulda, woulda won 10 games with better quarterback play, and a more clutch defense.

Miami’s roster offensive and defensive roster aren’t bad. General Manager Jeff Ireland put together a solid draft, which should help fill some holes.

What the Dolphins need is better quarterback play, and better coaches. This offseason’s moves should help South Florida’s NFL franchise in both those area, but by how much?

Last week I outlined the 10 questions the Dolphins need to find an answer to this offseason. Here’s a look at some favorable answers to those issues.

1. Who will start at quarterback?

It’ll be one of the two veterans unless first-round pick Ryan Tannehill shines in camp. David Garrard makes quick decisions and throws with accuracy. Matt Moore, who had a 87.1 quarterback rating, needs to become a better practice performer to hold Garrard off. Whoever starts the season-opener will have to produce wins to keep Tannehill on the bench. According to the coaches, whoever performs the best in OTAs, minicamp and training camp will win the spot. Tannehill, who knows the offense, will be given every opportunity, but must master the speed of the NFL game.

2. Have Dolphins fixed the troublesome right side of their offensive line?

Does it really get any worse than Marc Colombo? REALLY! I have a hard time believing that’s possible. Lydon Murtha or Jonathan Martin should be an immediate upgrade at right tackle. How good the unit will be depends on who starts at right guard, and how they play. My early money goes to the loser of the right tackle battle because I suspect the Dolphins will start the top five offensive linemen.

Will rookie Olivier Vernon draw some attention from Cameron Wake?

 

3. Did Miami find Cameron Wake a complementary pass rusher?

Absolutely. Between Jared Odrick , who contributed six sacks last season playing less than 600 snaps, and third-round pick Olivier Vernon, the Dolphins should have someone to put on the opposite side of Wake. But Miami could use a little help from a depth standpoint, which is why it would be ideal if a undrafted rookie like Derrick Shelby or Jacquies Smith develops and makes the 53-man roster.

4. The Dolphins have the personnel to make the west coast offense work?

Only if Brian Hartline takes his game to another level, emerging like Jordy Nelson did last year in Green Bay’s offense. Another receiver – doesn’t matter who it is, but my early guess goes to Clyde Gates, Roberto Wallace, B.J. Cunningham or Jeff Fuller – also needs to step up and contributed a 40 catch, 500 yards receiving season. But the tight ends (think Michael Egnew and Charles Clay) and tailbacks (Reggie Bush and Lamar Miller) should carry this team offensively, creating regular mismatches.

5. Where will leadership come from on the team?

Bush and Davone Bess are both the types of players you want others to follow. They should be elevated to captain status, joining Jake Long and Karlos Dansby. But the Dolphins desperately need a leader to surface in the secondary, and at quarterback.

6. Who will occupy the starting safety spots?

Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons, Tyrell Johnson and Tyrone Culver all have starter experience. But Jimmy Wilson has a knack for making plays, which is why my money is on the converted cornerback rising up the depth chart to pair with Jones. The Dolphins will need to find someone smart enough to tighten up the back end of the defense. Leadership at this spot is more important than most people realize.

7. Can the Dolphins improve on special teams?

Gates will do better now that his groin isn’t strained, and Lamar Miller is a homerun threat, who will probably contribute more on special teams that he did at Miami. Whether someone can unseat Bess as the punt returner likely comes down to what receiver makes the 53-man roster. The Dolphins have aggressively tried to find someone better than Bess, who produced 11.9 yards per punt last season, for four years, and can’t.

8. Can the Dolphins defend against tight ends?

As much as I’d love to say Dansby and Kevin Burnett have the skill set to cover the NFL’s tight ends – they do – history says the Dolphins will get destroyed by that position. They have since 2007. Tight ends have annually been a thorn in the side of the Dolphins defense. Maybe switching to a 4-3 front, and using a quarters defense regularly, will benefit Miami in this regard.

9. How will the switch from a base 3-4 scheme to a base 4-3 scheme affect defensive front?

Randy Starks and Paul Soliai could blossom in a 4-3 front. Soliai is hard to single block, and Starks have produced respectable sack numbers throughout his Dolphins tenure as an inside rusher. Both have played in a 4-3 front before. This unit’s success will likely be determined by how deep the rotation is, and the caliber of players filling in when they need a break. That means Tony McDaniel, Odrick and maybe rookie Kheeston Randall will have to hold the line when Starks and Soliai need a breather.

10. Can Joe Philbin, who is a first-time head coach on any level, command the locker room?

So far we’ve learned he’s smart, but intelligence only carries you so far in the NFL. When the team’s struggling they have to believe that their leader has the answers, the right approach to plug the leak in the dam. Only time will tell if Philbin is a problem solver.

G.G.G.