Miami Dolphins Mid-season Grades: Offense

The Dolphins have played half of the season and stand at .500, which is a lot better than many national sports writers projected. The Dolphins still have a chance to make a run for the playoffs, both as a wild card contender and ans divisional champions, but it will be tough. The team is playing very well, and the offense has a part in that. Many offensive players have stepped up throughout the season in order to keep playoff aspirations alive for this young Dolphins team. We'll go through each position and grade the players based on how well they have performed based on expectations. If the player has met expectations, the receive a C, and then they can either go higher or lower based on how well they have exceeded expectations, or how poorly they have played based on expectations. Because of this, some of the rankings might seem too high, but that is because the expectations for the player were so low initially, while some may seem too low, because the initial expectations were too high. So, let's get started after the jump.

QB

Ryan Tannehill: B+

Passing: 142/241 (58.9%), 1,762 yds, 5 TDs, 6 INTs, 78.2 rating

Rushing: 19 att, 24 yds, 1 TD

Tannehill has played very well despite lacking a big bodied red zone threat or a speedy deep threat receiver. However, we see glimpses of his future as he is making Brian Hartline and Davone Bess, two career number 2s, look like to bona fide threats. Tannehill has thrown beautiful deep passes, and has shown the type of consistent improvement every week that fans and coaches like to see from a rookie QB. After a poor showing against the Houston Texans to open up the season, Tannehill has steadily improved in every category. He has a lightning-quick release and has used his mobility to move around in the pocket and evade defenders. From what Tannehill has shown, he is already better than any Dolphins starting QB since 2000 who is not named Chad Pennington and maybe Jay Feidler. Tannehill should continue to imrpove and looks to be a franchise QB for years to come.

Matt Moore: C+

11/19 (57.8%), 131 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT

Matt Moore may be the best in the NFL at what he does, and that is to step in for an injured starter and manage the game to a victory. Entering the season, the expectations for Moore were to do just that, to step onto the field in the event that Tannehill could not play, and to manage the team to a victory without making mistakes. Moore did just that against the New York Jets. After Tannehill left the game with a knee injury, the pressure was on for Moore to earn his paycheck. He stepped in and di what he had to do. He didn't do it with flair, or with much style, he just stepped in and did it. Because of that, he has met his expectations, maybe exceeded them slightly, earning the grade he recieved

RB

Reggie Bush: B-

122 att, 534 yds, 4.4 ypc, 4 TDs

Reggie Bush entered the season off to a fast start, tearing apart the Oakland Raiders to the tune of 172 yds. After that dominant game, it appears that defenses have figured him out, and he hasn't looked like the same RB. Bush still has explosive ability and is always a threat to break one off. Some of Reggie's struggles can be attributed to the injury he received against the Jets early in the season, but he should be healthy by now. It is not certain whether Reggie is just in a slump, or if defenses have figured out how to stop him. Hopefully Reggie gets back on track, as the Phins will need a dominant running game if they want to make a playoff run.

Daniel Thomas: B

57 att, 192 yds, 3.4 ypc, 3 TDs

Daniel Thomas has played well as a change of pace plodder to Reggie's speed. He has also excelled at pass blocking, which is one of the major things coach Joe Philbin looks for from a RB. While his average may seem low, this is because most of his carries are in short yardage or goal line situations, which is where he excels. Thomas may be playing well, but he still needs to work on using his strength properly, and can become better if he does so. He has seen increased snaps recently due to Reggie Bush's struggles, and this could help him get in a groove

Lamar Miller: B-

24 att, 133 yds, 5.5 ypc, 1 TD

The UM product has run well when given the opportunity, but has not seen the field much this season, mostly due to his inability to pass block well. Miller needs to work on improving his blocking skills, and he should see the field more. Most of his playing time has come when one of the backs ahead of him were injured. During his limited playing time, Miller has shown the explosiveness he was drafted to provide. Hopefully he can continue to improve so that he can become a contributor next season.

TE

Anthony Fasano: A-

24 rec, 188 yds, 3 TDs

Fasano has played really well this season, becoming a legitimate threat in the red zone, which is where most of his receptions have come. He has become one of Tannehill's favorite target in the red zone, and leads the team in receiving TDs. Not only has he finally stepped up as a receiving target, but he seems to be an even better blocker now than he was before. He is consistently blowing up defenders and has become a dominant all-around TE. While he may not be the flashy TE target like Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Vernon Davis and Aaron Hernandez, his consistency has helped the team win games.

Charles Clay: F+

6 recs, 76 yds, 1 TD

While Fasano has exceeded expectations, Clay has continuously fallen short this season. Most fans and beat writers expected Clay to have a breakout season as a receiving threat. However, Clay has been plagued by drops all season, making bad decisions (including one which almost cost the team the game against the Cincinnati Bengals) and wasting opportunities. Clay has been given a lot of chances so far to prove himself, and has failed to do so all season, with only 6 recs and 1 TD.

WR

Brian Hartline: A

41 recs, 662 yds, 1 TD

Brian Hartline gets my vote for breakout Dolphin of the year, turning into one of Tannehill's favorite weapons and really taking the league by surprise. Hartline already has more yds this season than he has had in any of his previous seasons, and is on pace to break the 1,000 yd barrier. Hartline has shown his ability to consistently do everything, whether it is to go deep, break tough tackles, run precise routes, make the jump catches or do whatever it takes to get the ball. Hartline has continuously exceeded expectations. The only reason Hartline gets an A instead of an A+ is the TD category. Until Hartline can put some scores on the boards, he won't go higher.

Davone Bess: B-

38 recs, 483 yds

While Hartline's breakout may have come as a pleasant surprise, most Dolphins fans expected Bess to have a breakout season. He has shown in the past that he is one of the league's premier slot talents, and he is doing what he was expected to do. Bess is playing just like the old Bess, however, the increase in targets and the improvement at the QB position is what is giving his stat line a boost. Don't get me wrong, Bess is still a great WR, and I am grateful to have him on our team, but he hasn't really exceeded expectations and proved everybody wrong the way Hartline has, mostly because Bess was already established

Jabar Gaffney: C (incomplete)

3 rec, 57 yds

Gaffney was signed midway through the season to become the number 3 WR the Dolphins looked for in Legedu Naanee and Anthony Armstrong, but he hasn't seen the field enough for me to justify grading him either way, so he will sit at a C for now. If he steps up and provides that number 3 target, then he will go up, but if not, then it is on to the next option for the Dolphins until the offseason.

Marlon Moore: B- (incomplete)

4 rec, 83 yds, 1 TD

Marlon Moore has played well thus far, improving at a steady pace from the offseason. Moore looks like a keeper as a number 4 target, taking advantage of his opportunities and making the plays when his number is called. However, just as with Gaffney, we will need to see more of Moore before we are able to come to a conclusion about his performance. So far, I've liked what I've seen, but I'd also like to see some more before I can give him a higher grade.

O-line

Jake Long: D-

Will the real Jake Long please stand up? Am I the only one who thinks Long has been recessing since his dominant rookie year? After being one of the top OTs in the game last year, he just isn't showing that ability this year. Whether it is injuries, not fitting the scheme properly or something completely different, Jake just isn't looking like the future hall of fame OT he used to look like. This could go a long way in contract negotiations with him, as Ireland could decide to let him go and move Jonathon Martin to his natural LT spot, while finding another RT in the draft.

Richie Incognito: C+

Incognito has played like the typical Incognito. He has played well despite being a poor fit in the zone blocking scheme, and hasn't really made any huge mistakes. His expectations weren't as high as Long's, but he has achieved the expectations set forward for him. However, offensive guard is one of the positions we will have to look at in the middle rounds of the draft, or in free agency, as an improvement may be necessary. 

Mike Pouncey: A+

Mike Pouncey has simply been a beast this season, there is no other way to put it. He is continuously making his blocks and getting to the second level. His athleticism has been on display all season, and he has been one of the key factors of this O-line, providing the gel that holds them together. Taking into consideration that Pouncey still has a lot of room to grow, it is scary to think how good he may eventually become.

John Jerry: B-

Jerry is another player that has exceeded expectation. He entered camp being considered a bust and in danger of being cut, but he has improved rapidly since then, becoming a solid starting quality guard. While there are still concerns about how well he fits the system, they are quieted thus far by his great performance. If he keeps improving, he should be a keeper at the guard position.

Jonathon Martin: C+

Entering the season, the expectations for Martin were to be a decent rookie O-lineman who would have his ups and downs. He has pretty much stuck to those expectations. He hasn't really been taking over, but he hasn't been a turnstile either. He is about on par with how high he was projected, and should continue to improve through his career.