Miami Dolphins: 6 Biggest Questions Entering the 2012 NFL Offseason

The Miami Dolphins missed the postseason for the third straight year and are once again left with a lot of questions to answer headed into the offseason.

Some of the questions are the same as they've been for awhile, such as the debate over whether this is the year they finally take a quarterback in the first round. They've had 15 starting quarterbacks since Dan Marino retired in 2000, more than any other team in that span.

Some of the questions are recurring themes, such as the debate over the next head coach. With so many names coming in and out of the rumor mill, it's hard to keep track of it all.

With a lot on the mind of Miami fans headed into the offseason, let's get right into looking at some of the most pressing issues facing the team.

Will the Dolphins Defense Continue to Improve Under Mike Nolan?

The Dolphins defense improved drastically over the course of the 2011 season. After giving up 166 points in its first seven games (an average of 23.7 points per game), it gave up just 147 in its last nine games (16.3 PPG).

What's more, Miami's pass defense improved drastically over the final nine games. It was giving up an average of 8.1 yards per attempt during its seven-game losing streak to start, but finished by giving up 6.4 YPA in its final nine games. To put that in perspective, 8.1 ranks among the bottom five in the NFL in YPA while 6.4 ranks among the top five. 

What made this defense so noteworthy all season long was its ability to stop the run, ranking third in YPA against them on the ground by letting up just 3.6 per crack.

But in terms of scoring defense, the Dolphins have improved dramatically in scoring defense. They ranked 25th in 2009, the season before Mike Nolan took over. Since then, they've ranked 14th in 2010 and eighth this year.

Nolan has done solid work with the defense, and if the trend of improvement continues, it could be even more fearsome in 2012 than it was at the end of 2011.

Can They Finally Get a Quarterback to Complement Skill Position Players?

For the first time in Dolphins history, the team laid claim to a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same season. Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush both had solid seasons for the Dolphins despite offensive inconsistencies, especially at quarterback.

Matt Moore was serviceable for them, and will make a nice backup option for the future. However, the Dolphins can't settle for serviceable. They need a franchise quarterback. It's been the missing ingredient for years. The night-and-day difference in the team from when Chad Henne was starting to when Moore came in should be all the evidence you need.

Now, imagine if they were able to upgrade over Moore. With the eighth overall pick, the Dolphins may have played their way out of contention for Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, but never rule out a trade.

Between Bush, Marshall, Davone Bess, Brian Hartline and Anthony Fasano, the Miami Dolphins have a bevy of offensive firepower. If only they had a quarterback that could maximize it all.

And if the Dolphins can solve that problem, they could set the table very nicely for a turnaround in 2012.

Can Reggie Bush Continue to Carry the Load?

For the first time in his NFL career, Reggie Bush was the bell cow for an offense and carried the load for the ground attack. Bush answered the bell when he crossed the 1,000-yard plateau and averaged over five yards per carry on the season. 

It started pretty rough for Bush, as it did for the entire Dolphins team. Bush rushed 40 times for 119 yards (2.98 yards per carry) in the first four games of the season, but he hit stride in the final four games with 516 yards rushing (6.22 YPA).

Bush had an up-and-down season, though, and the Dolphins proved that if they get consistent production out of the running game, they are a tough team to beat.

The big question will be not just whether Bush can handle the beating of being a "feature back" once again, but whether rookie Daniel Thomas can be an effective spell back for Bush in his sophomore year. The Dolphins could certainly help themselves a bit by adding some help on the inside of the offensive line. 

Who Will Be the Next Head Coach?

When the Dolphins fired Tony Sparano on Dec. 13 and named Todd Bowles the interim head coach, most knew it wouldn't last. Although the team is often connected with some of the biggest names in coaching, that hasn't panned out in recent years.

With Stephen Ross and Jeff Ireland still running the show, that may not change either. The history of the two speaks for itself, and coaching candidates have been wary of being connected with the Dolphins.

Rumors have already begun swirling about the Dolphins showing interest in Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Still, with a long way to go in the offseason, and with announcements coming down in the next few days, this picture should clear up fairly quickly.

And at least this time, they won't have to worry about tip-toeing around their current head coach while they court a new one. The fact of the matter is, though, they won't be able to land one of the big-name head coaching candidates unless they get rid of Jeff Ireland.

Is Jeff Ireland the Man for the Job?

It looks as if the Dolphins are going to retain their much-maligned general manager, despite Dolphins blogger Chris Joseph of Finsnation.com paying to have a "Fire Ireland" banner flown overhead at the Sun Life Stadium season finale.

But based on a press conference after the firing of Tony Sparano, it appears his wish will not be granted.

"We are looking for the best head coach. Jeff (Ireland) is in charge of personnel," Ross said, according to ESPN. "He’s in charge of that area. I think that it’s important that the head coach and general manager to be able to work together." 

Retaining Ireland essentially rules out any of the big-name head coaches coming to town, so there's certainly a possibility Bowles could remain the head coach.

Whether or not that's what's best for the team and the organization is another story entirely.

Can They Build off Strong Finish?

After starting the season 0-7, the Dolphins went 6-3 down the stretch. That being said, none of their wins came against teams that were over .500.

Defensively, the pieces are in place. Offensively, this is still a team that has several needs, including quarterback and interior offensive line. If the Dolphins can add those pieces and find a competent head coach, they can prove their finish to 2011 was no fluke.