B/R Debate: Can the Miami Dolphins Make the Playoffs in 2012?

As the Miami Dolphins rebuild/retool/whatever word they're using for it today, it looks more and more like it'll be another year of waiting (at least) before the team returns to prominence.

And as they build toward the ultimate goal of a trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2008, there are several key questions that face them. For 2012, the biggest question is, can Matt Moore lead the team to the playoffs?

To debate the topic, we welcome back B/R Dolphins featured columnist Alex Miglio, who can also be found on Twitter.

I'll let you start us off.

Alex: Should I take off my homer hat for this one?

To be perfectly honest, my answer is yes. The Dolphins can make the playoffs with Matt Moore, but the fact that anything can happen in the NFL nowadays plays a large part in that answer.

For starters, Moore was actually pretty good for Miami last season. He was 6-4, with two of those losses being last-minute affairs that were not on him. (Miami got Tebow'd at home, then lost on Thanksgiving on a last-second field goal.) He had a respectable 87.1 NFL rating, good for 12th in the league. Had the defense not blown those two games, along with the Cleveland game they had in the bag, Miami would have been in contention for a playoff spot.

After a horrendous start that ultimately doomed their season, the Dolphins defense did step it up to help Moore get those six victories. They ultimately wound up sixth in scoring defense, not bad considering the drubbing they took against New England to start the season.

Of course, big and entirely new variables have entered the equation. Miami has a new coaching staff spearheaded by Joe Philbin, bringing along a new offensive system. Moore will no longer have Brandon Marshall, who, for better or for worse, was an elite receiver he could target. 

Who knows if Moore will even be the starter on opening day, but if the Dolphins continue to show confidence in him the way they have been preaching, sure, he can make the playoffs. 

The question is, would I bet on it? Nah.

Erik: I think you got it right, Alex. Can they? Yes. Will they? Meh...tough to say.

First-time head coaches have prospered in the NFL in the past; look no further than Mike Smith, the Harbaughs and admittedly, Rex Ryan as proof to that effect. Philbin may have been the beneficiary of Aaron Rodgers, but he has a system that works—just ask Matt Flynn—and it looks like a system that could work for Matt Moore.

They have a lot of young wide receivers, but most of them are unproven. Can they fit in Philbin's offense? That will go a long way in determining the success of the offense.

The bigger question marks for me are on the defensive side of the ball. The Dolphins have a stacked linebacking corps, but their secondary and defensive line are a few pieces short of completion. If the Dolphins can bolster the pass-rush, they can tremendously help their woes in the secondary. 

In short, it will take a slam-dunk draft and improvement of many of the pieces already in place in order for Miami to make the playoffs.

Alex: I think you are right about that. Sprinkle in some luck—good for Miami, bad for other AFC East teams—and you get the playoffs.

The Dolphins can help Moore with a great draft. If they can get an impact pass-rusher to pair with Wake and a receiver that fits well into Philbin's system, it will be a good start. If they can also find a starting nickel back or safety and get some help on the right side of their offensive line, even better.

I have faith that Philbin and his crew will turn this team around, but I really think it is going to be a multi-year process. Drafting well is a start, but developing players takes time. I'm not sure Moore will get an honest shot to make it work when all is said and done.

Erik: The other thing about luck is injuries. The Bills were ravaged by them in 2011, the Jets have had problems dealing with injuries due to their lack of depth and as we saw in 2008, all it takes is one injury (albeit to the best player in the division) to change the entire landscape in the AFC East.

Beyond that, however, the Dolphins aren't in a position where they can have (m)any injuries. Sure, they could always find a diamond in the rough that way—look no further than the Patriots in 2010, when their starting running backs went down in the first few weeks and made way for Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis—but that is its own luck in and of itself.

But on that note, the Dolphins could use an emergence or two like that if they truly want to make the playoffs. Anyone particular you have in mind that could provide that sort of breakout performance in 2012?

Alex: This is a make-or-break season for Brian Hartline. The front office is talking about extending him now, which would be foolish in my opinion unless they have an easy way out if he does not pan out, but he stands the most to gain in Philbin's new offense. 

If Hartline can start to deliver on a consistent basis, Moore will not feel the loss of Brandon Marshall. Subsequently, Miami would not need to rely heavily on an incoming rookie. It'll be Hartline's fourth season in the league, and he is the de facto WR1 right now. If he falters, Moore could be in for a long year.

On defense, it is time for one of Reshas Jones, Tyrone Culver or Chris Clemons to step up and own a safety position now that Yeremiah Bell is gone. Jones has flashed potential, but serious lapses in his game have resulted in big plays. Clemons and Culver have not really shown that they are starter material, but they are young—hopefully, one of them breaks out.

Erik: The Dolphins have so many young wide receivers, it would surprise me if none of them were able to flourish in Philbin's offense. Moore isn't a bad quarterback, so he should at least be able to get them the ball.

I have always liked Davone Bess, and even though he's already broken out to some degree, I feel he could really excel in Philbin's offense. Clyde Gates has the speed and quickness that could make him a real threat to make an impact.

With that, I think it's time to bring another AFC East debate to a close. I'd like to thank Alex for joining me, and I'd love to have you back anytime for another debate.

For the readers, be sure to check at the AFC East blog every day for a new debate over AFC East-related topics.

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