MIAMI — Mike McDaniel has produced winning seasons, and led the Miami Dolphins to the postseason in two of his three seasons he’s been the helm of South Florida’s NFL franchise.

The Dolphins have produced that 28-23 record under McDaniel, despite playing without Tua Tagovailoa for 10 of those games the past three seasons because of concussions, and a hip injury that flared up late last season.

Tagovailoa’s durability concerns and Miami’s struggles on the offensive line the past three seasons have held McDaniel’s teams back, and one of the major storylines of the 2025 season is whether Miami has found solutions to those offensive problems.

If they have, the Dolphins could produce a third winning season and possibly a playoff berth again. If they haven’t, and the 2025 seasons falls short of expectations, it might cost everyone in the organization their jobs because owner Steve Ross told the fan base that “the status quo” isn’t acceptable moving forward.

Here is a look at the Miami Herald’s 10 pressing questions for the offense as we approach next Tuesday’s start of training camp.

1. Has Tua Tagovailoa learned to not expose himself to risk?

Upon his return from his third concussion in three years Tagovailoa told the world — with conviction — that he’s willing to die playing the sport he loves. That’s admirable to hear, but clearly a bit scary, if not extreme, especially if you’re a loved one or a teammate of the 26-year-old quarterback. Tagovailoa has talked about playing smarter so he can remain available for his team, but he needs to prove that with his actions, and that starts in training camp, which is an ideal time to work on throwing the ball away to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

2. Can Zach Wilson keep the Dolphins .500 if he’s forced to play?

Wilson, a former first-round pick, flamed out at the Jets starting quarterback in his first three seasons. Maybe it was too much too soon, and a season working under known quarterback guru Sean Payton in Denver has helped him clean up his game. It better since the Dolphins invested $6 million into him as a free agent hoping that they can help the former BYU standout polish his game. Based on his offseason, it’s clear Wilson has a strong arm, but he struggles with accuracy and must learn to play on time.

3. Which tailback becomes De’Von Achane’s backup?

Considering Achane was one yard away from a 1,500 yards from scrimmage season last year it’s obvious he will be Miami’s lead back if he can stay healthy. But that’s always a challenge for tailbacks, so it’s important that his backups are locked and loaded. Jaylen Wright has gotten stronger and leaner, but must prove he can pass protect to be trusted on the field. Ollie Gordon II has the size and power needed to fix Miami’s short-yardage issues, but will the rookie pick up the offense quickly? And is Alexander Mattison still a productive NFL back at 26.

4. Can Miami find a short-yardage rushing attack that works?

The Dolphins have been one of the NFL’s worst offenses when it comes to converting short-yardage plays that are needed to extend drives for three seasons. It’s almost at the point where there have been more moments of failure than success. At this point it’s safe to conclude the issue is more scheme, philosophical approach and team makeup than it is talent. Mattison and Gordon should provide a power rushing element to Miami’s ground game, but we won’t know for sure until the team puts pads on.

5. Is Darren Waller really committed to football, and still good?

Waller, who was a Pro Bowl tight end five seasons ago, retired from the NFL last season because he was going through a divorce, battling depression and claims he lost his love for the game. The recovering addict said he felt he would resort to old habits if he continued playing. He claimed the only coach he would come back and play for was Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who was instrumental in his breakout seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Dolphins made it happen days after trading Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh, but nobody knows what kind of shape Waller will be in and whether Miami will be a healthy environment for him. Only time will tell.

6. Is Patrick Paul ready to handle what comes with being a left tackle?

Paul, the Dolphins’ 2024 second-round pick, handled 80% of the first-team snaps at left tackle during practices last season because Terron Armstead sparingly ever worked. Now that Armstead has retired we will learn if he’s ready to block some of the NFL’s best pass rushers. Paul gained a little bit of experience playing (less than 400 snaps) last season, but it wasn’t enough to get a proper evaluation. Unfortunately, the Dolphins don’t have a proven backup left tackle so Miami needs to be careful how much they push Paul to ensure he’s healthy for the regular season.

7. Will James Daniels and Austin Jackson be healthy for the regular season?

Daniels and Jackson were limited during the offseason program because of the injuries that ended their seasons prematurely in 2024. Both players are integral to Miami’s success on offense because they are two of the team’s best run blockers. Daniel, who was Miami’s biggest free-agent addition this offseason, is still recovering from the Achilles injury he sustained last September. Miami’s run game collapsed when Jackson suffered a knee injury against Buffalo in early November, and never recovered. The hope is that both can stay healthy for the majority of 2025 and get back to mowing defenders down.

8. Does Miami have capable backups on the offensive line?

Liam Eichenberg has struggled in most of his 52 NFL starts, but he’s clearly the best backup offensive lineman the Dolphins have because of his experience playing all five spots. Behind him it’s a laundry list of mysteries. Kion Smith and Andrew Meyers lack playing experience, and Larry Borom and Jackson Carman have struggled when they have started games. The hope is that someone steps up and blossoms because the Dolphins could be in trouble if two starters go down, which has been the case for at least the last three seasons.

9. Will a No. 3 receiver step up as a complement for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle?

Malik Washington blossomed at the end of his rookie season, carving out a role as the slot receiver who worked with Hill and Waddle in three-receiver sets. It’s possible he will continue to progress because he has gained a better understanding of the offense. Miami added Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in free agency this spring hoping that his size (6-foot-2, 211 pounds) will benefit the team in the red zone. Dee Eskridge, Erik Ezukanma, Tahj Washington and Tarik Black are all fighting for their NFL careers so expect spirited efforts from each. Injuries usually water down this unit during training camp so a couple of long shots will be elevated up the depth chart. What will they do with those opportunities?

10. Will Jonah Savaiinaea be prepared and ready to become an effective rookie starting guard?

Savaiinaea, the Dolphins’ second-round pick, is the only rookie who hasn’t signed his contract, so there’s a chance he could miss a couple days of training camp. How much will his absence set him back from locking down one of the starting guard spots.?Miami traded a ton of draft assets to put themselves in position to select Savaiinaea, who was evaluated as one of the 2025 draft’s 10 upper-echelon offensive linemen. It would be a setback if he missed Miami’s joint practices and exhibition games because he hasn’t yet faced the power and speed he’ll experience in NFL games, and needs to get accustomed to it.

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