MIAMI GARDENS \u2014 I still think the winless, rebuilding Dolphins will win five games this season. I said it before the season, I\u2019m saying it again now.<\/p>\n
I see something in this 0-5 team<\/a>.<\/p>\n I like the run game, which ranks 11th in the league at 126.6 yards per game. I like the offensive line\u2019s performance in the run game. I like the third-down offense, which ranks 12th in the league, converting 41.3% of its attempts. I like the physicality the team shows<\/a> in all phases and every situation. I like the rookie draft class and many of the young players overall. I like coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. I like the team\u2019s attitude, and I like its locker room leadership under center Aaron Brewer, linebacker Jordyn Brooks, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, left tackle Patrick Paul and quarterback Malik Willis<\/a>.<\/p>\n Predicting that the Dolphins will win five of their final 12 games has nothing to do with fandom or homerism. I\u2019ve told you numerous times that I\u2019m not a Dolphins fan.<\/p>\n This prediction has to do with what I\u2019m seeing from this team and what I\u2019ve seen from other teams in 30 years covering pro sports.<\/p>\n How do the Dolphins get to five wins?<\/p>\n They\u2019ll get two wins by teams overlooking them. They\u2019ll have to earn the other three, and that\u2019ll take lots of improvement during this bye week and beyond.<\/p>\n Obviously, the Dolphins must straighten out Willis. He\u2019s struggling as a first-year starter. I\u2019ve expressed my opinion on Willis (two touchdowns, four interceptions, 68.4 passer rating). He\u2019s not the No. 1 problem right now, and I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be the No. 1 problem at season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n The No. 1 problem now, as it likely will be at season\u2019s end, is edge rusher, someone who can get the opponent\u2019s quarterback on the ground. Miami\u2019s 4.0 sacks are tied for last in the league.<\/p>\n Still, Willis, who, as we know, doesn\u2019t have much help due to injuries to Pro Bowl running back De\u2019Von Achane (knee) and promising rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle), must be better.<\/p>\n Moving past Willis, to get to five wins the Dolphins have to find a pass rush. Four sacks in five games is ridiculous. Edge rusher Chop Robinson (one sack) has to lead the way. The Dolphins also must reduce the untimely penalties, especially among veterans, who are committing too many errors.<\/p>\n Statistically speaking, Miami is 24th in scoring defense (26.4 points per game) and 31st in scoring offense (14.0 ppg). The Dolphins are tied for 14th in penalties (39) and 20th in penalty yards (260). That can\u2019t continue. Miami must tighten up the special teams play, where we see weekly blunders. The Dolphins must flip their minus-4 turnover margin, which is tied for 24th. The run defense, at a middling No. 16 (110.6 yards per game), must play tougher situational football. Opponents convert 51.7% of third downs, which ranks 31st in the league.<\/p>\n And the coaching must improve greatly. Hafley, defensive coordinator Sean Duggan, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor must figure out how to get the best out of their players this week and apply that knowledge after the bye.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not crazy enough to guarantee the rebuild will succeed. It\u2019s way too early for that.<\/p>\n All I\u2019m saying is that I could see the Dolphins surging, relatively speaking, in these 12 games after the bye, and winning five of them, perhaps starting with their road game against the New York Jets on Oct. 25.<\/p>\n