With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, the South Florida Sun Sentinel ends its look at 10 storylines to watch for ahead of the Miami Dolphins’ first day of training camp, which is Tuesday.

In the Mike McDaniel-Tua Tagovailoa era, the Miami Dolphins offense has been at its best when wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are a focal point of the offense.

The Dolphins, after all, are 11-0 and average 35 points per game when Hill has 100 yards or more receiving. When he falls short of that mark, Miami is 7-16 and posting 18 points per game.

When Waddle hits triple digits in his career, the Dolphins are 9-3.

It was telling that the Dolphins struggled in 2024 as both Hill and Waddle had their worst seasons in Miami. Hill missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career and fell short of 1,000 yards for the first time since 2019. Waddle had a career-low 744 receiving yards in 2024, far from what the Dolphins wanted after locking him into a three-year, $84.75 million extension last offseason.

Obviously, the No. 1 thing that makes the Dolphins go is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa delivering passes to Hill and Waddle.

But how does Miami do it after opposing defenses seemed to figure something out in stopping the wide receiver duo in 2024?

Defenses against the Dolphins have generally proven committed to running two-high safety shells to prevent the two speedsters on the outside from beating them deep.

Didn’t the Dolphins see a bunch of that in 2022 and 2023, when Hill and Waddle were racking up receiving yards and touchdowns? Sure.

But there’s a greater level to which defenses simply decided they just weren’t going to get beat by the wide receiver combination. Tight end Jonnu Smith, who has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, was allowed to get his. Running back De’Von Achane making catches out of the backfield? Have at it.

As long as it wasn’t Hill and Waddle breaking games open, Dolphins opponents decided sternly in 2024.

The answer to getting the ball to them more isn’t as simple as just forcing more passes their way. The Dolphins will have to make opponents respect their run game.

“I think one of the things that was very clear is that defenses had spent their time figuring out how to make us perform in all facets,” McDaniel said as he wrapped up mandatory minicamp last month.

Miami, indeed, did not run effectively last year. It ranked No. 28 in rushing yards per attempt in 2024 after leading the NFL in that category in 2023.

“If you’re trying to do it just with passing, it’s going to be difficult, close to impossible,” McDaniel continued. “It’s got to be a totality. And I think, really, it speaks to what we preach every day, in terms of balance and run affecting pass and vice-versa. The point was kind of proven last year. So, it’s up to us to really lean into our overall philosophical beliefs anyway.”

Improving the run game around Achane, who can break the big run but doesn’t necessarily provide physicality, has been emphasized in the offseason.

Dolphins Deep Dive: What is Miami’s goal for the 2025 season? | VIDEO

The Dolphins upgraded at both guard positions with the free agent signing of James Daniels and then trading up in the second round to draft rookie Jonah Savaiinaea. They figure to incorporate rising second-year running back Jaylen Wright deeper into the offense, while adding physical runners in veteran Alexander Mattison and rookie late-round pick Ollie Gordon.

A greater threat in the ground game could keep defenses honest in the box. Defenses may still run the same two-high shell looks, but if Miami can run against them, they can just stick with that until the defense adjusts.

While Smith is gone, the Dolphins did bring in a big-bodied wide receiver in Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to complement Hill and Waddle and take some of that defensive pressure off of them. A day after trading Smith, they signed former Raiders and Giants tight end Darren Waller out of retirement, hopeful to resurrect some semblance of his production from years ago. Plus, they may be able to count on the development of Malik Washington as another option in the slot.

Previously addressed

Can Anthony Weaver work magic again with this Dolphins defense?

Weighing the pros and cons of Dolphins’ offseason youth movement

Have Dolphins finally solved their backup QB issue?

Will changes on Dolphins’ O-line lead to pass protection for Tua, better run-blocking?

What should we expect from Dolphins’ first-round pick Kenneth Grant in 2025?

With questionable Dolphins secondary, can better pass rush make up for the back end?

Can Dolphins’ Tua stay out of harm’s way and remain healthy all season?

Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel or both? Who’s on Dolphins’ hot seat entering 2025 season?

Is this Tyreek Hill’s final season with the Dolphins?