The Miami Dolphins have been chosen to be the subject of the latest installment of HBO’s hit reality series Hard Knocks, which profiles an NFL team’s journey through training camp and the preseason, up until final roster cuts. While the team may be considered a curious choice since they haven’t won a playoff game since the year 2000, there should be plenty of interesting angles with this year’s edition.
First off is the quarterback competition between incumbent starter Matt Moore, first-round pick Ryan Tannehill (#8 overall), and former Jaguars quarterback David Garrard. Tannehill is the player who the Dolphins hope will develop into the franchise quarterback the team has been missing since Dan Marino retired, but each of the other two signal-callers could be a viable option considering their greater experience in the NFL.
The quarterback competition will be decided by rookie Head Coach Joe Philbin, a man who knows a thing or two about great quarterbacks. He was the Offensive Coordinator for both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers. Philbin comes from a franchise that has become used to winning over the last few years, and it should be interesting to see how he looks to change the culture in Miami.
The intrigue doesn’t stop with the quarterbacks and head coach though. Miami running back Reggie Bush has experience with reality TV, after having spent some time dating Kim Kardashian, and should get plenty of screen time as his football career has been given new life in Miami.
The Dolphins also have arguably the best left tackle in the NFL with fifth-year starter Jake Long, a player who will be sure to garner some attention.
On defense the Dolphins will be looking to improve on a unit that ranked 15th in the league in yards allowed last season, with leaders like linebacker Jason Taylor and cornerback Will Allen having left following last season.
Despite their lack of recent success, the Dolphins should have enough going on to capture the attention of an audience who missed out on an edition of Hard Knocks last year due to the NFL lockout. For those who might need a refresher, here’s a summary of previous years’ editions, with the moments that stood out from each.
2010: New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan made Hard Knocks must-see TV for the 2010 season, as his profanity-laced tirades and catch-phrase quotability causing quite a stir with fans of the show. The collection of stars such as running back LaDainian Tomlinson, linebacker Jason Taylor, and wide receiver Santonio Holmes were each given ample screen time as they each adjusted to their first year with the team.
2009: The Cincinnati Bengals were featured in this year’s edition with wide receiver Chad Ochocinco being placed front and center with his antics and outsized personality. The 2009 Bengals featured quite a few positional battles, just like this year’s Dolphins, the team hoped to end a string of disappointing seasons with a playoff berth, a goal which they achieved that year.
2008: As always the Dallas Cowboys looked to grab the attention of the football world. This yeared marked Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens’s last season with the club, but two other wide receivers were given a good amount of the spotlight as well: unknowns Danny Amendola and Miles Austin, both of whom went on to become starters after that season. With troubled cornerback Pacman Jones in tow as well, this edition of Hard Knocks had its fair share of well-known players.
2007: The Kansas City Chiefs entered this season hoping to build off of their playoff season in 2006. However, troubles plagued their season from the start with contract disputes by star running back Larry Johnson and first-round pick Dwayne Bowe. Head Coach Herm Edwards, in his second season with the team, struggled with those problems as well as a quarterback controversy between Brodie Croyle and career back-up Damon Huard. Hard Knocks gave a first-hand look of a season which was destined for failure as the Chiefs were only able to amass four wins in 2007.
Each year of HBO’s Hard Knocks gives a unique perspective on the way an NFL team works, and while some teams may seem more glamorous than others, there are always stories to be told. The Dolphins’ tale will begin with the airing of the first episode on Tuesday, August 7, at 10:00 p.m.
By Eric Gustafsson
