82. Can This Dolphins Team Actually Get Better? | Nothing to Hyde

Two games into the season, the Miami Dolphins are 0-2. But for Dave Hyde and Kim Bokamper, the biggest question isn't simply when will they win?

It's can this team actually get better?

On the latest episode of Out to Pasture Presents: Nothing to Hyde, award-winning columnist Dave Hyde and former Miami Dolphins defender Kim Bokamper examine where this extremely young Dolphins team stands after its loss to the San Francisco 49ers—and whether there are legitimate reasons to believe things can improve as the season goes along.

For one half against San Francisco, there were encouraging signs. Miami established the run with De'Von Achane, controlled the football and gave Malik Willis opportunities to make plays. Then the second half arrived, the secondary broke down, Nick Bosa began wreaking havoc, and the game quickly got away from Miami.

Bo points to the challenge facing a roster filled with rookies and young players who are learning on the fly—while Jeff Hafley and an inexperienced coaching staff are learning right along with them. Dave looks back at the 2019 Dolphins, who were awful early before steadily improving and somehow finishing with five wins. Can this group make the same kind of progress, or are the circumstances simply too different?

Dave and Bo also dig into some of Miami's biggest concerns through two games: the lack of a consistent pass rush, instability along the defensive front, a young secondary being asked to do too much and an offensive line that had its hands full with Nick Bosa. And with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs coming next, those problems aren't about to get any easier.

Then there's Malik Willis.

Dave and Bo agree that it's far too early to make a final judgment on Miami's quarterback. Willis has shown flashes, his athleticism has allowed him to create plays under pressure, and he's operating with an inexperienced group around him. But by the end of this season, Miami needs an answer to perhaps its biggest question:

Do the Dolphins have their quarterback of the future?

And because this is Nothing to Hyde, football is only part of the conversation.

Bo unveils his latest NFL press box food grade, and San Francisco comes to play: chicken, crispy fries, three kinds of hot dogs, an omelet station and enough free candy for Bo to start stuffing his backpack. The 49ers earn an 85, taking over the top spot from Las Vegas.

The Dolphins may be 0-2, but this season was always going to be about more than the standings. Now the question is whether Dave and Bo can start seeing the progress that tells us Miami is actually building toward something.

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