Omar Kelly: ‘This team has to get mentally and physically tougher’

The Miami Herald’s Omar Kelly had a strong take on the team’s outlook ahead of the 2025 season.

Kelly believes that the season could be a “pleasant surprise,” but he also admitted that it will depend on whether or not the Dolphins buy into Mike McDaniel and his staff. He also referenced that the Dolphins need to get tougher, a criticism that has plagued the team in the past.

Earlier this offseason, Dolphins running back De’Von Achane commented on the narrative surrounding the team’s toughness.

“I just feel like we all hear it as a team,” Achane said at the time. “I feel like we go out there and practice every day, and we are going to show when the season comes everybody who was saying those little remarks, just make sure they keep the same energy. I feel like as a team we’re building that energy and we’re here every day.

“We’re not missing days. You can see this year’s team is way different from last year’s team.”

Dolphins fans are certainly hoping that the 2025 team will be much different than the squad that Miami put forward in 2024.

The Dolphins missed the playoffs and finished under .500 for the first time in McDaniel’s time as the franchise’s head coach, and they struggled mightily in the games that star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed.

Miami was just 2-4 in the six games that Tagovailoa sat out, and the Dolphins don’t have much of a margin for error after letting some key contributors from last season’s team go.

Safety Jevon Holland left the Dolphins in free agency, and the team recently traded away star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith in a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So, the Dolphins will need some new faces to step up in the 2025 season if they want to get back in the playoff mix.

Tagvailoa’s health will be key, as Miami won 11 games in the 2023 season when he was able to suit up in all 17 of the franchise’s regular-season contests.

Hopefully, McDaniel will be able to get the most out of the Dolphins roster and avoid another down season in 2025.