The Miami Dolphins are not really running smoothly ahead of their visit to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. If the Dolphins lose against Tom Brady and Co. as well, they will have to make a decision.

Munich – The Miami Dolphins’ season actually got off to a good start. Thanks to a contested away win at the New England Patriots, Miami once again underpinned their claim from last year.

Despite missing the postseason, the team around quarterback hopeful Tua Tagovailoa finished the season with a promising record of 10-6 and was also considered a candidate for the playoffs this season.

After four games played, however, the “Fins” are far from that. There are several reasons why things are not going so well at the moment.

The wait for Tua continues

The Dolphins haven’t given up on Tagovailoa yet. After all, general manager Chris Grier and Co. invested their first-round pick at third overall last season in the talented Hawaiian.

After taking over for veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick only halfway through the season last year, Tua proved to be a solid game manager. As a starter, he finished with a record of 7-3.

Reason enough for the officials to declare him the franchise quarterback before the current season. He continued to show improvement in the first game against the Patriots, leading his team to a tough away win with two touchdowns.

Then Tua injured his rib in week two and has been missing from the team ever since. He is targeted for a return to the starting lineup in week six. After a serious injury in college, Tua is thus showing himself to be injury-prone early in his NFL career. That puts his long-term status as a starter in doubt.

Moreover, the fact that doubts about Tua’s longevity in Miami are growing louder again has little to do with the playmaker himself. Instead, the other former rookie quarterbacks in his draft class are so convincing that more and more criticism is being voiced about Miami’s pick.

Especially Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, who was selected three picks later than Tua, is often used as a comparison. Already last season he convinced with outstanding numbers, and also this year he is the clearly better quarterback so far.

Defence no longer saddle-fast

Miami’s trump card last season was his strong defence. Whether in the pass rush or in the secondary, the South Beach defense was feared for its ability to produce big plays on a regular basis.

That spark has yet to be ignited this season. Because the offense, with no Tua and virtually no running game – the Dolphins average just 78.3 rushing yards per game – provides little relief, the weaknesses of their own defense are regularly exposed.

The Dolphins have been beaten more often this season, especially on the ground. In four games, the defence has allowed 547 rushing yards – sixth worst among all NFL teams. Because the run can’t be stopped, the rest of the defence looks much shakier than last year.

Over the past three games, the defence has allowed a total of 93 points. This is too much for the improvised offence around backup quarterback Jacoby Brisett to keep up with in the long run. The veteran played decently with 583 passing yards and two touchdowns over three games, but could not prevent the defeats.

Patience or upheaval: Where do the Dolphins stand?

Now the Dolphins are beginning to ask themselves in which direction this young season is heading. If the negative trend continues, a radical upheaval could still take place this season. In concrete terms, this upheaval would even have a name.

It is an open secret that the Dolphins are one of the most interested parties in superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Houston Texans playmaker, meanwhile, is not playing due to an ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit.

That’s probably another reason why the price, which is still being assessed with several players and future first-round picks, is as low as it’s ever been. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, according to a recent “NBC” report, is considered a big fan of the idea of luring the quarterback to Miami. Although Watson wouldn’t be ready to play until next year, given the precarious athletic situation, officials could sacrifice short-term success for a brighter future.

With an estimated cap space of 77 million US dollars, the Dolphins would then be in a position to provide Watson with a powerful squad. The same applies to Tua, of course, who could possibly call up even more of his potential with an improved squad.

Whether Miami opts for the patient journey with Tua or the next upheaval with possible trades, only time will tell. A trend in one direction or the other could be apparent as early as after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dolphins at Buccaneers: this is why so much matters

Sunday’s “Battle of Florida” actually comes at an inopportune time for the Dolphins. When it comes to a franchise’s short- and medium-term future, a trip to the reigning Super Bowl champions is not the most pleasant task. At the same time, of course, a surprise win could have some kind of signaling effect.

“When you play against the best player of all time, the intensity of preparation has to be raised. The execution also has to be much better then,” Head Coach Brian Flores told “AP” before the game.

If the Dolphins win at the Bucs and possibly also in Tagovailoa’s return against the so far winless Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6, the rain clouds on South Beach could also quickly disappear. Then Tua would also have a personal chance to substantiate his claim as a long-term Dolphins quarterback.

It is possible and more likely, however, that an even bigger storm is brewing in the coming weeks. With the exception of the Los Angeles Rams, hardly any team has been able to shake the Buccaneers’ well-oiled machinery.