The Dolphins tend to be regarded as a team on the rise. They seem to have the right coach, and they finished strong last year. But I’m cooler on Miami’s offensive players than most.

Recapping (for those who are rusty) Miami’s offense really came on in the second half of last year. After a pretty dreadful start, they ranked 9th in scoring in their final eight game. They averaged 294 passing yards in those games (3rd-most in the league), with 13 TDs.

Miami scored 100 more points in the second half of the season, the 2nd-largest improvement in the league. And they averaged 74 more passing yards per game (No. 1).

Then, shockingly, they fired offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea. They’ve got 68-year-old Chan Gailey taking over the offense, and he’s going to install a completely different, simplified system.

I don’t get it. As well as O’Shea had that offense playing late last year, I thought the correct course was to leave him in there.

With Gailey taking over, that has me far less interested in rolling the dice on a player like DeVante Parker (pictured), Preston Williams, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa, Sticky Gesicki, Jordan Howard or Matt Breida. It’s a different offense, and roles change.

Gailey has been coaching in the NFL with various teams for years (though none since 2016). None of his last 12 teams have ranked higher than 14th in overall passing. (Fantasy stats, I speak of, including 4 for TD passes and 1 for every 20 yards.) Only 25 percent of those 12 teams ranked higher than 20th.

GAILEY: PASSING
YearTeamPctYardsTDIntRateRk
1989Denver54%3,352212073.720
1990Denver58%3,671151874.66
1996Pittsburgh54%2,990151968.028
1997Pittsburgh54%3,215221974.823
1998Dallas59%3,54617887.214
1999Dallas58%3,278201380.025
2000Miami58%2,720151772.230
2001Miami61%3,335201980.620
2008Kansas City57%3,358231677.518
2010Buffalo57%3,371242175.225
2011Buffalo62%3,857242577.016
2012Buffalo60%3,430241782.225
2015NY Jets60%4,170331688.015
2016NY Jets57%3,645162567.628

Gailey has had more success with running games, but he’s not getting much to work with in that area. Miami last year allowed a league-low 72 rushing yards per game and doesn’t have a great offensive line. Their running backs last year combined to run for only 833 yards – 300 fewer than the running backs of every other team.

GAILEY: RUSHING
YearTeamAttYardsAvgTDRk
1989Denver5542,0923.8156
1990Denver4621,8724.11914
1996Pittsburgh5252,2994.4182
1997Pittsburgh5722,4794.3191
1998Dallas4992,0144.0218
1999Dallas4932,0514.2166
2000Miami4961,8943.81614
2001Miami4731,6643.51423
2008Kansas City3791,8104.8916
2010Buffalo4011,7204.3618
2011Buffalo3911,9214.91213
2012Buffalo4422,2175.0126
2015NY Jets4481,8684.21110
2016NY Jets4181,8024.31012

Four of Gailey’s last six teams have ranked outside the top 20 in scoring.

GAILEY: WINS / SCORING
YearTeamRecordPointsRk
1989Denver11-53629
1990Denver5-1133116
1996Pittsburgh10-634411
1997Pittsburgh11-53727
1998Dallas10-63819
1999Dallas8-835211
2000Miami11-532316
2001Miami11-53448
2008Kansas City2-1429126
2010Buffalo4-1228328
2011Buffalo6-1037214
2012Buffalo6-1034421
2015NY Jets10-638711
2016NY Jets5-1127530

—Ian Allan