MIAMI GARDENS — Disappointment will eventually evolve into optimism as the Miami Dolphins and their fans finally turn the page from the 2023 season to next season.

For now, however, it’s hard for players, coaches and fans to wash the bitter taste of an upsetting season, capped by that 26-7 wild-card round playoff loss at Kansas City, out of their mouths.

A season that began with so much hope, and such a star-studded roster, ended with a resounding collapse.

The Dolphins went from 9-3 with the inside track to winning the AFC East to an 11-7 finish, including a three-game losing streak, and yet another playoff loss, to end the season.

Yes, injuries were a factor.

But the Dolphins’ 3-4 record in December and January is still inexcusable.

Here’s something else that’s inexcusable: the Dolphins’ offense was No. 2 in the league in points per game at 29.2, but they only averaged 16.1 points a game in their seven games against playoff teams. That helps explain why the Dolphins had a 1-6 record in those games.

And one more nugget on the offense: Miami’s offense scored just 12 touchdowns in seven games against playoff opponents (linebacker Jerome Baker had a touchdown against Philadelphia).

Here’s the final report card from a disappointing season: 

Coaching: D

This is simple. Coach Mike McDaniel can’t escape going 1-6 against playoff teams, and 3-4 in December and January. You can’t lose to the best teams on your schedule, and at the most important time of the season, and expect a good grade. By the way, this is on the entire coaching staff, not just McDaniel, even though he’s the one held most responsible here. The bottom line is this team had too much talent for such a disappointing season, especially that costly Tennessee loss.

Quarterbacks: C+

Tua Tagovailoa (league-leading 4,624 yards passing, career-best 29 touchdowns, career-worst 14 interceptions, 101.1 passer rating, fifth in the league) had good numbers, and earned his first Pro Bowl berth. But he struggled in late-game situations. That must improve.

Among the hard conversations Miami must have this offseason is whether the offense puts too much on Tagovailoa’s plate. Is there a way to lighten his load such as Buffalo did for Josh Allen when it recently changed offensive coordinators?

Does Tagovailoa need a receiving tight end? Would utilizing the slot receiver more help Tagovailoa? 

In seven December/January games, Tagovailoa had eight touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 92.5 passer rating. He was sacked 14 times.

One thing that’s become apparent is Tagovailoa doesn’t improvise very well. In other words, when the play goes pretty much as scheduled, he’s fine. But if the initial receivers aren’t available, or if he’s under pressure, he doesn’t do well.

That development proved costly during the season, especially late in the season when primary wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were slowed by injuries.

Before the Dolphins have the conversation about giving Tagovailoa a contract extension, they must have the conversation about whether this offense asks too much from him and whether it can be tailored more toward his strengths.

Running backs: C

Ignore the flashy numbers, pay attention to the reality. Miami’s ground game was ineffective in games against playoff teams. 

Here are the flashy numbers: Miami finished No. 6 in the league in rushing at 135.8 yards per game, while Raheem Mostert had a career-best 1,012 yards rushing and franchise-record 18 rushing touchdowns. 

Here’s the reality: The ground game was irrelevant in the biggest games. Mostert, who averaged 67.5 yards per game, only had one rushing touchdown in his five games against playoff teams (he missed the Buffalo and Baltimore games late in the season). He had two 100-yard rushing games and neither was against a playoff team. In their seven losses, the Dolphins rushed for more than 100 yards five times. They averaged 114.3 yards per game rushing in their seven losses. The ground game wasn’t a factor in the big games.

That must change.

By the way, each of the top running backs (Mostert, De’Von Achane, Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed, Chris Brooks) missed time due to injury. That, too, must change.

Tight ends: C+

Durham Smythe had career bests in receptions (35) and yards (366). Rookie Julian Hill showed promise. Overall, tight ends did what was asked, which was to block. But the Dolphins didn’t have a receiving touchdown by a tight end. 

Wide receivers: A-

Hill (league-leading 1,799 yards, 13 touchdowns) was outstanding. Only an injury against Tennessee slowed him down, and that turned out to be significant because he was never the same the rest of the season. Waddle (1,014 yards receiving, four touchdowns) showed amazing toughness but a late-season ankle injury got the best of him, too. Cedrick Wilson Jr. (22 receptions, 296 yards, three touchdowns) and Braxton Berrios (27 receptions, 238 yards, one touchdown) had low-profile roles but did their jobs, for the most part.

Offensive line: B+

These guys did great work in the face of crippling injuries. The only reason their grade isn’t higher is because, let’s face it, the Dolphins were bullied (on both sides of the line of scrimmage) in late-season games against Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City.

Regardless, among left tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm, left guards Isaiah Wynn, Robert Jones and Lester Cotton, centers Connor Williams and Liam Eichenberg, right guard Robert Hunt and right tackles Austin Jackson and Kion Smith, they were strong as a unit.

Miami’s 31 sacks allowed were tied for fourth-fewest in the league.

Defensive line: B+

Christian Wilkins (career-best 9 sacks) and Zach Sieler (career-best 10 sacks) anchored a strong crew, but, such as the offensive line, they were bullied by Buffalo, Baltimore and Kansas City late in the season.

Still, it was a good year. Raekwon Davis and Da’Shawn Hand had low-key roles but they did their jobs fairly well.

Linebackers/pass rushers: C+

Bradley Chubb (11 sacks) and Jaelan Phillips (6.5 sacks) both had injury-shortened seasons. But they were a productive duo. Chubb had 4.5 sacks in five games against playoff teams, and Phillips had 2.0 in two games.

A major issue is availability, however.

Phillips only played two of Miami’s seven games against playoff opponents, and Chubb missed the late-season Buffalo and Kansas City games due to injury. 

Inside linebackers David Long Jr. (team-best 113 tackles) and Baker (78 tackles, third on team) had good seasons, but Baker missed five of the last six games due to injury.

Cornerbacks: C

The duo of Jalen Ramsey (22 tackles, three interceptions) and Xavien Howard (45 tackles, one interception) only played six games together. And communication issues plagued the entire unit, especially late in the season.

Ramsey missed games early due to a knee injury, and Howard missed games late due to foot and hamstring injuries. In situations where either Ramsey or Howard was missing, opposing quarterbacks went to work against Kader Kohou (63 tackles) and Eli Apple (46 tackles, one interception). Kohou had a rough time in the slot, and at times on the boundary, because quarterbacks threw at him and away from Ramsey and Howard. Apple, who was benched early in the season, was targeted for the same reason, because quarterbacks wanted to avoid Ramsey and Howard.

Safeties: C

Availability was an issue late in the season for starters Jevon Holland (74 tackles, fourth on team, one interception) and DeShon Elliott (82 tackles, second on team, one interception), although backups Brandon Jones and Elijah Campbell did good work.

But just as the cornerbacks were plagued by communication issues, so, too, were the safeties.

There were costly coverage/assignment busts late in the season, and also snapshots of the safeties taking bad angles on big-yardage plays.

Overall, the safety play wasn’t good enough.

Special teams: C

Kicker Jason Sanders delivered the biggest win of the season with five field goals, including the game-winner as time expired, in that 22-20 victory over Dallas. Berrios did a nice job as a returner, and punter Jake Bailey was good at times. Overall, however, special teams were spotty. One well-regarded publication ranked the Dolphins’ special-teams unit 31st in the league. Yikes. Their coverage units struggled in two critical spots down the stretch, allowing a 96-yard punt return touchdown against Buffalo and a 78-yard kickoff return against Baltimore that led to a touchdown. 

Final grade: C+

The Dolphins, for the most part, beat bad teams and lost to good teams. Here’s what that means: If you divide the NFL into thirds, the Dolphins are near the top of the second tier, perhaps somewhere around No. 12-16 among 32 teams. 

You be the judge of whether that meets your expectations for the 2023 season.