Grounded in reality
Are Miami Dolphins running backs good enough? Exploring the team’s backs and how they look
The most puzzling part of this past Dolphins offseason, aside from the jettisoning of linebacker Kyle Van Noy? Probablythedecisionnottoaddastarting-caliberrunningbackandagainbypassselectingone in the first two days of the draft.
Miami’s decision to pass on available free agents (such as Chris Carson) and not take any of the draft’s consensus top three backs (Najee Harris, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams) speaks to the Dolphins’ faith in Myles Gaskin, SalvonAhmedandnewcomerMalcolmBrown, a former Rams backup.
It also speaks to the Dolphins’ belief that adding speed at receiver (Will Fuller, Jaylen Waddle) will help the running game because safeties cannot play as close to the line of scrimmage.“Itdefinitelycouldopenthebox,”Gaskin said.
What’s clear is this: The Dolphins’ running game must be better than a year ago. Not only didtheDolphinsaveragejust3.9yardspercarry (27th in the league), but they averaged just 1.4 yards after contact per rushing attempt, which was worst in the league. By comparison, the AFC East champion Bills averaged 2.3 yards after contact.
Gaskin averaged 2.54 yards after contact, which was 83rd of 142 backs. Salvon Ahmed averaged 2.32 after contact, which was 107th of 142. Brown, for the Rams, averaged only 2.18 yards after contact last season, which was 115th of 142.
Dolphinsrunningbacksbrokeonly19tackles all year, per profootballreference. What’s more, Miami was just 19th in rushing yards before contact, at 2.5.
Miami’s longest run of the year went for 31 yards, worst of any team in that category. And 17.9percentofDolphinsrunswerestoppedator behindthelineofscrimmage,whichranked21st.
SowhydidtheDolphinsstickwiththisgroup? Onereasonwasthelackoftoprunningbacksin free agency. Another was how the draft board fell; Miami believed one of the top backs might be available with the 36th pick, but Denver traded up to 35 to take Williams.
And another is appreciation for Gaskin, who averaged 97.2 yards from scrimmage per game, which was 10th for players with a minimum of five games. And the Dolphins also liked what they saw in Ahmed, who averaged 4.3 yards on 73 carries, and believe Brown is better than a pedestrian backup.
Keep in mind that PFF ranked Gaskin 26th and Ahmed 36th of 70 qualifying NFL running backs.
“Myles is awesome,” running backs coach Eric Studesville said this week. “I love who he is.Ihatedhimgettinghurtlastyear.Suchafreak deal, last play of the game, hit on the side of the knee. He gives you everything he has the entire day.”