How the Phins Handled the RB Position
How did the Phins handle the Running Back position in the draft?
Everyone predicted that Miami would select a top running back in the 1st or 2nd Round of the 2020 Draft. However, the Phins passed on taking a running back with their top four picks. Unfortunately, by the time their second pick in Round 2 came around, all the top tier running backs were off the board.
How the RB position ‘shook out’ in the draft
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, probably one of my favorite running backs (just think Alvin Kamara), was the first running back off the board going to the Chiefs with the last pick of Round One. Edwards-Helaire will be quite a weapon for Mahomes and the Chiefs. Then D’Andre Swift came off the board when the Lions selected him. Taylor, Akers, and Dobbins were still on the board at #39, but the Phins decided to instead draft Robert Hunt.
Don’t get me wrong, I do like the Hunt pick. Hopefully, it turns out to be the right move. It will be interesting to see how Taylor, Akers, and Dobbins do since Miami had a shot at each of them.
Then the Ravens (who you can always bet with the best bookie software solutions will draft well) drafted J.K. Dobbins one pick before the Dolphins were on the clock. The Ravens who beat and beat the Phins bad may have collected another pelt on this one. I read that Grier had a few ‘pounding the table moments’ during the draft. Seeing Dobbins drafted one slot before Grier’s pick had to be one of them. Miami was so close…
… but not close enough.
What to do, what to do?
Miami passed on running back position after that. The likely reason was that they weren’t comfortable with the 2nd tier backs left on the board. Grier to his credit thought out of the box and made a pretty sneaky and good trade with the 49ers. Grier traded a 5th Round pick to San Fran for veteran RB Matt Breida in return.
Breida is a young and fast running back who has had excellent production in limited duties. An undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern, Breida made the team and earned a role on the 49ers for three seasons. On 381 carries over those 3 seasons, he rushed for 1,902 yards, 6 touchdowns, and a whopping 5.0 YPC. In addition, he’s entering a contract year, and Miami has said they’ll let the contract situation ‘play out’. This means if Breida wants the big payout he needs to perform. Young players entering a contract year usually have a break out year… if they are ever going to have one.
So, Miami picked up great value for this season by trading a 5th Round pick for Breida. Now, the long-term value might end up not so high, but Miami had 15 picks, so ammo being expended for short term gains is expected.
Some good news: Breida is one of the fastest players in the NFL. The NFL tracks the miles per hour a player gets to on any given play, and Breida had 2 out of the 3 of the fastest times last year, topping 22 miles per hour. In addition, he can also be a threat in the passing game. His career receiving stats are 67 catches for 561 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, the biggest knock on Breida is durability. That’s why we picked him up with only a 5th Rounder.
This Training Camp will have serious competition at Running Back
Miami missed out on the top tier running backs in the draft, but at least they addressed the position. Worst case scenario `is if Breida and Howard don’t pan out this season, they’ll have four picks on the first two rounds next year to gets a young stud. Let’s remember, this team will take a year or two more to fix all the past mistakes.
What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans’ thoughts of the direction Miami went with the Running back position?
I have no choice other than to accept the opaque reasoning of the FO, otherwise
I get headaches! A couple of observations: I read somewhere that Ballage ( RB ), made a statement to the effect that he ” had nothing to prove! ” If that’s the case, sh*tcan’ the guy and let’s move on ! I guarantee you that Frank Gore (RB) will tell you that he has things to prove, and the man is a legend. Too bad we don’t have the room to offer him a veteran’s minimum just to have his expertise and presence in the locker-room. I also hope that Laird and Breida aren’t so similar that Laird is cut. To me, Laird walks, talks, and plays like an athlete. I also hope that Breida has a breakout year with the Dolphins. What I said about Laird also applies to Van Ginkel (LB). Apply what I said about Laird to Isaiah (WR) as well. I’m not sure they know what to do with Raekwon McMillan ? Can he cover or not ? Is he cerebral enough to play MLB ? I very much approve of our last two departures. Keep weeding them out, bringing them in, and seeing who fits and who doesn’t. And based on a boxing analogy – “Let’s get ready to rumble !”
Yeah, Fred. I worry about Laird too! Can Gaskin come back from the injury? Look at Ledbetter. Ballage can be good… if he slams into the hole… and has a hole. He has zero cut back or agility. They’ll keep 4 RBs. Five might be too much if with 3 QBs. Ballage is likely just trying to not think about it… but the media won’t let that happen. McMillian is so limited in the modern game… don’t think he sticks. Van Ginkel… he has pop, but it will be a tough camp to stick.
Hello Admin and Dol-Fans
Breida was part of San Francisco’s three-headed monster at running back last season, along with Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert. The 25-year-old, however, wore down as the season wore on and saw his share of the carries dwindle. Including the postseason, Breida rushed the ball a grand total of 19 times after Week 10 and didn’t play a single offensive snap against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Still, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry during the regular season, and Breida clearly is capable of being a game-breaker out of the backfield.
Admin More to come on not drafting prototype running back!
I think he was a backup plan. I’d rather have them wait till next year and get the right one with a blue-chip than get the wrong one because of impatience… Breida is a stop-gap… that’s cool. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
All of my early draft ranking had the top running backs off the board from the late 1st round to the early second round. I thought no need to trade up but only placed the right value/picked on the correct players. I’m not sure the Dolphins value any running back in the 1st or 2nd round? But the Dolphins will have to make it work. I’m not criticizing their picks
Long way off but the top Running Backs are listed below all rankings will changed a thousand times.
Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson. Height: 5-10. Weight: 200. Projected 40 Time: 4.47. Projected Round (2021): 1-2. 2/10/20: For the most part, Etienne …
Chuba Hubbard*, RB, Oklahoma State. Height: 6-1. Weight: 207. Projected 40 Time: 4.52. Projected Round (2021): 2-3. 2/10/20: Hubbard took college …
Kylin Hill, RB, Mississippi State. Height: 5-11. Weight: 215. Projected 40 Time: 4.52. Projected Round (2021): 2-3. 2/10/20: In 2019, Hill …
Najee Harris, RB, Alabama. Height: 6-2. Weight: 230. Projected 40 Time: 4.53. Projected Round (2021): 2-4. 2/10/20: In 2019, Harris averaged 5.9 .