Durability concerns touch all the major candidates for starting RB.
Durability is a key attribute for NFL players.
Miami Dolphins training camp is nearly in full swing. And now, with the pads are on and contact being made, is durability at Running Back becoming an even greater concern – as if that were possible?
Jay Ajayi suffered a bruised knee during some contract drills, and as a result he will be sitting out for a couple days.
Isiah Pead as suffered a minor injury in his hammy and is now dinged.
Even though Ajayi should be back on the field in no time, this does not hide the fact that Ajayi has had setbacks in two consecutive training camps.
And while he didn’t miss time in college, he did drop in the 2015 Draft due to a degenerative knee issue.
The Running Back position has the shortest shelf life in football due to the violence of play the position, so durability is right at the top of a backs most important skill in their skill-set. If Ajayi truly is going to be our starting running back, he is going to be hit a lot this season. try as I might, I just can’t get my gut to bank on him being able to play a full 16 game season without missing time due to an injury.
One thing that best pay per head fans have not brought up in regards to us losing Lamar Miller this off-season was his durability. Sure Miller was underused and did not get a ton of carries in his time with the Dolphins; however, he never had injury troubles, and the injuries he did have were nagging and not debilitating. Sure, he was banged up at times, but that never kept him from missing a game.
Compare that to Ajayi, who got hurt before the season started last year and missed the first half of the season.
Then to add a little gasoline on the fire, the Dolphins drafted Kenyan Drake and signed Arian Foster. Both players have medical files the size of telephone books. I am not saying I do not like these two acquisitions, but the fact is that there is considerable risk with both of them. If these guys can not break their trend of suffering injuries, then Miami could be cycling through running backs faster then Casanova went through women.
This is why the return of Damien Williams is crucial.
He has the talent, but his inconsistency has never allowed his talent to bloom.
If they can get quality play from him this season and suck up some snaps, this could help the rest of the stable stay fresher and take less rolls of the dice in the injury crap shoot.
I might be in the minority, but I have always felt that he was always a half-step behind success. Hopefully, Miami can roll a double Yahtzee in the injury department and in Williams rehabbing his career’
They might just need him at some point this season.
Go Fins!!!
