Talent isn’t an issue with the Dolphins Running Back position – but, health is.
Is a veteran Running Back a necessity to bring stability?
If a veteran Running Back is needed, May 12th was a date that Miami had circled on their calendar to officially start the search, because it was the first day that a team could sign a free agent without affecting the compensatory draft formula.
The Dolphins were very strategic with some of their off season free agent signings due to the departure of quite a few big names. That loss will be slightly lessened with compensatory draft picks in 2017. However, now Miami can dip back into the free agent market, and it will have absolutely no effect on their 2017 compensatory draft picks.
Miami believes they will be awarded a 3rd, 4th, and 7th round compensatory pick- the 3rd and 4th are needed just to break even with their trade for WR Carroo.
With that being said, do the Dolphins need to continue to explore the free agent market to help their core of running backs?
At the moment, the Dolphins have Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake, Daniel Thomas, Damien Williams, and Isaiah Pead.
The most troubling aspect is Daniel “boomerang” Thomas, who has been cut twice by Miami, and who did not even step on the field for any team last year, has over 3 times more career careers than all of the other Dolphins running backs combined.
At the moment, it appears that Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake are going to be given the lion’s share of the carries. Considering that Adam Gase loves to have rushing as the engine to his offense, these two players should see a lot more touches than the Dolphin’s running back group from last season.
However, one thing that can’t be overlooked, neither of these young running backs have the cleanest bill of health. More carries, equals more contact, equals increased probability of a player getting injured, and that’s not good for guys with sketchy history of durability.
Ajayi has a degenerative knee and broken his rib that caused him to miss the first half of the season. Drake broke and dislocated his ankle in 2014, and his 2015 season was riddled with injuries: broken ribs, a concussion, a quadriceps injury, a sprained ankle, and a broken arm.
So, it’s fair to wonder if they can complete a full season.
Talent wise, Ajayi and Drake can be a good running back tandem. Dan Campbell said last year, “Ajayi runs like his hair is on fire,” which is a great way to describe Ajayi’s aggressive running style. Drake is more of a shifty and elusive running back that has speed. Both players are also very good ball catchers, so they both will be dangerous in the passing game as well. I would love to see Miami finally start to utilize the screen pass, which is a play the Philbin era never liked to use, but is a great way to keep defenses off balance.
Damien Williams is the only real possibility of a surprise wildcard in the deck. He can’t be be either discounted or counted on outright. Last year, Philbin tried to push him to step up. Williams inconsistency overcame his talent, and he regressed hard in year two. He has talent, but needs to know when he should extend himself and when to reel it in. He was expected by some to have a break out season as a 3rd down back. The zone-stretch, along with a better line and better coaching might finally get him to reach his potential – maybe.
So given the lack of experience, injury history, and inconsistency, most football gambling fans would suggest that Miami should still bring in a veteran running back to put in the mix. There are still a few serviceable running backs on the free agent market, such as Arian Foster, who has his own troubling injury history, Joseph Randle, and Joique Bell.
They have the cap space. I can’t see how they won’t chase another back to fill out the stable. Although, to be fair if I had my crystal ball working right, I might very well see a veteran won’t be needed. But, I don’t – it’s in the shop again. So, all I have to go on is the past, and last year’s roll of the dice on the guard spot has me hoping Tannenbaum has learned his lesson. Go Fins!!!
