The Dolphins have been very busy bees so far this off-season, and even after all the activity the Dolphins still have a handful of key positions that they need to fill and improve on. One position that is not a major need, but is still a position that needs some improvement in, is running back. Lamar Miller had a break out year last season, however it would be nice to pair his unique skills with a bruising between the tackles running back that can get that tough 3rd down yard, or can punch it in on the goal line.
This is a supposedly deep draft for running backs, so even if Miami does not do anything in free-agency they still may have a chance to find their bruiser in the draft. However, if Miami is looking to find someone to compliment Miller, than they may want to take a good hard look at Steven Jackson (6’2” 236 pounds), whom Atlanta just released this off-season.
Some football gambling fans may immediately say that Jackson is over the hill, after putting his body through 11 years in the NFL. However even though he is on his last leg in his career, he was still able to be a productive player for the Falcons the last two seasons. In his last two seasons in Atlanta he carried the ball 347 times (157 times in 2013 and 190 in 2014), which was a far cry from when he was getting the ball anywhere from 260 times to 330 times a season back in his prime, but that is basically all we would need from him next season. The other important statistic for Jackson is that he was able to get 12 touchdowns for the Falcons over the last two seasons, (6 each season) something the Dolphins would not mind having.
Clearly Jackson is not going to be the long term solution, however in a limited role he could be the perfect back to pair with Lamar Miller next season. That would still give Damien Williams another season to improve and blossom, and the front office can still take a shot at drafting a running back in the later rounds of the upcoming draft. What does the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans think about trying to sign Steven Jackson to a reasonable one year deal?