MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins observers were waiting for the moment the team would truly stick to running the football, and it may have started with last Thursday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Dolphins entered fourth in the NFL in rushing average through two weeks while dead last in rushing attempts.
Against the Bills, they ran a solid 25 times, compared to 34 pass attempts, for 130 yards — a 5.2 yards-per-carry clip.
Buffalo struggles in run defense, one of the few areas in which the top dog in the AFC East is not elite. So it was certainly an area to exploit.
The same could probably be said for this Monday night’s divisional opponent, the New York Jets, who enter 23rd against the run.
The Dolphins set the tone early in their Week 3 game against the Bills by incorporating rookie power rusher Ollie Gordon II early and often as a complement to speedy tailback De’Von Achane. Miami methodically pushed the ball down the field, capping the opening drive with a Gordon touchdown.
“I feel like it was good,” Achane said of getting Gordon in the mix. “It’s great for our offense to see a changeup. When he is out there on the short distances, he’s been 100 percent converting. … Our running back room is very capable, no matter who is in the game. All of us can make plays.”
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said going to Gordon, who had nine carries after totaling just three in the first two games, was pre-planned. Gordon ran for 38 tough yards on those attempts, while Achane led the backfield with 12 carries for 62 yards.
Gordon saw his uptick in workload despite the renewed health and availability of second-year running back Jaylen Wright. Wright had missed the first two games with his preseason knee injury. He was active for Thursday’s game but didn’t see any snaps.
While Gordon brings a potent power element to the Dolphins’ ground attack next to Achane, McDaniel is open to Wright emerging if he proves deserving through competition in practice.
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“Competition brings out the best in people, and I think that those guys owning the entire playbook, how much I can use those guys is kind of up to them,” McDaniel said. “I have firm belief in both those guys. I think Ollie was able to contribute to the game (Thursday) night, and that can tip the scales or it may not. Because what that does is that puts competitive pressure with Jaylen Wright to be on his stuff, and I’m sure his game is going to rise.”
Achane, who also leads the team in receptions (18) along with rushing attempts (30), doesn’t exclude himself from that competition.
“I feel like it’s competition for everybody, even me,” Achane said. “We compete every day at practice. We got a great relationship with each other, but we all know it’s a business and we know the best man is going to be out there.”
Then, there’s the incorporation of wide receiver Malik Washington on the ground. Washington has rushed six times as a wide receiver, including twice for 20 yards at Buffalo. McDaniel has had previous success using a wideout in the ground game, going back to the 2021 season as offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers with Deebo Samuel.
Washington revealed Tuesday that McDaniel has given him the nickname “Maleebo,” as a mix of his and Samuel’s first names.
“I’ve watched some Deebo Samuel tape,” Washington said. “He’s probably one of the best at just going into the backfield and making plays happen. So he’s been a huge guy I’ve looked up to as far as what he does in the run game, how versatile he is, kick returns.
“I kind of want to just, not necessarily follow those footsteps, but trying to create my own game in that sense.”
Washington was a read-option quarterback in high school, so he has a background of making plays in the backfield.
“I’m far removed from that,” he said, laughing, “so I’m still learning and getting back in that groove.”
Washington’s usage on sweeps and end-arounds can take advantage of opponents keying in on the running backs in the box while then keeping them on their toes for the outside runs.
“We all have to gel together. We all have to make each other work,” Washington said, “whether that’s incorporating me in different spots, so we can get somebody else open or allowing me to get the ball, it all just opens up our offense, makes every defense have to key on many different things, many different people. Ultimately, it’s going to help us score points.”
Achane has also found a lot of his work in the passing game open in the flats, because opposing defenses make sure not to give up big plays on the outside to wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Achane led the team with seven receptions Thursday, but it only amounted to 29 yards. Fifteen of them came on one play, meaning he didn’t get much out of the other six catches.
“Just take what they give us,” Achane said. “We turn the flat to 15 yards or get a first down every time, I feel like eventually we move down the field. … Just getting everybody the ball in space. I feel like, when we get the ball in space, any one of us can take it down for a touchdown.”
