MIAMI GARDENS – If there’s any such thing as making up for lost time in the NFL, it’s the Dolphins.
We knew from the moment Mike McDaniel was hired that he was committed to racing.
Now the dolphins are too.
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Added Michel to the backfield:Ex-Rams, Patriots running back Sony Michel joins the crowded Dolphins backfield
They said it when they signed Chase Edmonds early in free agency, reiterated it when they added Raheem Mostert two days later, and then—in case anyone forgot—reminded us on Monday when they picked up Sony Michel. That doesn’t even include returning veterans Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed, nor Alec Ingold, the full-back who was brought in for them.
After years of treating running back as an afterthought, the dolphins ran at them.
“We just need a bigger room,” joked Eric Studesville, the running game’s assistant coach.
Sorting out seat assignments is the least of Studesville’s worries. Luckily it’s only May, which means he has time to sort out more pressing matters, starting with the most basic question: Who is the best defender on this team anyway? For many teams, this isn’t even an issue, but most teams haven’t overhauled the position that much.
As soon as that is clarified – actually When that’s settled and doesn’t roll back by committee — the Dolphins can dictate rotation, roles for each man, how much they rely on throwing back and how often they dust off that long-forgotten full-back position. (We hear your cheers, Larry Csonka.)
One thing must be clear up front: the dolphins insist that they do not go into the matter with preconceived notions. Even if training camp opens in July, any pecking order they might have in mind would be just that – in the minds of the coaches and certainly not set in stone.
Bottom Line: This is likely to be the most intriguing and hard-fought team battle for roster space and playing time. Yes, there are clues as to where each player stands today, but how they fare in late summer will speak loudest.
“We’re still in the installation phase,” Studesville said. “And we’ve had these guys running around outside, but we haven’t seen ‘football’ yet.”
The addition of Michel is striking because of the timing. Is it a sign that the Dolphins weren’t sure they had what they needed, or is it a hometown discount that makes this an offer they couldn’t refuse? Michel, who attended American Heritage in Plantation, helped the Rams go all the way last season by rushing for 845 yards but signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
Many Dolphins fans are asking if it wouldn’t have been wiser to re-sign Duke Johnson, the former Hurricane who wanted to remain a Dolphin but instead switched to the Buffalo Bills for $1.27 million — less than Michel’s asking price.
Johnson wowed fans with two 100-yard rushing performances in four starts to end the 2021 season. His 4.6 average led the team.
So add to the long list of points that will be answered in the fall as to whether Michel or Johnson was the right choice.
“You create a competitive environment and let the guys handle that,” Studesville said. “They will clarify who contributes where, how and how much.”
The only certainty is McDaniel’s determination to see a huge improvement from the team’s No. 30 ranking last year.
“He sees it as an integral part of offensive success and we all do that and we all got into it and we understand that,” Studesville said. “And it’s up to us to make sure we maintain that.”
Let’s take a closer look at the factors:
experience
Michel, Mostert and Edmonds have all played 55-60 games in their careers. Michel has a huge advantage over the field in games that started at 35. Though he started half of the Rams’ games last year, his playing time dwindled in the postseason as Cam Akers recovered.
So if you’re looking for a player who will nail a starring role and remain healthy enough to keep it for an extended period of time, you’ve come to the wrong place. Mostert has started just nine of the 59 games played and Edmonds 15 of 57.
Gaskin and Ahmed have dealt with injury issues, resulting in 21 starts in total.
speed
Ah yes. The thing that McDaniel – and by extension the Dolphins – just love.
Mostert pedaled better than anyone in the league in 2020, hitting 23.09 mph on an 80-yard touchdown streak to lead all ball carriers according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. He also had the second-fastest game, 22.73, on a 76-yard reception that included 71 yards from the catch, another must-have on Miami’s offense moving forward.
“What we have with Raheem is we have a really, really smart guy who’s been in this system before,” Studesville said of Mostert, who played for McDaniel with the 49ers. “He produced in this system. His skills are that he can run and make good decisions with the ball in his hands, and for a running back, that’s good criteria.”
What about receiver Tyreek Hill, you ask? His 2020 high was just 21.91, but relax. In 2016, Hill trumped Mostert with 23.24 on a kickoff return.
Though Edmonds didn’t stun the league’s radar gun, Studesville says don’t forget him.
“Chase and Raheem adding to the space, that’s a lot of speed,” Studesville said.
PFF classes
First some perspective.
Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor was Pro Football Focus’ top-rated defenseman last season with an 87.0, followed by Green Bay’s AJ Dillon (86.9) and New England’s Damien Harris (86.6).
What about current dolphins?
Edmonds (66.6) checked in in 40th place, highest of the group. Gaskin was 49th (64.8) and Michel 52nd (63.1). Incidentally, the Raiders’ Kenyan, Drake, the ex-Dolphin, finished 23rd (73.1).
Mostert only played one game last season due to injury, so it should be noted that his 2020 grade was 79.3, which isn’t an outlier for his career and would have put him 14th last season, behind Josh Jacobs, but ahead of Joe Mixon and Derrick Henry.
Edmond’s best in 2019 was a 69.7.
On her most beautiful day…
What does each back look like when it gets hot and has to carry the load?
Michel has the edge with a 133-yard tag against the Jets in 2018, which only suggests the real stat is jumping off the page. He’s had seven 100-yard rushing days — by far the most in this group — and his teams are 7-0 in those games, including two for the Rams last season.
“Obviously he wanted to be back down here in this area,” Studesville said. “But I think the main thing is that he’s a really, really good footballer. He’s proven that and played in very successful teams and contributed to that and I want that to continue here.”
Mostert put on the largest single tally in 2019, with 146 yards for the 49ers against the Ravens. He averaged 7.7 yards per carry that game, but it was the only 100-yard game of his career.
Edmonds has surpassed the 100 twice and Ahmed once, but Gaskins’ ’91 against the Jets in 2020 is his career high.
Most days…
Mostert has the edge here with a career average of 5.7 per carry. He is followed by Edmonds (4.7) and Michel (4.2).
That leaves the two returnees (Gaskin at 3.8 and Ahmed at 3.6). But remember they were running behind an inferior offensive line here that all defenders are hoping will be greatly improved with the addition of Terron Armstead and Connor Williams.
For what it’s worth, Michel has racked up the most yards of the group, 2,137.
Mr Third Down?
Edmonds was by far the top receiver from outside the backfield with 128 catches, 921 yards (7.2 average) and five touchdowns. Next is Gaskin (97 for 673, 6.9 and six TDs).
“Myles is a very humble person,” Studesville said. “His demeanor is like that and his personality is like that. He will try to under-promise and over-deliver.”
Studesville said how much the dolphins back-throw is determined by what they show the trainers more than the system itself. Just like receivers, they are drilled with the phrase “yards after catch” to make this offense work.
“Can they catch the ball if we throw it to them from backcourt?” Studesville said. “If they can run routes and catch the ball effectively and get yards after the catch, I think that’s what we want to do.”
Finally the fattest wallet
Sometimes it pays to forget the coachespeak and look at the tough bottom line. And this one tells an undeniable story.
The Dolphins lured Edmonds to a two-year contract worth $12.6 million, averaging $6.3 million per person.
That’s close to what the other four are expected to earn this season combined: Gaskin ($2.5 million), Mostert ($2 million), Michel ($1.75 million) and Ahmed ($895,000).
Hal Habib covers the Dolphins for The Post. Support our journalism. Subscribe today.