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Dolphins Q&A: How should Mike McDaniel manage running back touches when all are healthy?

David Furones, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·4 min read

Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.

Q: Who’s losing playing time? De’Von Achane? Salvon Ahmed? Jeff Wilson? Is Chris Brooks moving to practice squad? — Nick Soto on X

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel certainly has a decision on his hands when all his running backs are healthy, but it’s a desirable problem.

“I think it’s a fortunate thing to have,” McDaniel said Monday, after watching Achane go from a healthy scratch in Week 1 to tearing up the Broncos for 203 rushing yards and four total touchdowns two Sundays later.

So, he already knows Raheem Mostert — he of four touchdowns himself Sunday against Denver — needs his carries in this offense. Achane has emerged as a must-get-the-ball playmaker after his outburst. Ahmed, who was ahead of Achane on the depth chart and playing well, is working back from a groin injury. Wilson is eligible to return from injured reserve after the upcoming game at Buffalo. And even the undrafted rookie Brooks, after a strong stretch in the preseason, went for a 52-yard run Sunday once the score was well out of reach.

“On deck is the fabled five-running back personnel package,” McDaniel joked, we think, Monday, “and you never know when it’s coming.”

One thing’s for sure. Achane makes it so McDaniel certainly doesn’t have to rush Ahmed back — or Wilson, if he still needs more time.

Ahmed looks a lot like Achane, often confused for one another from a distance in training camp due to their similar build and 28 and 26 as jersey numbers tough to decipher. But Ahmed, while serviceable, probably wouldn’t do what Achane did Sunday, and Achane has elite breakaway speed that not many possess.

Wilson is different in that he can get the ball in short-yardage and goal-line situations. One of Mostert’s touchdown runs came from a yard out, and both he and Achane are physical runners for their size. But Wilson could’ve been an option over fullback Alec Ingold on those back-to-back third- and fourth-and-1s that led to a turnover on downs in the second quarter.

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Bottom line: After what Achane did Sunday, he needs to get his touches. Others will be worked in too, when healthy, and matchups will dictate what the carry distribution will be.

Q: If we could add any player from Dolphins history to this team who would it be? To me, it’s Zach Thomas or Richmond Webb. — Nathan Neighbors on X

Webb is always a fantastic choice, but the current Dolphins are fine at left tackle. Terron Armstead is a four-time Pro Bowler in his own right, and he played great in his season debut against the Broncos. Even in the games he missed, Kendall Lamm filled in well.

Zach Thomas, I would love him in the middle of this defense as the leader of it. Although, it would be a little different for him from the base 4-3 “Mike” linebacker he was used to playing in the run-heavy era of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Nonetheless, he’s plenty versatile, and Raekwon Davis, Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler can keep blockers off him the way Tim Bowens and Daryl Gardener did in his day.

From the same teams, how about either cornerback Sam Madison or Patrick Surtain?

While Jalen Ramsey is out, one of them would be amazing opposite Xavien Howard, and you could have Kader Kohou in the slot in nickel packages.

Or if we want to go back further, how about Bob Kuechenberg at left guard? Isaiah Wynn has done well at the position, but if Kuechenberg was on the current team, there wouldn’t have been a competition in camp.

Q: Has Van Ginkel earned a starting role? Who is losing playing time for him? He is clearly built for Vic Fangio’s defense. — Nick Soto on X

Andrew Van Ginkel has certainly earned every snap of playing time he gets, but it’s still going to depend on matchups, various packages utilized and health of others around him to get an uptick.

Van Ginkel’s versatility across the linebacking corps helps in this regard.

Jaelan Phillips injured? No problem, insert Van Ginkel. Bradley Chubb out? No problem, insert Van Ginkel. Jerome Baker or David Long either out or don’t fit well against a certain team? No problem, insert Van Ginkel.

And he is valuable in nickel packages. He has been a force and a tool for Fangio, for sure.

Have a question?

Email David Furones, or tag @ChrisPerk or @DavidFurones_ on X (Twitter).