Here's why Dolphins, Mike McDaniel believe in running game even without De'Von Achane

MIAMI GARDENS — The Dolphins have lost their leading rusher for at least a month. It’s a time when teams like to remind you that they have faith in their backups. That it’s not a one-man show even when it appears to be. That they’ll be fine.

And to listen to the Dolphins this past week is to hear the message that they’ll find a way to get through these next four games (or more) even though running back De’Von Achane has a knee injury. It’s to hear them say they can maintain the pace that has them as the NFL’s leader not just in total offense and scoring, but in both passing and rushing.

What makes this case different? The Dolphins just may be right.

To consider that the run game lies in the hands of Raheem Mostert, Salvon Ahmed, Chris Brooks and Jeff Wilson is to be reminded that each has given the Dolphins reason to think that this Sunday — or whatever Sunday it may be — just might be his Sunday.

“Every single back we have has attributes that the other doesn’t,” coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. “Every single back we have, I’d be comfortable starting.”

Distributing carries, he added, isn’t hard: “If there’s a back we feel is in their zone, we’re not going to compromise that to hit a number.” In other words, no one is on a pitch count or a minimum.

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How often is it that a team loses its leading rusher yet can turn to the league’s co-leader in rushing touchdowns? Mostert has seven TDs through five games, joining San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey atop that list. Likewise, little heavy lifting is required to make a case on behalf of Ahmed, Wilson and even the rookie Brooks. Any one could come away from Sunday’s game versus the Carolina Panthers having reassured the team it can navigate significantly tougher upcoming assignments against the Eagles and Chiefs minus Achane, who only turned 22 Friday.

“I told him, ‘You know, don’t worry about it,’ ” Mostert said, recalling his discussion with Achane. “He’s leaving it in good hands, because this is a running back room that’s always going to pick each other up no matter what.”

Jeff Wilson almost healed at opportune time

With that, Mostert pointed to “Hefe´,” his nickname for Wilson, who was downgraded to out for Sunday but is eligible to come off injured reserve after suffering multiple ailments. Hefe´ is Spanish for chief, which Wilson was when called upon out of the bullpen last season after Mostert injured a knee against the Browns.

Wilson stepped in and ran 17 times for 119 yards and a touchdown, surprising some with his ability to break tackles. All Mostert did, in the final game before Achane exploded onto the scene last month, was put up 121 yards against the Patriots. Brooks? In his only turn at it, he averaged 7.3 yards per carry in the rout over the Broncos. Which doesn’t even account for Ahmed, probably this team’s best performer in training camp, who has only six carries thus far but isn’t complaining.

“Everybody’s making it happen,” Ahmed said. “ … It’s a special room to be part of.”

McDaniel has made good on his promise this offseason to not abandon the run game. He assured Mostert of that when they met privately after last season. Mostert said that conversation is why he’s not surprised the Dolphins are putting up historically strong offensive numbers.

“Especially the talk I had with ‘Mikey’ last year, once the season ended, you know, I was close to a ‘G,’ having 1,000 yards,” Mostert said. “I believe I was at 891. And you know, I wish I would have gotten more opportunity to run the ball, to get close to that mark. But that was one of the emphasis that he wanted to talk about this offseason, going into this season, ‘Hey, I’m going to run the ball more.’ And obviously, as you can see, we’re doing that now. And our offense is prolific. We’re doing all kinds of things that — it’s just history. It’s history in the making.”

Players having their cake (and eating it, too)

In ways both tangible and downright goofy. Mostert revealed that each Thursday, coaches select players from the previous week who have done the best in areas such as ball security and takeaways. The winners, believe it or not, are awarded a cake.

“I got the very first cake, against the Chargers,” Mostert said. “And then the most impressive cake was a wedding cake. It was a three-tier cake that (Emmanuel) Ogbah got for having an interception.” Brooks, too, received one for pancake blocks.

Things really went off the rails when McDaniel was asked, and entertained, a question on how Mostert would have performed in Tecmo Bowl, a primitive video game compared to today’s Madden.

“Tecmo Bowl would do him a disservice,” McDaniel said. “Because Tecmo Bowl, you can literally run backwards and go side to side. One of his greatest strengths is linear yard accumulation. He treats almost every play like a kick return.”

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By that, McDaniel meant that tacklers are often “just a hair off” on their angles because of Mostert’s style. That helps explain his career average of 5.38, tied with Jamaal Charles and second only to Bo Jackson’s 5.40 among backs with at least 500 carries in the Super Bowl era.

“A guy like me, an undrafted guy to be in Year 9, I don’t take those things for granted,” Mostert said. “You know, I try to work my tail off as best as I possibly could, and to even be mentioned with a legend like Bo Jackson, and I know Jamaal Charles is up there — I still look out for that stuff. To even be up there with the greats, it’s humbling and it just drives me more to continue to push myself.”

The Dolphins enter Sunday’s game 4-1, one win away from equaling their best start since 2002. They’re averaging 185.8 rushing yards per game and will face an 0-5 Panthers team that is ranked 26th in run defense (140.8 per game). They’ve achieved balance, with 135 running plays and 168 passes. Next week, however, comes a trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles, who lead the NFL in run defense at 61.2 yards per game.

None of Miami’s success would be possible, naturally, without players running interference for the backs. That includes fullback Alec Ingold and an offensive line that Pro Football Focus rated No. 8 in the NFL this week — kudos unthinkable for large portions of the past couple of decades.

“A lot of credit to the O-line,” Ahmed said. “Everyone is blocking. Everybody’s making it happen. Makes it easy on the backs, you know.”

Sunday's game

Panthers (0-5) at Dolphins (4-1)

1 p.m., CBS; NFL+, Paramount+ and YouTube by subscription outside of South Florida

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins say they can run even minus De'Von Achane. Here's why.