How Can De’Von Achane Ascend To Top Tier In Year Two?
Syndication: Palm Beach Post
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane showed some flashes during his rookie year that excited many about his future in the league, and all signs also point toward year two being even better.
Achane played in 11 games in 2023, finishing with 800 yards and 13 touchdowns. His most impressive stretch was during weeks 3-5, when he finished with seven touchdowns and 455 rushing yards. The injury was a problem, and the Dolphins weren’t really committed to him fully being a true number-one back. Against the New York Giants in October, when Achance rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown, Raheem Mostert still finished with 65 yards and a touchdown.
Mostert ended up rushing 209 times for 1,102 yards and 18 touchdowns. Mostert is still on top of the depth chart heading into the 2024 season, but Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has high expectations for Achane in 2024 and beyond. McDaniel believes that focusing all offseason on the Dolphins’ offense instead of getting ready for the NFL will help the former Texas A&M standout take a step forward.
“I think [it is an] important offseason for him because you were just really hanging on by your coattails as a rookie in this league in general,” McDaniel said on Tuesday, via the team’s official transcript. “The way things are kind of structured is there’s so much time devoted to working out and getting your testing numbers right and then the second that you — and you’re training for kind of these timed measurables. Then you immediately transition once you’re drafted into kind of practicing. You get a little breath of a break and then you’re still on your rookie season.
“Year 2, you kind of let everything settle, understand much more of the whys of everything that you do and for him, the more he can understand within the offense, the more ways he can get the ball. He had outstanding ball production, some of which I know he feels specifically that there’s more out there from the opportunities he had last year.”
How big of a step forward Achane takes this year probably comes down to McDaniels and the coaching staff. There is little doubt that Mostert is a talented back, but Achane is the best back on the Dolphins’ roster. He has been working hard this offseason, and based on some photos that have surfaced online, he has been grinding in the weight room. He has done everything this offseason to improve, and McDaniels has taken notice.
“More ways to be at the point of attack to play within this offense, that’s what this offseason really provides for him. Seeing some strength gains and you can tell by his body he’s put some work into it and then him just understanding everything about our offense so he can be as big a part of it as possible. That’s his goal.”
There is zero reason for Achane to be number two on the depth chart once the season starts. He proved during the 2023 season when healthy that he has all the makings of a superstar back, and like McDaneils said, the expectations is he will be even better this year.
In the NFL today having two running backs is important, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be a 50/50 split. The Dolphins have one of the most talented offenses in the NFL, but running back is often overlooked. Opposing defenses have to put the attention on Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, which opens up even more opportunities for the running game. The Dolphin’s offense is creative, and Achane has proven as long as the ball is in his hands, he’s a difference-maker. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Achane get even more reps catching the ball out of the backfield in 2024 and beyond.
It won’t be long before Achane is considered one of the best running backs in the league, but with the shelf life of backs being shorter, the Dolphins can’t waste it. Achane is going to have a breakout year in 2024 as long as he gets the reps.
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