The Jeff Wilson Decision Was About More Than Talent
Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
The 1972 Miami Dolphins fielded, in my humble opinion, the most perfect backfield the NFL has ever seen. The three-headed monster of Larry Csonka (1,117), Mercury Morris (1,000), and Jim Kiick (521) racked up 2,638 yards during that mythical 17-0 season. As the Dolphins put out their initial 53-man rosters Tuesday afternoon, it became apparent that head coach Mike McDaniel might just be ready to field a group that can challenge that legendary trio as the greatest statistical running back room in franchise history.
As the dust settled on cutdown day, it was no surprise to see Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, and rookie Jaylen Wright at the top of the running back depth chart. Leading the room is the veteran Mostert, coming off a season where he broke the franchise’s single-season records for both rushing touchdowns (18) and total scores (21). Achane burst onto the scene and electrified during his 11 games as a rookie, averaging a ridiculous 7.8 yards per attempt. Between the two, the Dolphins already could argue they had a top-three RB duo in the NFL. However, add in Wright, and they could have the best trio in the league.
But Miami wasn’t satisfied to stop there. While Wright has the same kind of home-run ability as Mostert and Achane, it’s their fourth running back who became a talker for the Miami faithful on social media after the Dolphins put him on the 53-man roster.
2023 undrafted free agent Chris Brooks showed promise in limited action during his rookie season, then continued that momentum during the preseason. Then he got hurt. While in concussion protocol to finish out August’s action, Brooks was ultimately cut, while veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. made the team.
To the national NFL fan, this might seem like a head-scratcher. At the position notorious for aging faster than any other, keeping a fairly unremarkable veteran over a young speedster makes no sense. But Wilson’s familiarity with head coach Mike McDaniel’s scheme and the diverse skill set he offers may make him the crucial final piece for the growing Dolphins offense.
Wright and Achane will eat up plenty of yards, and Mostert will continue his efficient production. However, finding a specialist who can move the chains in short-yardage situations is something Miami desperately needed in the backfield. While Wilson has just 125 rushing attempts in his season and a half with the Dolphins, he has succeeded as the go-to short-yardage option when called upon. McDaniel gives his backs plenty of run, except when they need a yard or two in a do-or-die situation. Last season, Miami ran a league-low 15 times on third or fourth-and-one.
Wilson dealt with injuries last year, sitting out for the first six games. But during his ten games of action, he averaged 4.59 yards per carry on 41 attempts and caught 14 passes. More importantly, he went 3-for-3 on third or fourth-and-short (three yards or less) when McDaniel tasked him with earning a fresh set of downs. In fact, Wilson was something of a first-down machine, converting 11 of them on his 55 total touches.
Like Mostert, Wilson spent time in San Francisco under McDaniel and not only knows the system, but is adored by the coach. If finally healthy and in his ideal role, he could help establish an identity that has been lacking from recent Dolphins’ teams. For the past two seasons, Miami has wilted in hard-nosed moments against physical football teams. Some have blamed McDaniel for abandoning the run. Perhaps the truth is the coach simply needed a back he could trust to pick up those tough first downs.
There’s no debate anymore: Wilson is the fourth running back in Miami. This makes sense, but only if he’s used as a specialty back. Let him extend drives in short-yardage situations, thus allowing his quarterback, fellow runners, and star receivers to have more opportunities of their own.
If Wilson thrives in that role, he could single-handedly toughen up the team on the road and against top-tier teams. In a cold, loud, hostile environment, the best way to consistently silence the crowd is with a boring, effective rushing attack that does nothing but pick up third-and-two conversions like clockwork.
At first blush, a 28-year-old veteran taking the RB4 spot looks like an oddity, or the coach playing favorites with “his guy.” But when taking a closer look, it becomes clear that Wilson is the player who gives Miami the right mix of guys that can fit any situation. Mostert, Achane, and Wright can be the ones who explode for flashy plays and pick up chunk yardage. That still leaves an important role for Wilson to do his thing and provide a path to a much more well-rounded offense in Miami. If he does his job and keeps the offense on the field longer, he can even help the backfield challenge the record books for most rushing yards in franchise history.
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