The Return Of Achane Can Quiet The Narratives
Syndication: Palm Beach Post
Narratives are a funny thing in the NFL. They’re mostly formed in a vacuum and built for morning opinion shows on the big networks. Rarely, if ever, is enough thought given to the deep mitigating circumstances like salary cap and injury situations when deciding if teams are “the real deal” or “falling apart.”
As Miami comes off their bye week, they continue down a path that most national analysts would refer to as Jekyll and Hyde like. But, although his absence may have not felt dire to outsiders, the return of rookie running back De’Von Achane has the potential to reshape the conversation..
On a roster with multiple options, Achane immediately emerged as a shining star. Despite starting the season as a backup and sharing the workload with Raheem Mostert, Achane’s impact on the Dolphins’ offense has been nothing short of electrifying. As he makes his way back from a knee injury, his return has the potential to reshape the team’s offensive dynamics, and perhaps put to bed the narrative of “Miami struggling against elite teams.”
Achane’s performance pre injury was not just eye-catching, it was statistically outstanding. With a remarkable PFF grade of 93.6, Achane sits atop the entire Dolphins roster, outshining even star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the consensus offensive player of the year at midseason, whose grade stands at 93.0. Despite a limited sample size due to his initial backup role and subsequent injury, the rookie has 460 rushing yards, a staggering 12.1 yards per attempt average, and 7.42 yards after contact per attempt.
But what truly set him apart, and what the team has been lacking in their recent losses, is his ability to utilize speed to force missed tackles – 15 in total this season. On the season Achane has 11 runs of 10+ yards. His breakaway percentage of 65.9% underlines his effectiveness for turning designed rushing attempts into explosive plays, adding a dynamic element to the Dolphins’ offensive strategy.
He’s no slouch In the passing game either, contributing a notable 1.18 yards per route run, showcasing his versatility as a dual-threat running back.
Offense hasn’t been a problem against weaker opponents this season, but the top level teams have forced McDaniel’s bunch into a stagnant corner. Some have argued that it is McDaniel’s willingness to abandon the run early when things go poorly that is to blame. Perhaps they are right. But with two of the team’s three losses coming after Achane got put on injured reserve, one could easily argue we have to see this team consistently against top teams with him in the lineup before we start casting stones at McDaniel’s approach.
Knowing his value, the Dolphins recognize the need to protect Achane’s body and will likely continue to manage his playing time judiciously. While he may not fit the mold of a traditional bell-cow running back, the team understands that having him available for crucial moments outweighs the risk of overexertion.
“We just didn’t really envision him being one that would really flourish with a brace so we took the time to make sure that we can get structurally completely strong.” McDaniel said on Monday. “We probably, a little, we erred on the side of caution with that.”
The Dolphins, equipped with a solid running back rotation and a well-crafted offensive scheme, must strike a balance between maximizing Achane’s impact and ensuring his long-term availability.
The AFC is currently wide open and the AFC east is Miami’s for the taking. The team finds itself on the cusp of a potentially transformative moment. With impressive advanced statistics and a skill set tailor-made for Mike McDaniel’s offensive scheme, Achane has already proven his worth as a splash player. Now, as he aims to rejoin the lineup against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Dolphins hope he can prove key in squashing some of the team’s current concerns.
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