Dolphins Should Lean on the Ground Game in 2026

Dolphins Should Lean on the Ground Game in 2026

Jeff Hafley is facing an uphill battle in his first year as the Dolphins’ head coach.

Miami is expected to be one of the youngest, most talent-deficient teams in the NFL next year.

And that is even before you consider that there might be more veterans across the roster who are purged for salary cap reasons.

So, how does Hafley keep the team in games when they are going to be overmatched against most teams they play?

It is easy, run the football and grind the clock.

If Miami wants to keep itself in games next season, it will have to limit the number of possessions that each team gets.

The Dolphins do not have a powerhouse defense to keep the game low-scoring, and additionally, Miami will not be talented enough offensively to keep up in shootouts.

Thankfully, Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik will have running backs at their disposal to deploy this type of offense.

Along with De’Von Achane, who ran for 1,350 yards last season, Miami also has other change-of-pace backs in Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II.

Also, with the Dolphins having a new, inexperienced signal-caller, whether that is Malik Willis, a draft pick, or Quinn Ewers, the coaching staff will want to make life easier for that quarterback by having the offense in good down-and-distance situations.

The same could be said about the team’s offensive line.

While 3/5 of the offensive line should be settled, there are plenty of questions about the right guard and right tackle spots, with James Daniels and Austin Jackson both being cap casualties.

Even if both return, the offensive strategy should not change.

More likely, both of those players are gone and in their place come a rookie or cheap veteran addition at both spots.

One way to help those players settle in, especially early in the season, is to run behind them.

Every offensive lineman would rather run block than pass block.

Additionally, Miami faces some tough defenses in 2026, including San Francisco, Minnesota, Denver, and the Chargers, among others.

With a talent-deficient, young team led by a rookie head coach, Miami should be doing everything in its power to shorten the game and limit its mistakes in 2026.

The best way to do that is for Jeff Hafley to tell Bobby Slowik to pound the rock with the team’s young trio of backs.