How Gordon Might Help Fill McDaniel's Running Game Vision

Three games into his NFL career, Ollie Gordon II emerged as a key player in Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s running game.

The sixth-round rookie ran the ball nine times for 38 yards against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, scoring his first touchdown on Miami’s opening drive. 

Gordon’s presence brought a physical element to Miami’s backfield against the Bills to complement the speed of De'Von Achane. Gordon averaged 4.33 yards after contact per carry, according to Pro Football Focus. 

“I was proud of his production, and I’m going to continue to challenge him to grow so we can have him out there as much,” McDaniel said Friday. “I think that balance that we were able to put out there with both utilizing De’Von and him was more of my vision. I’ve been waiting for his preparation, his ownership of the playbook to kind of do that, so I was happy to get that done.”

Second-year running back Jaylen Wright was active for the first time this season after missing two games because of a knee injury, but wound up not being used at all. McDaniel said that he was determined to get Gordon involved early in the first quarter.

“It was pre-planned,” McDaniel said. “I’m not sure how it played out, but I was planning about the fourth play to get him involved. What you don’t want to do with a rookie – and I’ve failed in this aspect in the past – is you don’t want to put him out there before he’s ready, because the residuals with his teammates, you have veteran guys out there and they’re veteran guys that know all the assignments, and when you put a rookie out there that maybe doesn’t know what he’s doing, that cost is gigantic on him with the locker room. 

“I’ve been focused, I’ve been very intentional about where we thought Ollie was. I thought he could help us on offense, but he had to continue to develop his off-ball responsibilities, and I felt better about it.”

After limited work in Miami’s first two games, Gordon’s role expanded Thursday night. He logged 15 snaps and nine carries, a jump from just three rushing attempts across the first two games as the No. 2 running back. 

“It was time for him to add his skill set to what defenses have to defend,” McDaniel said. “I thought he did a really good job having the mindset that I could have challenged him on and I know [Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville] challenged him on to run behind his pads and not assume that guys can tackle you, and I thought it was an effective tool for us and it definitely had an impact on the game.” 

A Complete Backfield

The Dolphins have a lightning-quick lead back in Achane, but previously lacked a booming presence that can break tackles and win in short-yardage situations. Wright averaged 3.25 yards after contact per carry on 68 attempts last season, while no other back exceeded 2.91.