Run Game Continues to Evolve as Season Goes On

Run Game Continues to Evolve as Season Goes On

Mike McDaniel made a name for himself as a run game coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers.

McDaniel created different run schemes that generated significant success in the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay tree, and eventually used that success to get hired by the Dolphins in 2022.

In his first two years in South Florida, you could see that creative play calling and run scheme diversity nearly every week, which culminated in 2023 when Raheem Mostert set a franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a season.

However, something changed in the 2024 season.

The run game that allowed the Miami offense to be the best in the league in 2023 simply disappeared only one year later, which caused the offense as a whole to be one-dimensional and thus, crater.

Heading into this season, it seemed as if the Dolphins were motivated to be a more physical team and lean on the run game with a revamped offensive line.

Then, in week one, injuries forced the line to be reshuffled, with Austin Jackson and James Daniels, the top free agent signing, going on injured reserve.

Along with second-round rookie Jonah Savaiinaea struggling early in the year, it looked like the run game was destined to fail for a second straight season, and McDaniel’s tenure in Miami was coming to a close.

However, McDaniel adapted.

Starting in the win over Atlanta in week 8, Miami has shifted its offensive focus to the ground, where it has found major success.

In that game against the Falcons, the Dolphins started to employ more formations that included a sixth offensive lineman in Daniel Brunskill.

They won that day in Atlanta and have gone on to win three of their last four as they gained 197, 169, and 164 yards in subsequent victories over Buffalo, Washington, and New Orleans.

The catalyst on the ground has been De’Von Achane, who already has 1,034 rushing yards this season, which is the first time the third-year pro has rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season.

It is safe to say that Achane has been a force on the ground this year.

If Achane and the Dolphins can pound the rock, it is proven that they will win.

It seems like Miami’s season might have changed that day in Atlanta.

Hopefully, the Dolphins stick to the ground game.

It clearly is working and delivering wins.