The Dolphins are Becoming a Tougher Team

The Dolphins are Becoming a Tougher Team

It may be because I was introduced to football in the early 2000s, or it could be that I’ve grown tired of the over-reliance on the passing game, but I’m so ready for the NFL to shift back to a run-first league. The rules changed, allowing teams to put up huge passing numbers in the late 2000s and early 2010s. That carried through until the early 2020s before defenses finally adjusted with the use of two-high safety shells. 

This adjustment went a long way toward derailing the Dolphins and their Greatest Show on Surf offense, which dominated in the early days of the Mike McDaniel era. The past two seasons saw the Dolphins’ offense become less explosive, then borderline ineffective. The team was not built for more physical match-ups, nor bad-weather games. 

Accusations that the Dolphins were soft were thrown around, and unfortunately, they rang true. The Dolphins had become a finesse team at the worst time to be one, and it ultimately cost McDaniel his job and led to the team’s deconstruction. Tyreek Hill was released, as was Tua Tagovailoa. Jaylen Waddle was traded to the Broncos, and the book was closed on that chapter of Miami football. 

I truly believe the pendulum will begin to swing back to a more hard-nosed style of football. With defenders getting smaller in order to keep up with more athletic receivers and tight ends, there has never been a better time to pound the rock. 

The new regime in Miami, led by Jon-Eric Sullivan as General Manager and Jeff Hafley as Head Coach, seems to be thinking the same thing. With the 12th pick in last month’s draft, the Dolphins selected Kadyn Proctor out of the University of Alabama. Proctor was a surprise pick as other, more surefire prospects were still left on the board; none of the players Miami passed on are as physically intimidating. 

Proctor stands at 6’7”, 352 pounds, a true mountain of a man. He is slated to join fellow giant Patrick Paul, who himself stands at 6’7”, 326 pounds, on the left side of the line. These two create an incredibly imposing force that could become an absolute dream to run behind for De’Von Achane. Achance has already proven that he can succeed as the featured back, putting up 1,350 rushing yards, while adding 488 as a pass catcher. 

I expect the 2026 season to be a year where Achane can continue to show why he’s one of the better running backs in the league. With Proctor and Paul leading the way, we could be in store for a return to the type of rushing attack the Dolphins had in the early 2000s with Ricky Williams. I don’t know how successful the Dolphins will be record-wise, but I love what they are building in the trenches.

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