3 toughest running backs Miami will face in 2016

This past season Miami let up the 5th most rushing yards to opposing running backs in the NFL. That issue was supposed to be solved after the acquisition of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

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Things won’t be easier this season for a defensive front seven that will have a little bit of a new look to it. Defensive end Olivier Vernon accepted an extremely generous offer from the New York Giants this offseason and he’s expected to be replaced by former 1st overall pick Mario Williams. Kiko Alonso is also expected to take over the middle linebacker position.

The spot I’m curious to see how it’ll be filled is the second defensive tackle position. Will Earl Mitchell step in or will the 2nd year tackle from Oklahoma, Jordan Phillips, step up. Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel reported Phillips leapfrogged Mitchell but we’ll know more once training camp comes along.

Regardless of who’s in the middle, they and the rest of the defense have their work cut out for them this season as Miami is set to face a lot of great running backs this season.

3. Matt Forte

As long as Forte is running the ball in the NFL he’s going to be a factor on Sunday’s. Now lining up with the rival New York Jets, Miami will have to face him twice this year after only facing him twice before throughout his eight-year career.

Forte first faced Miami back in 2010, running for 97 yards and a touchdown and catching just two passes for seven yards. The second game came in 2014; Forte ran for 49 yards and caught six passes for 60 yards, scoring two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the 14-27 loss against the Dolphins.

We’re not sure where Forte’s career will go from here. Now on the wrong side of 30 Jets head coach Todd Bowles will need to utilize Forte in a way that won’t hinder his ability down the stretch.

The Dolphins and Jets play week nine and week 15 this season.

2. Todd Gurley

Where’d this guy come from last season? Well, we know where he came from but we weren’t sure what we’d see from him in his rookie season after tearing his ACL while at the University of Georgia the year before.

We now know what he’s capable of. In his first four games as a starter Gurley ran for over 125 yards and three touchdowns. He went on to start 12 games over the season, rushing for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. To put that into perspective Miami running backs only had nine rushing scores all season.

Miami and Los Angeles are set to face off week week 11.

1. Le’Veon Bell

Bell is one of the top running backs in the NFL. If you combine his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield then I’d put him at the top of the list, no questions asked.

Miami plays Pittsburgh week six. Bell went down this last season with an ACL tear in week eight so there’s little-to-no chance that Bell misses week six unless he experiences a set back. If he is ready to go by week six Miami has their work cut out for them.

Wild Card

David Johnson

I wanted to put Johnson in this list but the 2nd-year back out of the University of Northern Iowa needs another year before I could put him above Forte.

Johnson was the first rookie running back – before Gurley – to break into the NFL. The first time he touched the ball he took a short Carson Palmer pass out of the backfield and ran 55 yards for a touchdown. In week two he returned a kick for a touchdown and scored a rushing touchdown; Johnson earned his way into the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame by being the first player in history to score all three ways in his first two games of his career.

It won’t be long be for Johnson’s versatility has himself as a top-five running back in the NFL.

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