Running back has become a need for the Dolphins

Coming into the 2017 season, running back was not a position of concern for the Dolphins. However, over the last month a running back has become a top need for Miami’s offense with the trade of Jay Ajayi, and the injury to Damien Williams.

The injury to Williams is not as important when looking at who will be in the backfield for the Dolphins in 2018. Even if he returns for the last couple weeks of this season, Damien Williams is more than likely to be cut in the offseason.

The trade of Ajayi four weeks ago is what made it clear that Miami should look for a number one running back after this year.

Adam Gase likes his running backs to be quick, agile and have the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Which is the reason he traded Ajayi for a fourth-round pick to the Eagles.

Ajayi was the opposite of that. He was a power back, and his hands were his weakness.

Miami’s running backs, Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake, have actually been more productive for the Dolphins over the last four weeks because they have the ability to catch swing passes and balls in the flat.

Jay Ajayi did not have a touchdown all season in his seven games with Miami. Drake has two, and Williams has one ever since Ajayi left. Two of those three scores were receiving touchdowns.

One thing to remember, the Dolphins chose to not re-sign Lamar Miller coming into Gase’s first year with the team.

I was reminded by Matthew Cannata. His tweet says it all. Miller has not necessarily been special for Houston, but he is the exact type of RB that Gase likes and wants. Who knows what could have been if the Dolphins would have kept him.

If Tannenbaum would have listened to his head coach, Miami might have one less need to fill this offseason.

Kenyan Drake will be back next season, but I do not think he is ready to be a number one back, and it’ll be interesting to see what Miami does with Damien Williams even though most say he will be cut.

The bottom line: versatility is important to Adam Gase, and Tannehill was most successful when he had a good running game to lean on. Miami needs to find their guy when the season is over, we will just have to wait and see who that guy is.