The Miami Dolphins are smack dab in the middle of a much-needed bye week. At 2-3, they sit just one game back of the first place Bills, tied with the reeling Jets for second in the division.
With the way the first month of the season has gone, that seems like a ridiculously fortunate place for the team to be in. They also just have one more game – next Sunday at Indianapolis – that they must navigate before QB Tua Tagovailoa can return from the injured reserve list.
As such, all goals, somehow, are still on the table for the Dolphins. A turnaround is possible. But there is a significant change the Dolphins would be wise to consider when they enter their Week 7 preparations for the Indianapolis Colts.
Miami should turn lead back work over to rookie Jaylen Wright
The Dolphins got their best performance on the ground this season – and by a mile – against the New England Patriots last Sunday, winning 15-10 to halt a 3-game losing streak. Miami ran for a season-best 193 yards at a solid 4.7 yards per rush.
There was plenty of praise to go around for the performance. There were holes there that simply hadn’t been there this season. Miami also wasn’t in come-from-multiple-scores-behind mode, which has been a rarity this year.
However, Miami’s ground game just looked different when Jaylen Wright had the ball in his hands. 13 carries for 86 yards. The rookie hit the holes like a bullet, and his agility and quickness were unmistakable. He left defenders chasing to catch up on multiple occasions, including a 35-yard run in the fourth quarter that was called back in what was the most exciting play of the game from either team (it was that kind of day, as the score indicated).
De’Von Achane is lightning when he gets his hands on the ball. Raheem Mostert is obviously capable and knows where to go with the football. But right now, Wright seems to have the most juice in an early-down running role. Until Miami gets Tua back and this offense has some sort of life again in the passing game (which certainly might not be immediate), the Dolphins have to squeeze every single drop of juice they can find elsewhere for their offense.
They’d be wise to find that much needed nectar from their rookie runner.
