The Miami Dolphins could be without their top two running backs in a critical Week 2 AFC East showdown. What could that do to the team’s plans?
It did not take long for the Miami Dolphins to have key pieces of their roster head to the sidelines and miss playing time. Heading into Thursday night’s Week 2 kickoff against the Buffalo Bills, Miami’s running back group has taken a major hit with Raheem Mostert already ruled out of the game and De’Von Achane is questionable.
Not having your top two running backs is rough at any time during the season. Not having them in Week 2 is not a great sign for the future. Not having them against an AFC East division rival who has beaten you four straight times could have just dealt you a miserable hand for a primetime game.
Miami is favored by 2.5 points as of Thursday morning, according to FanDuel sportsbook. That line could move rapidly if there is any indication that Achane will join Mostert on the sideline for the game.
The Dolphins game plan must adjust with Mostert not on the field. During last week’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami occasionally used Mostert and Achane on the field simultaneously, an option they will not have on Thursday. Achane was used as a wide receiver several times against Jacksonville, but, if he is available, he may be limited to working out of the backfield. The Dolphins lose some of their ability to create mismatches when Mostert is unavailable, and Achane is limited.
Miami’s pass-first offense showed last week that it is not afraid to utilize the short pass to open up deep shots later. With the loss of Mostert, even if Achne is available, the game plan may need to resort to those passes behind or at the line of scrimmage, using those passes to supplement the ground game if the team struggles to get the rushing attack established. Giving the ball out wide to wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and allowing them to make a play, using their speed to work through the heart of the defense, is absolutely a method to offset potential struggles in the ground game.
The Dolphins are facing an uphill battle facing the Bill on Thursday night. The hill is steeper than they expected with Mostert standing on the sideline at Hard Rock Stadium. It could get even more treacherous if Achane is not available. The team has to come up with a way to battle through adversity and end the streak of losses to the Bills.
How will the line move throughout the rest of Thursday? Will Achane’s availability cause any changes? Whatever the case – the Dolphins need to be prepared.
