Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel expects bigger role for RB De'Von Achane in Year 2 

De’Von Achane blasted off during his rookie season, showing ankle-breaking speed that made him a wonder in the Miami Dolphins offense.

Coach Mike McDaniel is of the opinion that the second year could be more productive for the fast-paced running back, as Achane can now concentrate on the offense during his offseason.

“McDaniel expressed on Tuesday, as quoted from the team’s official transcript, that he believes the offseason is crucial for him. He explains that as a rookie in the league, it often feels like you’re barely hanging on. The structure of the season requires extensive time for workouts, testing, and training for specific measurable metrics. Once drafted, the focus shifts immediately to practice. There’s a brief respite, but then it’s straight back into the rookie season,” McDaniel said.

In the second year, one tends to grasp the underlying reasons of various tasks, leading to a deeper understanding. For him, the more he understands about the offense, the more opportunities he gets to handle the ball. He exhibited excellent ball production, although he believes there were more opportunities for him last year.

During the 2023 season, Achane played 11 games, rushing 800 yards on 103 carries and scoring eight touchdowns. He also made 27 catches for 197 yards, resulting in three more scores. Between the third and fifth weeks, Achane impressively rushed 455 yards and scored seven touchdowns. However, an injury sidelined him for four weeks, and for the rest of the season, he only managed to reach the 100-yard mark once.

In his second season, Achane’s role in the passing game could increase, making him an even more potent weapon for McDaniel.

“The head coach stated, “The ability to discover various methods of getting the ball to people, whether through different pass routes or diverse run schemes that one can become comfortable with, is vital. The offseason truly provides multiple ways to be at the forefront of the attack within our offense. You can see he’s made some strength gains and it’s evident from his physical form that he’s put considerable work into it. His understanding of our entire offense has also grown, allowing him to play a more significant role. That’s his ultimate aim.”

Raheem Mostert profiles as the lead back in Miami, but Achane should see an uptick in reps if he stays healthy, and rookie Jaylen Wright could be a wild card out of the speedy Dolphins backfield.