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Chris Perkins: Dolphins show faith in Mike McDaniel by re-signing running backs Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson

Chris Perkins, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on

Published in Football

The Miami Dolphins are re-signing running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., and it’s an interesting move because it could be viewed as being as much about the head coach as the players.

The Dolphins are showing faith that coach Mike McDaniel, given the same talent, won’t finish 31st — second-to-last in the league — in rushing attempts (390) again.

The Dolphins are also showing faith that when the running game is working during a game, it won’t be abandoned.

Most significantly, the Dolphins, who are in ‘win-now’ mode, are saying they can win with what they’ve got, or what they had, which isn’t how it seemed last season.

It’s not a big surprise that the Dolphins plan to re-sign Mostert and Wilson. Money is a factor. If both max out their deals it’ll only cost the Dolphins $15.8 million over the next two years. Plus, you’ll recall McDaniel, Mostert and Wilson were all together in San Francisco before being reunited with the Dolphins last season, so there’s familiarity among the trio.

But it’s somewhat of a surprise the Dolphins are returning the running backs who, for the most part, combined to have them finish tied for 25th in rushing (99.2 yards per game) and tied for 19th in yards per carry (4.3).

 

Clearly, the Dolphins aren’t blaming the running backs for that performance.

At this point it seems the only major difference between the run game last season and next season will be the play-calling, and that’s on McDaniel.

By bringing back Mostert and Wilson it should mean McDaniel, the Dolphins’ offensive mastermind and play-caller, is committing to being better at incorporating the run game into his offense.

And the Dolphins believe McDaniel will succeed in that commitment.

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