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AFC East: Biggest question for each team in 2020

By Russell S. Baxter

FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots runs onto the field after a loss to the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots runs onto the field after a loss to the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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Matt Breida, Miami Dolphins (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Matt Breida, Miami Dolphins (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Miami Dolphins: Have they addressed the league’s worst running game enough?

It was quite a dismal performance when it came to Miami’s ground attack this past season. Granted, dealing running back Kenyan Drake to the Arizona Cardinals during the season didn’t help matters. But who would have thought that the team’s leading rusher by season’s end would actually be ageless quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick?

The journeyman field general wound up gaining 243 yards on 54 attempts while reaching the end zone four times. The team’s top ball-carrier in terms of attempt was Kalen Ballage, who amazingly managed only 135 yards on 74 carries albeit running for three scores.

Of course, general manager Chris Grier was pretty proactive when it came to adding some talent to the backfield. Miami picked up one-time Bears and Eagles running back Jordan Howard in free agency. And during April’s draft, the Dolphins swung a trade to acquire Matt Breida from the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

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Then again, bolstering the offensive line was on the team’s bucket list as well as Miami was dead last in the NFL this past season when it came to rushing offense (72.3 yards per game) and along with the Carolina Panthers, allowed a league-high 58 sacks. Hence the addition of rookie tackle Austin Jackson (1b-USC) and free-agents Ereck Flowers (Redskins) and Ted Karras (Patriots).

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