Opportunity Knocks For Ollie Gordon

Opportunity Knocks For Ollie GordonOne of the bright spots in the Miami Dolphins first preseason game was the play of rookie running back Ollie Gordon.

He showed a tough, physical presence that the Dolphins havent had at the running back position since Jay Ajayi.

The problem, however, is that Gordon has been the number 4 running back on the depth chart, which would mean he would most likely be inactive on game day if the season started today.

That changed on Monday with third string running back Alexander Mattison being put on season-ending injured reserve with a neck injury.

Mattison was having a very good camp from all signs and had provided the team with the tough physical yards needed in the running game, but now Gordon will have to pick up the slack.

The Dolphins signed a couple of other running backs, but he is the number 3 running back unless he gets hurt or plays horribly the rest of the preseason and training camp.

I dont like to see players get hurt, but when a player gets hurt, it provides an opportunity for others that you might not see when the regular season comes.

If everyone remembers in 2023, DeVon Achane was a talented rookie, but he was stuck at the 4th running back when camp started, and going into the season that year, behind Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and Salvon Ahmed.However, things changed when the season started.

Wilson started the season on IR, and then after the second game, Ahmed got hurt, which opened the door for Achane in the 3rd game, and he took off with his opportunity, running for over 200 yards in his first game and showing off his big play ability from then on.

Gordon has Achane and Jaylen Wright in front of him, so they will get a bulk of the snaps once the season starts, but Gordon should get an opportunity in short-yardage situations as long as he seizes the opportunity in front of him.

My main concern is how coach Mike McDaniel will use the running backs.

He will clearly use Achane and Wright, but will he use the big physical back in Gordon in the short-yardage situations? That I dont know.

Last year, he kept Wilson inactive or sparingly played him for unknown reasons.

He also used Achane in short-yardage situations, which is a mistake because of his size.

McDaniel loves speed, but you need power as well, especially in the running game, and I wonder if McDaniel will use Gordons talents.

Gordon led all of college football in rushing yards 2 seasons ago with over 1,800 yards, and last year didnt go as well for him with high expectations for him as he was considered a possible early candidate to win the Heisman Trophy.

However, the season was a disappointment, and it hurt his draft stock; he slipped to the Dolphins in the 6th round.

Gordon is a perfect fit for the Dolphins to complement his power with the Dolphins speed.

Its up to him now to seize the opportunity, and judging by the first preseason game, he seems up to the task.

Now, he is a rookie ,so he may go through a learning curve, but he is a missing piece the Dolphins need in the running game.

He needs to take advantage of his opportunity with Mattison done for the season, so he can be active on game day, but more importantly, McDaniel must use him in the short yardage situations, which is my biggest worry, honestly, and not the player.

McDaniel has to know that just about all of the moves this off-season were used to add more power and physicality because you just cant win with speed, especially as the season wears on.

McDaniel cant be using smaller backs in short-yardage situations, as Tyreek Hill pointed out correctly with Achane, or those players will get hurt.

He has to utilize his big rookie running back, and Gordon has to continue to prove his worth to get on the field.

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