Ever since Mike McDaniel was hired to be the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, a narrative that the Dolphins don’t have the physicality or toughness to win at a high level has persistently haunted them.
How Miami has fared in the playoffs under McDaniel has much to do with that narrative, as it hasn’t won a playoff game since he took over the coaching reins and is seeking its first playoff victory since the 2000 season.
But running back De’Von Achane indicated that the Dolphins have turned a new leaf in that regard. He claimed that Dolphins players hear about the narrative about their perceived lack of physicality and “this year’s team is way different.”
“I just feel like we all hear it as a team,” Achane said. “I feel like we go out there and practice every day, and we are going to show when the season comes everybody who was saying those little remarks, just make sure they keep the same energy. I feel like as a team we’re building that energy and we’re here every day.
“We’re not missing days. You can see this year’s team is way different from last year’s team.”
Achane arguably played with physicality as well as any player on the Dolphins in a 2024 season that saw a lot go wrong for them. He was Miami’s top rusher by leaps and bounds, as he totaled a team-high 907 rushing yards and led the way in rushing touchdowns as well. No other player for the Dolphins finished with more than 278 rushing yards.
In addition to almost ending up with quadruple digits in rushing yards for the first time in his NFL career, Achane also functioned as an effective receiver. He ended the campaign with 592 receiving yards and ranked tops on the Dolphins in receiving yards after the catch.
The Dolphins may have thought about upgrading their physical presence when they made their first few picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Miami selected defensive tackle Kenneth Grant with the No. 13 overall pick, the team’s highest selection in a number of years. Then, the Dolphins used their next two picks on a pair of linemen in guard Jonah Savaiinaea and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.
Miami upping its physicality and toughness by a significant margin compared to seasons past could go a long way towards helping the team get back in the playoffs in the 2025 campaign. The Dolphins are fresh off a disappointing 8-9 season in which they missed out on the playoffs.
