De’Von Achane has been a consistent producer since the Miami Dolphins selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The running back has appeared in 28 games over the past two seasons, recording 1,707 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 306 carries. He has added 789 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 105 receptions.
While the former Texas A&M Aggies running back has consistently produced, the Dolphins were among the biggest disappointments in the league last season. After finishing 11-6 the previous year, they were just 8-9 in 2024 as their offense regressed in a major way. That led to the team drawing the ‘soft’ label, something that Achane fired back at on Wednesday.
De’Von Achane Fires Back at Dolphins’ ‘Soft’ Label
Achane recently took aim at those who have labeled the Miami Dolphins as soft. The soon-to-be third-year running back spoke with the media on Wednesday, stating:
“I just feel like, man, we all hear it. As a team, I feel like, we’re going to go out there and practice everyday and we’re going to show, when the season comes, everybody who was saying those little remarks, let’s make sure they keep the same energy. I feel like, as a team, we’re building that energy and we’re here everyday. We’re not missing days. You can see that this year’s team is way different than last year’s team.”
The Dolphins actually took a major step forward on the defensive side of the ball. After ranking 22nd in points allowed and 10th in yards allowed in 2023, they finished 10th in scoring defense and fourth in yards allowed last season. Their defense ranked 11th in the league, according to PFN’s Defense+ metric.
Miami’s offense, which had been among the best in the league in 2023, took a major step backwards. After ranking second in points scored and leading the league in total yards, they ranked 22nd in scoring offense and 18th in total yards. Their offensive unit was ranked 15th in the NFL, according to PFN’s Offense+ metric.
Much of their regression was due to the absence of Tua Tagovailoa, who was forced to miss four games with a concussion and two games with a hip injury. The one-time Pro Bowler had ranked as the eighth-best quarterback in the league, according to PFN’s QB+ metric. The Dolphins’ success will likely once again hinge on his ability to stay healthy. However, they did sign Zach Wilson and draft Quinn Ewers in an attempt to bolster the quarterback room.