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Perkins: Dolphins’ offensive line just became more essential to season’s success
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- Perkins: Dolphins’ offensive line just became more essential to season’s success
MIAMI GARDENS — If the Miami Dolphins are going to have a successful season the offensive line must take the biggest role in leading the way . That might be a scary sentence to some. But it's one of the sobering realities of the season-ending knee injury to Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane , whose unique skill set as a runner and receiver made life easier for everyone.
The Dolphins' offensive line was always expected to be good. It's composed of an All Pro, two first-round picks and two second-rounders. It returns four starters and added the 12th pick of the NFL draft this year. But without Achane, the offensive line must be better.
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Coach Jeff Hafley said the Dolphins want to remain a run-first offense , and most of that task rests with the line, which is also blocking for an inexperienced quarterback in Malik Willis . Yes, Willis is an offensive leader and a team captain. But Willis, who only has nine career starts, can't do anything without an effective offensive line.
By the way, this isn't an unfair burden. We were always going to scrutinize the Dolphins' offensive line. It's a fundamental building block of the rebuild. It represents drafting and developing, and strength in the trenches.
In fact, you could argue that this should be the best unit on the team, ahead of the linebackers. The O-line is indisputably better than the edge rushers, cornerbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, and almost every other unit on this deconstructed team. The linebackers, led by All Pro Jordyn Brooks and upstart rookie Jacob Rodriguez , have been active. But they can't impact a game in nearly the same fashion as the offensive line.
Granted, the Dolphins' offensive line of All Pro center Aaron Brewer , rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor, the 2026 first-round pick, left tackle Patrick Paul , a 2024 second-rounder and team captain, right guard Jonah Savaiinaea , the 2025 second-round pick, and right tackle Austin Jackson , the 2020 first-rounder, got off to a slow start.
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But there's a chance it might be gaining momentum and stepping up to its challenge .
The Dolphins had their best rushing day of the season in last Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs , recording season bests in yards (119) and attempts (31). They also stymied All Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones .
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In the big picture, however, the offensive line's three-game performance hasn't been good enough. Pro Football Focus has the Dolphins' offensive line ranked 30th in pass protection and 21st in run blocking. Offensively, the Dolphins are 20th in rushing in the league at 98.3 yards per game and 23rd in passing at 192.3 yards per game. None is ideal.
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In 2025, this line powered a ground game that was 13th in the NFL in rushing at 120.2 yards per game. It allowed a respectable 38 sacks, which was tied for 16th in the league. The line is capable of being middle-of-the-pack good in the NFL. But it won't be easy.
One of the big challenges now will be blowing open holes for an unproven running back duo of Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II and likely practice squad running backs Jarquez Hunter and Carlos Washington Jr.
Brewer said that can be done.
"If you have an offensive line and they're getting movement off the line of scrimmage, you can put anybody back there and we can make it work," he said.
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That's perhaps true when Dolphins running backs go left or up the middle. It's definitely not true if they run right.
The Dolphins have run the ball 78 times but 14 of those have been quarterback sneaks (two) or scrambles (11) and another was after punter Bradley Pinion dropped a snap. So we'll say they've had 64 scheduled running plays for running backs.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Season outlook without De'Von Achane? | VIDEO
Among those, they've run left (left end, left tackle, left guard) 29 times, according to Pro Football Reference, which is 45% of the time.
They've run middle (left, right) 22 times, which is 34% of the time, and they've run right 13 times, which is 20%.
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Clearly, the Dolphins like running left behind Proctor and Paul, and up the middle behind Brewer, especially with Achane. Pro Football Focus has 16 of his 34 carries going to the left (47%) and 12 up the middle (35%). He gained 114 of his 127 rushing yards (90%) to the left and up the middle.
Achane had six carries for 14 yards running to the right.
This offensive line must also provide protection for Willis, who has made recent improvements but is still learning how and when to get rid of the ball to avoid a sack. He's blamed himself for many of the Dolphins' nine sacks.
We also acknowledge that the Dolphins' offensive line must clean up its act.
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Jackson has four penalties, tied for third-most in the league among offensive linemen. Proctor has three, tied for 11th most, and Brewer has two (he's also had one declined), tied for 21st.
But what the offensive line really must do is lead the way for the team's success in the 2026 season.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Miami committed to run behind Ollie Gordon? | VIDEO
