The Miami Dolphins have been battling against adversity in their offensive backfield throughout the course of the past month, often playing with third and fourth string ball carriers as they continue to try to breath fresh life into their offensive attack each week. The results haven’t always been great, but the Dolphins have revealed that they’re getting a boost back into the running back room again this week with the return of Matt Breida. Breida, who has been on the reserve/COVID-19 list, will be available for the Dolphins against the New England Patriots as they look to craft explosive plays in the run game.
We have activated RB Matt Breida off the reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 16, 2020
But while the Dolphins are sure to welcome Breida back into the fray, it isn’t certain how effective he can be in a more prominent role. The Dolphins trade for Breida in the offseason and the veteran running back, who is in a contract year, has yet to really find his footing through 13 games with the Dolphins. He’s logged just 47 carries for 168 yards (3.6 yards per carry) on the season and he has yet to find the end zone.
But Breida has been able to create some chunk gains on check downs in the passing game; his open field speed a clear asset that no other threats out of the backfield possess.
Can the Dolphins find the balance between Breida’s speed and explosiveness and the limitations of this offensive line group? If so, Miami will have a fresh dynamic to boost their offense over the final three games of the season — but based on the 13 game sample size we’ve seen thus far, expecting too much of a boost from the reintroduction of Breida to the depth chart seems ill advised. At the very least, opportunity will be ripe for Breida in Week 15; unless fellow RB Myles Gaskin also makes a return from the reserve/COVID-19 list before Saturday afternoon.