With Adam Gase now as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, a lot of the focus in 2016 will be on Ryan Tannehill. Gase has been responsible for leading Peyton Manning to success and turning around Jay Cutler. Now he must work his magic on Tannehill who is tied to the Dolphins for at least two more seasons. The passing game will be a focus which means Lamar Miller might not be eyeing a return and Miami will have to replace him.
Miller is set to be a free agent this offseason. The running back proved he can be a true threat on the field, but was underused greatly all of last season. Because of that, Miller has told the media that he plans on signing with the team that is the best fit for him. While he would love to continue playing in Miami where he also played college football, he wants to sign with a team that will prioritize rushing the football.
"I know this year sometimes we were in bad situations so we had to throw the ball," Miller said, via ESPN.com. "Like I said before, it'd be great to continue playing my NFL career here in my hometown. But this is a business and I'm going to sit down with my agent and we're going to talk and go from there."
According to FOX Sports, Gase has a history of using multiple backs. In Denver he rotated with Montee Ball, Knowshon Moreno and CJ Anderson. In Chicago, he rotated with Matt Forte and Jeremy Langford. Miller does not want to be rotate. He wants to be the lead man and with Jay Ajayi playing well behind him, a return is not guaranteed. So where could Miami look?
Is Matt Forte an option for the Dolphins? The veteran running back will also be looking for a new home and land in Miami. Over the 30-year hump, Spotrac.com reports Forte is worth upwards of a three-year contract of $7 million per season. While that is pricey for Miami who is cash strapped, it gives the team a veteran on a short contract. The Dolphins view Ajayi as their future. Having the young back rotate with Forte could be the best development tool.
With Ajayi also on the roster, the Dolphins will not overspend on a running back. Miller could learn that the hard way. It might also rule out players like Chris Ivory or Doug Martin who are coming off big season. Ronnie Hillman could be a nice addition. His experience with Gase could pay off in free agency. Alfred Morris and James Starks could be available for cheap. Gase will make the run game a priority, but he puts less emphasis on a featured back. That will go a long way in deciding what comes and goes at the position.
