Extra weight could help or hurt Dolphins running back Lamar Miller

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He told reporters at UM’s Pro Day on Wednesday that he’s up to 225 pounds after playing at 218 pounds last year.

A seven-pound gain might not seem that significant, but it is for a running back.

Miller is known for his speed, not his power. Coach Joe Philbin and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor rarely gave Miller more than 15 carries a game last season.

The Dolphins tried pairing Miller with a power back in 2014, but injuries limited to Knowshon Moreno to just one full game.

Even without Moreno in the picture, Miller’s carries were still limited. This year, Miami is believed to be looking for another strong No. 2 back.

Miller clearly wants to get the bulk of the carries.

But it is a smart idea to alter his body? Not necessarily.

Former Dolphins running back Troy Stradford, now an analyst for the Finsiders, said the concern is whether Miller will retain his greatest strength.

“Did he keep his football speed?” Stradford said.

Stradford, the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year in 1987, said he bulked up one season and hated the results. He dropped the weight the following season.

“You can bulk up and still run a fast time vs. the clock but can you really still play at that fast speed with the extra weight?,” Straford said. “There is a difference.”

It’s unclear if the Dolphins asked Miller to gain weight or if he did it on his own, but Stradford said he more than likely would have made the decision himself.

It does, however, raise the question of whether Miami should pair Miller with a power or speed back.

The prevailing logic is that Miami should go the traditional route and add a power back who could help the Dolphins with their red zone woes.

They worked out Stevan Ridley earlier this week and haven’t ruled out bringing back oft-injured Moreno.

It’s also a deep draft class for running back.

The Dolphins could instead consider adding another speedster and creating one of the NFL’s most dynamic playmaking backfields.

Teams rarely pair two speed backs. Last season, Philadelphia featured LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles — an exception to the rule.

The Eagles, of course, are coached by Chip Kelly. And Lazor studied under Kelly in 2013, so he might be intrigued by the idea of two speed backs.

While the Dolphins have other needs in the draft and are already without a third round pick, University of Miami’s Duke Johnson comes to mind. Like most UM stars, he loves the idea of playing for the Dolphins. And he’s been linked to them in the offseason.

Would the Dolphins be better off with another speed back or adding more power to the backfield?

“That’s the million dollar question,” Stradford said.

And there’s no clear answer.

The Dolphins still have Damien Williams, who plays with power and showed promise as an undrafted rookie last year. But Miami will likely try to bring in another back who will at least compete with Williams.


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(palmbeachpost.com)
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