BY SEAN DONOVAN
The Miami Dolphins are one of 16 teams standing at 1-0 entering Week 2 after a 23-10 win over the Cleveland Browns.
But no team in the league got as little production out of its running game in Week 1 as Miami. Dolphins ball-carriers totaled just 20 yards on 23 attempts, which put the onus on the passing game to drive the offense.
"You've got to have balance, obviously we did not have that," head coach Joe Philbin said after the game, according to the team's website. "That's no way to live in the National Football League."
The Dolphins were the only team to average less than two yards per carry in opening week, and it's only the second time in franchise history they've failed to average over 1.0 YPA on the ground. A major part of the problem was the failure to get a push from the offensive line, for which the Miami players stood accountable after the game.
"For me, personally, it definitely wasn't the standard that I set for myself, but everybody has tough days at the office," right tackle Tyson Clabo said, according to the Miami Herald. Clabo graded out as the worst run blocker on the line according to Pro Football Focus.
But the veteran thinks that collectively, Miami's line will right the ship.
"We're all on the same page, communication-wise. It's just a matter of execution. I think we'll be fine," Clabo said. "I think we have a chance to be really good up front."
Getting better run game production will be key in beating some of the tougher teams that loom on Miami's schedule, and that involves the front-five sharpening their game. Clabo thinks the best examples for them to aspire to are two of his fellow Dolphins' offensive linemen.
"Obviously Richie [Incognito] and Mike [Pouncey] are pretty good football players," Clabo said. "The rest of us are just trying to catch up and to play at their level. The bar is really high for us right now. I think we can get there."
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