DAVIE, FL – JULY 26: Frank Gore #21 of the Miami Dolphins performs running drills during Miami Dolphins Training Camp at Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University on July 26, 2018 in Davie, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
If Frank Gore can play up to Adam Gase’s expectations, the Dolphins are going to have one of the best rushing attacks in all of football.
The Dolphins brought Frank Gore back home to Miami to provide support behind Kenyan Drake at the running back position. Early indications are this might be more of a timeshare backfield than anyone first anticipated. According to Adam Gase, Gore still looks like the same player he was ten years ago when the two worked together in San Francisco.
Back then, Gore was putting up 1,000-yard rushing campaigns on a regular basis. He won’t be expected to carry that heavy of a load for the Dolphins, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t still capable of contributing a lot to this offense. Gase claims the veteran running back is the “last person” in the would he would ever doubt.
The numbers on Gore’s last few years for the Colts don’t back up what Gase is seeing on the practice field. The future HOFer’s rushing average has rested below 4.0 yards per carry in each of the last three seasons. Cynical fans would point out that is what happens when running backs start to enter the twilight of their career. More optimistic Miami supporters will point out that Indianapolis’ offensive line was a disaster for the majority of his time there.
Unfortunately, it’s fair to question whether the group he will rum behind in Miami is all that much better. Josh Sitton and Ju’Waun James are both excellent players at their respective positions. The other three starters are serious question marks. Laremy Tunsil has talent, but he really struggled out on the left edge last season.
Both Daniel Kilgore and Jessie Davis struggled to hold their own on the interior. Quality running backs like Gore and Drake can help mask some of those deficiencies, but the Dolphins need some internal improvement from several offensive linemen if they want to launch a dynamic rushing attack.
In the end, Dolphins fans should be happy if Gore can serve as a quality backup to Drake. He doesn’t need to be a home run hitter in this offense. If he can soak up 10 or so carries a game and average over 4.0 yards per carry it would greatly enhance Drake’s ability to stay fresh for an entire season. That could be enough to keep Miami in playoff contention all season long. Count on Gore to experience a healthy resurgence playing in front of his family and friends.
Just don’t expect him to become a Pro Bowler again.