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Film Breakdown, Analysis of Dolphins Third-Round Pick Devon Achane

Examines the strengths and weakness of running back Devon Achane and how he could help the Dolphins offense right away

Dante Collinelli

Film Breakdown, Analysis of Dolphins Third-Round Pick Devon Achane
Film Breakdown, Analysis of Dolphins Third-Round Pick Devon Achane /
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The 2023 NFL draft is complete, and the Miami Dolphins made four selections across three days. While it was a mostly quiet weekend for the Dolphins, the four players the team selected will have an opportunity to make an impact (or least a contribution) this season.

With that in mind, we’ve decided to review the film of each of Miami’s selections to provide fans with a look at what these rookies can bring to the Dolphins roster.

The Dolphins selected Texas A&M running back Devon Achane at pick No. 84. Achane became the team’s primary starter this past season, making 10 starts. He was an early entry into the draft after playing three seasons with the Aggies.

So how does Achane fit into Miami’s offense? Let’s dive in and see what the film tells us.

DEVON ACHANE'S SPEED

The Dolphins have an argument to be considered one of the fastest teams of all time, and Achane only makes them faster. The running back had the third-fastest 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine, posting a 4.32.

While timed speed is great, it has to show up on film to matter at the NFL level. Thankfully for the Dolphins, Achane’s elite speed is a constant on his film.

The clip above is an excellent example of how elite speed can be used functionally. Achane starts his run to the right but ends working back left after the Gators plug all the gaps on the right side.

Achane’s speed turns what should have been a tackle for loss into a huge gain. What separates him from the rest is how he splits the Gators’ cornerback and safety once he’s down the field. They have the angle on Achane, but he’s so fast and explosive he bursts by them for an additional 30-some yards before he’s pushed out.

There’s above-average speed, and then there’s Achane’s speed. He’s just on another level. Ironically, Achane’s 40-yard dash time is identical to the time Raheem Mostert ran at the combine.

The Dolphins are trying to build a track team, and Achane is the runner added to the group. Mike McDaniel has made a career out of maximizing the strengths of players like Achane, making this the perfect landing spot for the young running back.

DEVON ACHANE'S LATERAL QUICKNESS, VISION

Prospects with Achane’s size (5-8, 188) and top trait (speed) tend to be one-trick ponies. They’ve got speed, and that’s all they’re bringing. Achane is a departure from that archetype thanks to two key traits: lateral quickness and vision.

The latter of those traits is represented in the above run against LSU. As Achane gets outside the tackle box, he’s met with the fill defender in a one-on-one situation. Achane proceeds to use a nasty lateral cut, making the fill defender go to the ground and allowing Achane to have a walk-in touchdown.

Plays where Achane shows elusiveness and creativity in tight spaces are a constant on his film. A lot of straight-line speed players struggle to cut laterally. It’s something Mostert struggles with and one of the reasons he’s viewed as a straight-line runner.

Achane doesn’t have that problem. He’s an all-around athlete with the later agility to match his game-breaking long speed.

His elusiveness pairs well with his vision too. Achane does a great job setting up second-level defenders to make mistakes. He’ll often press gaps early in runs before cutting backside to find a huge hole.

He also displays a surprising amount of patience for a speed back. Achane allows his pulling blockers to get out ahead of him and pave his way before turning on the jets. He’s almost like a race car waiting for the right time to use his nitrous boost.

That level of understanding of blocking schemes and defense doesn’t usually show up in a player with Achane’s profile.

ACHANE'S PASS CATCHING

Factoring into the passing game is essential for a modern-day running back. Achane had 36 catches for 196 receiving yards and three touchdowns this past season, which is solid for a college back.

The clip above shows the ball skills Achane possesses. He does an excellent job going down to pluck the ball off the turf and then regaining his balance to pick up yards after a poor throw.

Achane’s usage in the receiving game should be on screens and designed touches. He’s not a polished, experienced route runner. While he’s capable of making adjustment catches like the one above, there are some double catches and drops throughout his tape.

Achane can be an asset to the Dolphins in the screen game, but he’s not a true offensive weapon in the way prospects like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs are.

DEVON DEALING WITH CONTACT

All the above sets Achane up as a bona fide stud at the NFL level, but there is one huge hurdle he’ll have to overcome — his size. Achane isn’t just small. He’s smaller than small.

His height is the 11th percentile, his weight is 3 percentile, his arm length is 4 percentile, and his hand size is eighth percentile. Every part of Achane is small, and few successful NFL running backs look like him.

His closest athletic and size comparisons, according to MockDraftable’s database, are Noel Devine and Josh Ferguson. Devine never made an NFL roster, and Ferguson recorded just 34 NFL rushing yards.

Achane should outproduce both of those players in Year 1 alone. However, Achane would have to be a massive outlier to have a successful long-term NFL career.

With all that said, his film provides some positivity in how he deals with contact. In the run above against LSU, Achane puts his head down and powers through two defenders to pick up extra yards.

The LSU defenders aren’t doing a great job tackling, but Achane’s willingness to put his head down and power through two defenders is encouraging for someone his size.

There are plays like this throughout his film. In short-yardage situations, Achane proved he could fight for extra yards and put his head down to pick up yards in the middle of the line of scrimmage.

That won’t be his role in Miami, but his willingness and ability to do so is essential for his long-term success. It proves his body can take it. Achane had 232 touches in the SEC last season, proving he can handle a heavy work load well enough.

THE BOTTOM LINE WITH DEVON ACHANE

Achane is the quintessential Miami Dolphins pick. McDaniel loves speed, and the entire concept of the offense is built around it. Miami scares opposing defenses with the threat of speed and then gashes them in the space it creates.

Achane should add another level to that strategy. To his credit, his vision and lateral agility make him more than just a gimmick. He’s a legitimate running back who can handle heavy volume from time to time.

Things start to get dicey when considering Achane’s size. Again, no matter your opinion of the player, Achane would be a huge outlier if he has a successful NFL career. Despite his film showing signs it’s possible, the Dolphins are taking a significant risk drafting him in the third round.

For this season, Achane figures to be more of a role player. Mostert is back, and the team re-signed Jeff Wilson Jr. Achane will likely get his own package early in the season and could compete in the return game — something he did in college.

His path to a starting role this season likely rests with Mostert and Wilson’s health. However, both players have a history of missing games, so Achane might get a couple of starts in 2023.

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Dante Collinelli
DANTE COLLINELLI

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