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Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown team to form one of the NFL's top backfield combinations.
RONNIE AND RICKY: A good problem to have
By ALAIN POUPART
Dolphin Digest Associate Editor
This is the type of problem coaches really don't mind having.
As the Dolphins prepare for this Sunday's game at Arizona, and as will be the case every week, Tony Sparano and his offensive coaches have to tackle the issue of how to best maximize the skills of both Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown.
It's a problem only because they are the two guys on offense who give the Dolphins their best chance for success and they also happen to play the same position.
It's a good problem because having two star-caliber running backs sure beats having none. And there clearly are not many teams in the NFL that have two running backs of this caliber.
Jacksonville is one such team, with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. You could add Dallas, with Marion Barber and explosive rookie Felix Jones. And we could throw in Minnesota, with Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. But that's about it.
In an ideal world - from the Dolphins' perspective, of course - Brown and Williams would get between 15 and 20 carries every week, both rush for over 100 yards and the Dolphins would dominate the time of possession on their way to a victory.
Obviously, things seldom are going to be that easy. In last Sunday's season opener against the Jets, for example, the Dolphins had to play from behind and ended up with only 17 rushing attempts - including 10 by Williams and six by Brown.
Williams got the start against the Jets, but who starts really is immaterial. The issue is when to switch, who to play in certain situations, things of that nature.
A lot of the in-game management of the running back position, of course, depends on the physical condition of each player. Williams may need a break after carrying the ball a few times, so switching to Brown then becomes an easy call.
A lot of running backs will tell you they get better the more they carry the ball, and Williams and Brown indeed are the kind of physical backs who can wear down defenses.
But there's something to be said for keeping both fresh by splitting the carries in the first half. That way, both aren't worn down by the fourth quarter.
It also would make sense that Sparano stick with one back if either Brown or Williams gets on a roll. Unfortunately, that never happened against the Jets.
Brown made his first appearance against the Jets on the Dolphins' third possession. He came in right after Williams had gained 6 yards on a running play on first down and promptly rushed for 7 yards to give the Dolphins a first down.
By halftime, Williams had seven carries for 18 yards, while Brown had five rushing attempts for the same yardage. In the second half, they combined for only four carries.
Again, a lot of that was dictated by the fact the Dolphins were playing from behind, and the lack of success running the ball also was a factor.
But there was a lot of second-guessing about the Dolphins choosing to throw on their ill-fated third-and-goal and fourth-and-goal plays from the 2 in the fourth quarter, the argument being that either Williams or Brown should have been given the chance to run it in.
It also appeared to be a curious decision to use Patrick Cobbs as the third-down back because while Cobbs is a solid player, the Dolphins' two biggest weapons on offense clearly appear to be Williams and Brown.
In the end, Brown and Williams touched the ball on 23 of the Dolphins' 64 offensive plays against the Jets, and it's a safe bet to suggest the coaches would like to see the percentage be higher.
Just how to split those touches is the thing to figure out. Yeah, that can be a problem, but Sparano certainly wouldn't mind if all his problems were that simple.
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