Dolphins coach Adam Gase hasn’t been shy about praising running back Jay Ajayi this offseason and Ajayi is set to spend his second season in Miami playing a prominent role in the team’s offense.
Ajayi isn’t shying away from the expectations that come with Gase’s compliments and his bump up the depth chart in the wake of Lamar Miller’s departure. Ajayi says the game “has definitely slowed down” heading into his second season and that he feels prepared to fulfill the promise the Dolphins see in him.
“Everyone else has opinions on what I can do and if I’m worthy enough, and I know how good I am,” Ajayi said, via ESPN.com. “I know how great I can be. That’s my mentality coming in, day in and day out -- to work, so that when I step out on that field, I can produce the way I know that I can and be the great back that I know I can be.”
While there’s little doubt that Ajayi will be running the ball early and often, there’s some question about who the Dolphins will use as a complement in the backfield. They’ve looked at some veteran options from outside the organization, but third-round pick Kenyan Drake is the only significant offseason addition. Pairing him with Ajayi would be going young, but that may turn out to be the solution for Miami.