De'Von Achane is the name the Raiders have to circle first, second and third when they get ready for Miami in Week 1. He is set to sit at the center of the Dolphins’ offense, and the opener could swing on how well Las Vegas handles him.
Miami still has plenty of unanswered questions, but the starting offense has a chance to make an early statement against the Raiders. The catch is simple: Achane has to be near perfect if the Dolphins want to walk out with a win.
Miami spent on its running back, and he looked prepared throughout camp. Now the challenge is turning that into production once the games count. Achane is going to be difficult to contain, and if the Raiders manage to take him out of the equation, Malik Willis could make them pay.
That puts Bobby Slowik in a spot where the plan has to keep changing. Las Vegas knows Miami’s receiver room is not a strength, so the Raiders can load more attention onto Achane than they have in past seasons. The one thing they cannot do is leave him isolated in space.
Slowik will need answers, and the Dolphins’ offensive line has to bring the punch. If Miami loses the battle at the line of scrimmage, it could be a miserable afternoon.
On the other side, Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard brings a background built on coaching the defensive line, so he understands run defense. Achane, though, is not just a traditional runner. He is a dangerous weapon as a receiver out of the backfield, which makes him a tougher problem to solve.
Leonard’s approach has to begin with two defenders on Achane. The Raiders need to keep him from getting around the edge, and they also need to cut off his work as Willis’ safety valve.
If that plan holds, Willis may have to look to Greg Dulcich as his outlet, where he would be facing linebacker coverage. The Raiders also want Willis throwing to a receiver group that is expected to lean heavily on two rookies, Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell. Their lack of experience could leave them in one-on-one situations or working against a zone they have to sort through.
Still, Achane is the player who forces Leonard to shape the entire defense around him. And if the Raiders do succeed in taking him away, Willis has another path to create damage. He can move out of the pocket and run, which means any tilt toward Achane could open space for him on the other side.
The Raiders will also be leaning on Maxx Crosby and Kwity Paye up front, but quick passes and Achane threatening the boundary can slow Crosby down and keep him from committing too early to Willis.
In the end, it all points back to one thing: whether Miami’s offensive line can set the tone with physical football in the trenches.
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