By Hunter Mulholland

Copyright newsweek

The Miami Dolphins opened their season with an embarrassing performance that mimicked the ending of last season. The Dolphins were defeated by the Indianapolis Colts 33-8, as the Colts scored on every drive of the game. This put the Miami rushing attack on the back burner as they played catch-up all game.The Dolphins rushed for just 73 yards in Sunday’s contest, with De’Von Achance leading the charge with 55 yards on seven carries; no other rusher eclipsed 10 yards. This dreadful performance comes after losing Alexander Mattison for the entire season in the preseason, along with a setback for second-year running back Jaylen Wright.Preseason injuries and an abysmal start to the game halted any opportunity for the Dolphins to dominate on the ground, but where does that leave them moving forward?Achane was the lead back in the offense as predicted over the summer, taking 73% of the snaps in the backfield. Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II took 25% of the snaps, showing that Achane has clear control over the backfield.Achane and Gordon both have electric abilities and could form a formidable duo if the Dolphins can stay in the game long enough to establish a ground game. The lack of usage and quick stumble from the Dolphins’ offense isn’t the only cause for concern. Right guard James Daniels was injured during the season opener, and according to Adam Stites of Dolphins Wire, head coach Mike McDaniel expects him to miss multiple weeks due to the injury.The Dolphins’ offensive line has struggled with depth in recent years, and losing a starter in Week 1 could have ramifications on the push that the line can get, allowing Achane and Gordon to find holes and terrorize defenses.Moving forward, the Dolphins should look to establish the run game early and allow themselves to settle into the game before they get left on the starting blocks until the fourth quarter.More NFL: Patriots’ Drake Maye Breaks Silence on ‘Unfortunate’ Bill Belichick Decision at UNC