Speed is at the core of the Dolphins’ high-flying offense — and a source of competitive banter

Tyreek Hill is widely recognized as the fastest player in the NFL, but on a Dolphins team full of speedsters, his crown has been threatened at times.

Before Miami’s win against the New York Giants last weekend, rookie running back De’Von Achane held the title of fastest ball carrier this season, clocking in at 21.93 mph in Week 3, according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats.

But then Hill reached a max speed of 22.01 mph during his 64-yard catch-and-run in Week 5, vaulting him back atop this season’s leaderboard. After the game, a 31-16 Miami win, Hill took to the NFL’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, boasting his standing as the “fastest in the league.”

As the Dolphins (4-1) host the Carolina Panthers (0-5) on Sunday, looking for their first 5-1 start since 2002, the speed of the league’s No. 1 offense remains a constant source of intrigue.

Entering Week 6, the Dolphins have five of the fastest ball carriers this season and nine in the top 20. Six different Dolphins — Hill, Achane, running back Raheem Mostert and wide receivers Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios and Robbie Chosen — have reached 20 miles per hour as ball carriers this season, the most in the NFL. The next closest is four, which has been reached by four teams.

On draft night, Achane told reporters that head coach Mike McDaniel sought to build the fastest team in the NFL. And the second-year coach has literally put together an offense full of track stars, as Hill, Achane and Mostert all ran track in college.

For an offense that has totaled the most yards through five games in NFL history, speed has been at the center of a multitude of feats — and is a source of competitive banter for all involved.

During Dolphins practices, players wear devices in their uniforms that allow the team to track their speed. The strength and conditioning staff manages the database and passes along the information to McDaniel, who often showcases the top speeds in meetings.

Last summer, he used it as an opportunity to jokingly mock Hill, congratulating practice squad wide receiver Braylon Sanders on being the team’s fastest player.

Hill didn’t let the slight go unchecked.

“And then that practice, he ran the fastest ever recorded in practice here or that I’ve seen,” McDaniel said last year. “It was something absurd like 23.48 or something like that. So I was like, ‘Ok, yeah, you’re different.’ On the field, off the field, it’s not happenstance that he’s able to have success.”

Even as Achane, who this week was placed on injured reserve because of a knee injury, has captivated the NFL with his effortless speed, teammates were reluctant to anoint him the team’s fastest player.

Some were incredulous that the question was asked.

“[Hill] can go from 1 to 20 in the blink of an eye,” inside linebacker Jerome Baker said.

Some took the moment to give credit to Achane for pushing Hill’s standing. And others used the opportunity to highlight overlooked speedsters on the teams.

“Tyreek is definitely the fastest on the team. And then I’d say I’m probably the second,” outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips said.

He then added: “I’m top-five, honestly. 21.8 is my fastest so far. I can probably get a little faster than that.”

Last week, ranking the top three fastest players on the team, Hill named himself No. 1 but wouldn’t place Achane second. Instead, he gave the nod to practice squad cornerback Ethan Bonner. Many of Bonner’s teammates vouched for his standing as the fastest defender on the team.

“He runs with our fastest guys every day in practice,” safety DeShon Elliott said. “Right there, stride-for-stride with Tyreek. Any guy who you think is the fastest, he’s right there, stride for stride.”

Bonner, who has been clocked at 22 mph, said it was cool to be recognized by Hill. “It’s good for me, too, being one of the defensive guys, getting to practice against that kind of speed. It’s really good for my game and improving my craft,” he said.

In the NFL, NextGen Stats’ live tracking has become the standard for deciding the often-debated topic of the league’s fastest player.

“As the Official Real Time Location Solutions Provider for the NFL, Zebra Technologies attaches radio frequency identification [RFID] tags to players’ shoulder pads that transmit real-time location data to a series of receivers around a stadium to gather performance metrics such as speed, distance traveled, orientation and acceleration,” Derek Bonuccelli, Senior Manager of Sports Solutions and Zebra Technologies, told the Miami Herald.

Mostert holds the title for the fastest ball carrier since 2018, clocking in at 23.09 mph in Week 2 of the 2020 season. Hill has also reached the 23 mph threshold, too, in Week 2 of the 2016 season. Even with Hill putting together a Hall of Fame resume, his title as the fastest player in the league remains an immense source of pride. When a teammate said he witnessed Hill lose to Waddle in a footrace, Hill animatedly disputed the results, claiming Waddle false-started.

“I would say for those guys, it’s weird because fast guys don’t really — they don’t necessarily talk about how fast they are. They’re just fast,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “But then when you bring it up in conversation, then that’ll get those guys boiled up.”

While speed has been a fun attribute to highlight as the Dolphins rack up yardage and points at a historic pace, McDaniel is often quick to clarify his top playmakers aren’t only defined by that trait. This season, Miami has made increasing use of a package that puts Mostert and Achane on the field at the same time, along with Hill and Waddle. It’s referred to as “Fast 21” — 21 personnel usually features one running back and a fullback — but McDaniel joked that he calls it “Slow Guys Personnel.” Miami has put a twist on it, using the players in interchangeable positions.

The Dolphins’ offense used the package on its first play from scrimmage against the Giants, putting Waddle in the backfield and Achane out wide. Tagovailoa then faked a handoff to Waddle before flipping the ball to Achane on an end-around that picked up 24 yards.

“I think those players are getting the notoriety they deserve because they are fast,” McDaniel said, “but they’ve decided to commit themselves to being football technicians.”

With Achane sidelined for at least the next four games, the ongoing debate may have to be put on hold. But even after he was bested by Hill in Week 5, Achane, appearing on Hill’s “It Needed To Be Said” podcast, couldn’t help but take a playful dig at the veteran for getting caught from behind on his 64-yard reception.

“Film don’t lie, either. I ain’t getting caught,” Achane said.