Aggies HC Jimbo Fisher Says RB De'Von Achane Pass-Catching Provides 'Really Good Fit' For Dolphins
Texas A&M Aggies running back De'Von Achane was known for his quick bursts and breakaway speed as a former track and field runner in college.
The Miami Dolphins drafted Achane in the third round with the No. 84 overall and not only are they getting a sound runner between the tackles with breakaway speed, but as Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher said on Travis Wingfield's "Drive Time," they're also getting a sound pass catcher as well.
"He doesn't have good hands. He has excellent hands," Fisher said. "He has a great ability to judge the ball in the deep part of the field. He can catch the go balls and the post."
Achane can be split out wide or catch "little option or little scat routes" out of the backfield on a linebacker, Fisher said.
Fisher said he has a "receiver tree route progression" and the "instincts to read leverages and pressures" while matched up on linebackers.
The Missouri City, TX. native caught 65 passes for 554 yards and five touchdowns in his 30-game collegiate career.
The Aggies' five-year head coach said defenders would back up when Achane got on the field to respect his threat in the passing game, which prompted Wingfield to say most NFL defenses do that for Dolphins wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle due to their speed.
Fisher said having Hill and Waddle — who averaged 14.4 and a league-leading 18.1 yards per catch, respectively, last season — split out wide will open up more opportunities for Achane to catch passes out of the backfield.
"I'm very familiar with [Hill and Waddle], and I said, 'Now, you're putting [Achane] with them,'" Fisher said. "Usually, you got one guy of that caliber. And then to have three of that caliber, that's why I said it's a really good fit because of the style and the speed people have. And those guys pushing people vertical down the field, isolating him underneath on the things he can do with his skill set, I think it's a really good combination for them and a good fit."
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