When the Miami Dolphins drafted Kansas State bruiser Daniel Thomas in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft, it appeared the team had a glut of talent at the running back position.
Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland isn't satisfied with the look of his backfield just yet, however.
"I'm interested in having another back, whether it fits the description of a scatback or not, we'll have to see what's available. You can't corner yourself into just a scatback," Ireland told the *South Florida Sun-Sentinel* in Thursday's edition.
What this means for veteran incumbents Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown is unclear, but it doesn't sound promising for either. Both will become free agents when the lockout is lifted.
There will be no shortage of quality backs on the market via free agency or potential trade, which might explain Ireland's candor on the issue.
"We need another complementary back who complements Daniel [Thomas] and Lex [Hilliard]," he said. "We do have somewhat of a scatback in Kory Sheets that we haven't seen yet, so I'm still hoping he can develop."
Hilliard, a 2008 sixth-round pick, was used sparingly last season, getting most of his work on special teams. Sheets is attempting to come back from surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon. He was believed to be the fastest player on the roster before suffering the injury in the first week of training camp last July.
Brown and Williams have anchored Miami's rushing attack since 2005. Last year, the duo combined to rush for 1,407 yards on 359 rushes (3.9 average), scoring seven touchdowns. They added 52 receptions for 383 yards and a touchdown. Brown will turn 30 in December, Williams recently turned 34.
