Saturday’s first pre-season game gave Dolphin fans an opportunity to see what Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams might look like coming off of injury shortened seasons. Ronnie Brown, coming off a torn ACL, only had 3 carries for 4 yards but each carry was important. Brown needed to get those first few game touches in and get his feel for the game back. He showed burst on his longest run of the night, OK, so it was only for 4 yards, but his was no minor injury and every step forward is positive in his return to action.

Ricky Williams was the more intriguing of the two. Williams is coming off a season in which he appeared in one game, against the Steelers. During the course of a play in which he fumbled the football, Williams was stepped upon akwardly as he lay on the ground and ended up tearing a chest muscle. Saturday Williams showed the elusiveness and power that won him the rushing title in 2002, breaking several tackles including three in one play as he picked up 12 yards. Williams finished the game with 5 rushes for 31 yards.

I’m far from annointing these two as the next “Thunder & Lightning” duo circa Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne, who led their New York Giants to the Super Bowl after the 2000 season. Both are coming off of serious injuries, and Williams who is 31 has just six carries in the NFL since 2005. He did play a season in Canada while suspended from the NFL, of course that season was also cut short due to injury.

All that being said, a solid, dual attack running game would go miles in relieving pressure on presumed starting QB Chad Pennington and the questionable passing game. In a town that was accustomed to an aerial attack during the Dan Marino era, and well, no attack in the time since; it looks like the time has come to play to their strengths and force the ball down their opponent’s throats. Nothing is a sure thing, but you can bet you’ll see some exciting grind it out football this year from the Miami Dolphins.