De'Von Achane tells haters to 'keep the same energy' when Dolphins prove they aren't soft

The Miami Dolphins have dealt with a "soft" label for much of the last three years and they haven't done much to dispel it.

“That’s the thing with narratives," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters shortly after his team lost 30-17 on a cold Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field. "There’s one way to change them and so my expectation would be: the naysayers, you prove them right, they’ll be louder. That’s part of the territory. You carry that until you do something about it, and unfortunately, we didn’t."

Proving those naysayers wrong is a focal point for the Dolphins heading into the 2025 season. And running back De'Von Achane is already challenging the haters.

"I feel like we go out there and practice every day, and we are going to show when the season comes everybody who was saying those little remarks, just make sure they keep the same energy," Achane said.

The effort to get tougher, bigger, and meaner in the offseason was especially evident in the 2025 NFL draft. Miami's first three draft picks weighed about 1,000 pounds collectively and first-rounder Kenneth Grant and second-rounder Jonah Savaiinaea will likely start right away on the defensive and offensive line, respectively. Coupled with free agency additions like offensive linemen James Daniels and Larry Borom, as well as blocking tight end Pharaoh Brown, the Dolphins are hopeful to see improvements in the trenches.

After leading the NFL in yards per carry in 2023 with an average of 5.1, the Dolphins' plummeted to 28th in 2024 with 4.0 yards per rush attempt.

With a retooled front and some more buy-in from players this offseason, Achane is eyeing big numbers in 2025. And he's ready to silence the doubters along the way.

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins' De'Von Achane challenges haters to 'keep the same energy'