After reviewing the first-team reps of the Dolphins offense at Houston last week, the threat of Daniel Thomas to Lamar Miller's workload is very real.
Miller started the game and did show flash on a couple of plays -- a run off right tackle for 8 yards and a run for 10 yards deep in the Dolphins' territory -- but they were negated by penalties and didn't show up in the final stat line. Had they, Miller would have finished with a respectable 28 yards on seven carries.
But we saw some of the Dolphins' frustration with Miller when he bobbled and dropped a pass right in front of coach Joe Philbin. Philbin dropped his shoulders and shook his head in disgust. The very next series belonged to Thomas.
Later on, Thomas was on an entire drive for the Fins until he asked for a break following a 27-yard gain on a shovel pass deep in Texans territory. Miller scored from 5 yards out two plays later and both backs were done for the night.
Miller is faster than Thomas, but he's not as good of a pass protector and both of them looked as if they were a shade slow getting out of their cuts. Thomas is also bigger. He offers a legitimate change-up. Miller hasn't proven he can be an every-down player this summer, so the Dolphins have little choice but to utilize Thomas.
I would still expect Miller to start but for Thomas to take at least one series for every two Miller has. I don't think they'll rotate based on down and distance but it's possible. Anything's possible here, which makes Miller a scary draft proposition with a Top 30 pick.
He's a good pick just after 30th overall -- the later you can get him the better. Spending a late pick on Thomas as a handcuff/potential starter for Miller also wouldn't hurt.