MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins left guard Kadyn Proctor was playing against the Cincinnati Bengals in his fifth pro game. And a defensive player had an in-game observation about Proctor and left tackle Patrick Paul.
"Man, that's 700, 800 pounds over there on the left side!" a Bengals player said, as relayed by Proctor.
Proctor, a rookie, is listed at 6-foot-7, 360 pounds.
Paul, the third-year left tackle, is listed at 6-foot-7, 325 pounds.
"I would just say they're huge guys, honestly," Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II said. "You've seen them in person, you've stood next to them. I feel small standing next to them."
Gordon is a big back, listed at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds.
The Dolphins are 0-5 and are poor in many statistical categories on offense,
defense and special teams.
But we are here to note a BIG positive ― the MASSIVE left side of Miami's offensive line.
"The easy answer is to say that the left side of the line is pretty damn strong and efficient," Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said, when presented with some specific statistics.
Miami Dolphins news: These rushing stats are surprising
OK, so here are the best statistics that may actually surprise you:
*When rushing behind left tackle, Miami has 14 rushes for 9.57 yards/carry average.
That's FIRST in the NFL.
*When rushing behind left guard, Miami has 16 rushes for 6 yards/carry average.
That's THIRD in the NFL.
Yeah, so, let's say Miami should run left in the last 12 games of the 2026 season.
Take note, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. (We're sure he has.)
The Dolphins are seeking an identity and on offense, it's clearly run. Specifically, run left.
Miami topped 200 rushing yards against the Bengals.
Gordon has 188 yards rushing the past two weeks. Miami can run the football effectively, even with star De'Von Achane (knee) sidelined for the season.
"We're doing something good right now, so just lean into it and keep getting better," center Aaron Brewer said.
Proctor said playing between Paul and Brewer has been beneficial due to their intelligence and skill.
It's possible that Proctor, who played tackle at Alabama, will be moved to right tackle for 2027.
But he has not taken practice snaps there as a Dolphin and he's not focused on that now.
Dolphins' Kadyn Proctor could end up at tackle, but...
"Honestly, I'm just here trying to do my job and do what coaches tell me," Proctor said. "I'm up for anything, honestly, just to help the team out."
Right now, the Dolphins have something good going with Paul-Proctor on the left side.
"I saw a statistic that we're the second biggest (duo) in the league, so pretty cool," Proctor said.
Paul and Proctor are friendly, approachable and articulate off the field.
But on the field, they'll pancake you onto your butt.
"I feel like when they get their hands on you, it's over with, there's no escaping," Gordon said. "It's like fighting a bear, you're not gonna go into a bear. They're going to take you where they want to take you; there's no getting away from that."
The Dolphins are fifth in the NFL in yards per rush. It's what they do best.
And Paul and Proctor, massive, massive men, have found a way to get down the pad level and footwork and high motor required to be impactful in the run game.
"Even before I came here, they told me that you're gonna have to run off the ball and you're gonna have to play 60, 70, 80 plays a game, can you do it?" Proctor said. "And I said, 'Yes,' and I feel like I've been showing that I can do that. I've been working on those kinds of things since I was 13 or 14, like bend and leverage and hand placement, different things like that. And I know Pat (Paul) has been doing the same things."
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Threads and Instagram and X at @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How 685 pounds on the left side fuels Dolphins' best rushing stat
