Ndamukong Suh

Dan Campbell calls out Dolphins leaders to challenge teammates

Published Dec. 26, 2015 12:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

Remember when the Miami Dolphins fired the mild-mannered Joe Philbin, made Dan Campbell the interim coach and scored 82 points their next two games?

Since then, Miami has gone 2-6 and its combined margin of victory in those two wins was three points. The team stands at 5-9 four months after many picked the Dolphins to challenge the New England Patriots for the AFC East title.

A multitude of things can be to blame, but Campbell is adding another, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

“I think that just overall leadership is something that we’ve got to get better at,” Campbell said. “We do have leaders in that locker room. We’ve got good guys. We’ve got guys that work, but just as a whole for those guys to take ownership of how they handle their business and go about things and what they accept and don’t accept. That’s where it’s got to come from, and that’s the next step. That’s the step we’ve got to get to.

“We’ve got some good guys in this locker room, and we do have some guys that have leadership qualities,” he said. “To take that next, uncomfortable step to where you challenge your teammates on what you think is right and what’s wrong, and for me that answer right now, if you’re saying right now, what do you do? You lead the leaders. That’s what I’m charged with. That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to get those guys to somewhat open their eyes to that.”

He knew better than to name names, but before the season, former coach Philbin named nine guys he considered leaders. Among them were Cameron Wake, Ndamukong Suh, Mike Pouncey and Ryan Tannehill.

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