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By Jason Horwitz
Following the 31-24 loss against the New York Giants, every Dolphins fan had the same question: "Why wasn't the ball in Lamar Miller's hands late in the game?" This exact question has bewildered the city of Miami nearly every week. Despite emerging as the top running-back in 2014, the team has failed to realize Miller's importance in winning football games.
In the 14 games in which Miller accumulates 16+ touches, the Dolphins' record is above .500 (8-6). In the games that Miller doesn't receive 16 or more touches, the Dolphins are 5-10. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the more times the ball is given to Number 26 the greater the odds that his team wins.
Not only are Miller's touches impacting the team's record, but also the amount of times Ryan Tannehill is forced to drop back and potentially take hits from the opposing defense. On average Tannehill has attempted 39.5 passes in games where Miller has fewer than 16 total touches, compared to an average of 33.7 attempts with 16+ touches for the RB. If Dolphins management believes that the future of the franchise rests in their current quarterback's hands, you would assume any actions to keep him healthy would be in place.
After the firing of head coach Joe Philbin in Week 4, the offense began trending in the right direction under Dan Campbell as they began to feed the talented RB Miller in all ways possible, only to revert back to the same dreadful play-calling style in future weeks. Bill Lazor was also fired in Week 11 possibly for not incorporating the run as Miller saw a measly five carries against the New York Jets that week. It has become such a problem that currently, former backup RB Thomas Rawls, who has started in a total of six games, has four fewer carries than Miller has in his 13 starts. Everything is fine though, right? Next season will be different, Miller will be in the top-five in total carries and lead the 'Phins to the playoffs.
Wrong. After the 2015 season the speedy well-visioned RB will be a free agent, and you think he wants to come back to a team where his role is constantly in question?
Multiple teams around the league are already envisioning the success such a talented player could bring to the table. Since entering the league in 2012 he has amassed a career 4.8 YPC while losing only four fumbles on 595 attempts. Imagine the Dallas Cowboys or Denver Broncos adding him to their talented offense. This would put defenses in a load of trouble as we can't forget that explosive 97-yard touchdown run he had against the Jets last season.
The season is nearly over and the Dolphins have been eliminated from playoff contention, meaning their main focus should not be on winning games, but treating Miller like a king on and off the field. It's time for the coaches to stop holding practices on football fields, but rather on South Beach as they feed Miller, not with a football, but rather with $60 filet mignon from each of the famous steakhouses in the area. Maybe that will convince him to give the Dolphins another shot next year. Then again, maybe we should all hope that Lamar Miller gets set free next season.
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