Cameron Wake: Last Chance to Succeed?

Coming into the 2015 NFL season, the Miami Dolphin’s defensive line looks far improved from last season with the addition of Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips. As the Dolphins continue acquiring big players, players continue to grow older by the season.

Cameron Wake, a man who saw himself come into the league in an unconventional way, became a success story for the NFL and the Miami Dolphins. After going undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Penn State, Wake joined the New York Giants for a brief stint before being released and making his way the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Here, with the BC Lions, is where Wake rejuvenated his game with a switch from the linebacker position to defensive end, a position Dolphins fans are accustomed to seeing him play today. Wake opened eyes with his play at defensive end for the Lions, where he led the league in sacks for consecutive seasons, earning him the title of 2008’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

With his impressive play in the CFL, Wake drew interest from several teams in the NFL, including the Dolphins, among 16 others. Wake earned a two-year $1 million deal, and his story unraveled from there.

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In his six years as a Dolphin, Wake has accumulated 63 sacks and 12 forced fumbles, including four Pro-Bowl appearances. In 2015, Wake is entering at the age of 33, and is looking at the resolution of his career. The Dolphins have Wake signed through the 2017 season, where he then becomes an unrestricted free-agent at the age of 35.

Last season, Wake accumulated 11.5 sacks, good enough for fifth in the league. Throughout his career, Wake has provided a powerful, drive-ending pass rush for the Dolphins. This season Wake is paired with Ndamukong Suh, in what looks to be the most fearsome pass-rush duo in the NFL.

There is no doubt Wake is getting older by the season, but his stats continue to impress, with one exception. Over his six-year career, every season Wake accumulated 10 or more sacks, the succeeding year Wake saw a slight decline, bringing down the quarterback 8.5 times, the lowest total of his career (excluding his rookie season).

Although this pattern is relatively consistent (dating back to 2010), it is not reliable in accordance to this season. The make-up of the Dolphin’s defensive line is far more impressive in any season Wake has seen to date, and he is poised for another 10+ sack season.

With Suh likely lining up against the right offensive guard, offenses will have a tough decision when deciding if they want to double team Wake or Suh, giving one of the players the ability to have a breakout season. Meanwhile for the rest of the defensive line, Earl Mitchell and Jordan Phillips will likely fight for the opposing defensive tackle position, and Oliver Vernon will capture the right defensive end position.

Although Wake is entering the final stretch of his career, he hasn’t been paired with such a prosperous defensive line since coming into the NFL. Watch for Cameron Wake to have another big year as a Miami Dolphin pass rusher.

Do you think Cameron Wake bring down the opposing quarterback 10+ times this season?