Miami Dolphins’ Ndamukong Suh needs more snaps

The Miami Dolphins gave Ndamukong Suh a huge contract this past offseason and they’re not playing him enough. Simply put, they must give him more snaps.

Through the first three games of this dismal season, Suh participated in nearly 85 percent of the team’s snaps against Washington then saw number that fall down to just over 82 percent versus Jacksonville then 80 percent against Buffalo.

Some may say 80 to 85 percent of the snaps isn’t that bad. He needs to rest throughout the game.

When compared to J.J. Watt, who had the richest contract of any defensive player until Suh was signed, then it’s noticeable there is a problem.

Watt has played 100 percent of the Houston Texans defensive snaps twice and 97 percent in their season opener.

Maybe the Texans aren’t the greatest example because they have the same record as Miami, but Watt has produced while playing 97 to 100 percent of the defensive snaps.

However, the Buffalo Bills’ Mario Williams has only one sack and three tackles. Yet, Rex Ryan is playing him 92 to 96 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

It stands to reason that if Suh is going to be paid more than Williams or Watt than he should play as much as they do.

Meanwhile, Suh is struggling and missing 15 to 20 percent of the game on defense. Though he is playing more than the other highest paid defensive tackles in the league.

The Dolphins upper brass gave Suh a $114 million contract in the hopes he would turn the defense into an elite one. That hasn’t happened.

Instead, Miami is 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game and total rushing yards allowed. While Suh has six tackles and assisted on another. Prior to the game against Buffalo, he managed only two tackles and a helper.

Suh got to the quarterback eight times last season, however he doesn’t have a single sack thus far. The lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks have allowed them to pick the Miami secondary apart.

The Dolphins have allowed opposing quarterbacks to have a rating average of 101.8, tenth worst in the league. They are also tied for fifth in passing attempts that result in touchdowns with Cleveland and Tampa Bay at 6.5 percent. They also have the worst sack percentage in the league, getting to opposing quarterbacks barely over one percent of passing attempts.

The Dolphins can’t continue this rotation of defensive linemen when it’s clearly not working. They have to play their best players. They have to give their $114 million man over 90 percent of the snaps. Otherwise, why did owner Stephen Ross shell out that kind of money?