Miami Dolphins: 3 realistic goals for Jaelan Phillips in 2022

Miami Dolphins: Jaelan Phillips goal #2: 60+ percent snap count

Jaelan Phillips’ usage in 2021 was about as streaky as his performance, and there may be a correlation.

Phillips was active on 53.5 percent of defensive snaps last season, which is about on par with where a rookie of his stature should have been. But there was a stretch during the middle of the season that saw his snap count rise up to about 77 percent in three out of four contests. The numbers averaged themselves out as he had games of 23 and 36 percent as well.

But if Phillips is able to achieve consistency in his performance, then he may see the same in his snap count. He figures to be one of the biggest factors in Miami’s pass-rushing attack for the coming season, a unit that may be one of the weaker points on the Dolphins’ defense. That means there are opportunities to be had and holes to fill, and the second-year pro could be up for the task.

An increase in snaps for Phillips would mean decreases for others, and guys like Andrew Van Ginkel or even Jerome Baker could be sacrificing playing time for the younger player. The snap count goal for Phillips should be somewhere around 60 percent, an achievement that both he and the team will have to take part in.