No Wake zone

Dolphin defender seeing limited use so far.

DAVIE — A diplomatic Cameron Wake tap-danced around the question about his limited use in the first two games of the season. Meanwhile, Dolphins coaches have sent mixed messages about howthey plan to use the team’s best defender since Jason Taylor.

While the coaches say they would like to play Wake for more than the 22.5 snaps he has averaged during losses to Seattle and Wake NewEngland, it hasn’t yet translated to the four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher actually being on the field more.

“Wewant tomake surewe’re in the game — whether we have a lead or [are] in the game — to where he can rush the passer,” head coach Adam Gase said this week. “That’s whatwewant him to do.

“Wewant to get up there to where it’s 35, 40, 45 snaps, to where we’re maximizing him as far as what he does sowell.”

Gase said the Dolphins will work harder to get Wake — who is nearly 11 months removed fromanAchilles injury that forced him to miss the last nine games last season — on the field for first and second downs.

However, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, when asked if there’s a situation where he could see Wake playing against the run, said hewould only commit todoing so if three other defensive ends needed a

break.

“If Jason [Jones] is tired, or Mario [Williams] is tired, or [Andre] Branch is tired, [Wake] can definitely go in on running downs,” Joseph said Thursday. “But we prefer not to do that.”

Gase said the Dolphins want to avoid getting Wake “hammered with double teams” on the run. That was actually Gase’s approach against Wake when he was Denver’s offensive coordinator in a 39-36 win over the Dolphins in 2014, which featured the Broncos rushing for 201yards.

Asked Thursday if he was OK with his new role as a situational pass rusher, Wake said “sure.”

Would he like to play more?

“I’d like to play more if I played every snap but one,” he said. “Long-term goals and short-term goals don’t always match up. That is just life. You have to think about the big picture.

“Again, we’ve spoken about this a few times. I’ve said this back to OTAs, you have to think about the entire situation. Focus on one game is kind of silly. In the situation, the way it has been played out, I’m accepting my role. I’m happy with it, and I’ll do whatever I can to help the team.”

When told about the theory that he isn’t good enough to play against the run anymore, Wake laughed.

“I have lots of film to speak on my efforts against the run, and against the pass, in every facet of football. I’m not the guy who is out here to prove anything to anybody. I’m here trying to win games,” said Wake, whom the Dolphins signed to a contract extension this offseason that will pay him $14.1 million over this season and next.

“There was a time when everybody said I couldn’t pass rush. All I did was go in on run downs. It’s funny how things get talked about.”

Joseph said Wake didn’t finish the opener in Seattle because he was winded. Wake disputes that.

How does Wake feel physically nearly 11 months after the Achilles injury?

“I feel good,” said Wake, whois widely respected as one of the Dolphins hardest workers.

Does he feel like he did a year ago this time?

“Yeah,” he said, who turned 34 in January, which is the equivalent of being an NFL senior citizen.

Does Wake feel like he can contribute like he did a year ago, when he had seven sacks and forced four fumbles in his seven games before suffering the injury?

“Sure,” said Wake, who has 70 sacks and 16 forced fumbles in his eight-year career. Is he certain of this? “Yes!” responded Wake, who hasn’t recorded a tackle this season.

His workload bears watching as the season progresses.

“If we get into a normal game, the plan for Cam is to play 25 snaps on passrushing downs,” Joseph said, noting that 400 snaps for Wake is the goal this season. “There can be a time where he can play more. He probably should have played more last week.

“It hadn’t worked the last two weeks, obviously, because it’s been two different games. But that’s the plan.”

“I’m not the guy who is out here to prove anything to anybody.”

Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake