After disappearing in week 2, will Chris McCain step up in week 3?

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
Linebacker Chris McCain, who was undrafted out of California, was one of the more pleasant surprises coming out of camp. With a fierce pass rush and the ability to change the game every snap, fans and coaches were excited to see what he could bring to the table once the real games began.

In week one against the New England Patriots, he didn’t disappoint. Although McCain only had one tackle and a sack, the sack came at a key moment in the game that turned the momentum to the Dolphins side. After they got the ball and scored, they never looked back. McCain also added a QB hit on the day.

However, against the Bills, he disappeared. In fact, he didn’t play at all on defense. When Joe Philbin was asked about it, he had a clear answer, although most may not agree with him.

“Every decision we make is based on the type of game we are in, the type of scheme we are utilizing, what we are anticipating. We went with the players we thought gave us the best chance to win. We treat every week as kind of its own entity. I wouldn’t rule him out of anything. He’s a guy who is working hard on the practice field. He’s getting better, so we’ll see how this week unfolds.”

Although he didn’t get into much detail and after watching the game, it’s not hard to see why McCain didn’t get many chances. The Bills were utilizing a very quick three-step drop and if they had someone like McCain rush the passer, he probably wouldn’t have even gotten close to him. The Dolphins needed guys who can cover on the field and McCain simply isn’t at that point yet.

---