:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/24588401/186500269.0.jpg)
The Miami Dolphins have a dominant, game changing pass rusher in All Pro defensive end Cameron Wake. He's someone who can change a game at any time, and seems to always come away with a big sack exactly when it is needed. He's had a game this season in which he sacked the quarterback, forced a fumble, and recovered that fumble - on the same play. That game, on Thursday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals, saw Wake record three sacks, the forced fumble and recovery, and, the most ridiculous of the stats, the game ending, walk off safety.
Cameron Wake is undoubtedly the man. He's the myth. He's already a Dolphins legend.
But, for every Batman, there's a Robin. For every Ben, there's a Jerry. For every Chandler, there's a Joey. For every Lewis, there's a Clark. For every Fred, there's a Barney. For every Walter, there's a Jesse. For every Bert, there's an Ernie. For every Calvin, there's a Hobbes. For every Will, there's a Carlton. For every J.D., there's a Turk. For every Sherlock Holmes, there's a Watson. For every Wayne, there's a Garth.
And, for every Jason Taylor, there's an Adewale Ogunleye.
Wake is the dominant, alpha player. He is the heart-and-soul of the Dolphins defense. Wake is the new JT. Which brings us to the Ogunleye.
Enter Olivier Vernon.
For years, Dolphins fans have been looking for a dominant defensive pairing, but we've been looking for the next Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain. We forgot to look for Taylor and Ogunleye. Yet, it looks like we've found it.
In 2003, Ogunleye led the AFC with 15 sacks, opposite one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league, Taylor, who had 13 sacks, a year after leading the league with 18.5 sacks. This year, Vernon is currently fifth in the NFL with 10.5 sacks, and four games to play, opposite Wake's 6.5, a year after fishing fourth in the league with 15.0 sacks.
The Dolphins defensive line has their dynamic duo. They have their alpha and their beta. And, they have a rookie in Dion Jordan who, in the future, could come in and challenge either of them for their positions.
It's a bad time for quarterback opposing the Dolphins. Vernon is making a charge to be the best player on the defensive line. But, he still has a way to go to catch top dog, Cameron Wake.
