First, it was vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum speaking up earlier this week to at least partially defend Ndamukong Suh as the Dolphins try to move fast a nightmarish start that included the firing of coach Joe Philbin.
Wednesday, it was interim coach Dan Campbell doing the same.
“What I saw is a player who improved over four games,” Campbell said of Suh. “I’ve seen a guy who goes out, he gets here early, he does his own thing, as far as doing a workout and working hard. He does stuff with the team, then he comes out here and practices. The guy gives 110 percent.”
That’s not the strongest of endorsements, but the Dolphins are looking forward and trying to make it clear that their bad start does not fall only on the shoulders of the guy the team signed to a six-year contract last March that includes $60 million fully guaranteed over three years.
Suh has no sacks and three tackles through four games.
“You sign a guy like him, you’re looking for three or four sacks and four or five [tackles for loss], and all of those things,” Campbell said. “Ultimately you can have a very productive day without having those type of stats.”
The 1-3 Dolphins changed defensive coordinators, too, and had last week off. So, maybe they’ll be a new team and Suh will be a new player Sunday when the Dolphins play the Titans.