Dolphins' Lamar Miller: I should get more carries

Lamar Miller needs more touches. That seems like an obvious sentence from an outsider's perspective.

It's also one the running back agrees with.

"When I'm feeling it, I feel I should get more opportunities," he said, via the Palm Beach Post. "But it just depends on the situation if we're losing or if we're up. I was feeling it pretty good Monday night.

"I really don't question the play calling. I just go out there and try to make plays for this team and this organization. I really don't think about it that much."

The reasons behind the Dolphins' refusal to ride their back remain unknown. Miller insists his ankle was fine Monday night and was not the reason the Dolphins went away from him after he gained 69 yards and two touchdowns on his first seven carries.

Former offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was fired in part because of a refusal to run the ball. Yet the problem still persists in South Beach.

With each offensive play-caller who refuses to let Miller carry a workload, it's fair to wonder whether there are concerns about him wearing down between the tackles. Miller's 5.1 yards per carry ranks fourth in the NFL among players with 100-plus totes for the season, yet he ranks 22nd in attempts (behind the likes of LeGarrette Blount, Melvin Gordon and Ronnie Hillman). The usage level is perplexing.

Miller is headed toward free agency and said he'd like to remain in Miami, but admitted the number of carries promised will play a role in where he signs.

"It'll be a part of my decision, yes, just trying to see how I would be used and what type offense, what type of system that I would be playing in," he said.

With the Dolphins expected to hire a new offensive coach, they'll have a fresh pitch to make the South Florida native. At this point, however, a fresh start might be beneficial for the back and it could be too late to convince Miller to stay in Miami.