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Dolphins have no idea how to properly use Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller will be a free agent following the 2015 season. He should join a monastery before re-signing with the Miami Dolphins.

The fourth-year running back is having another very nice season. In 190 touches (151 carries, 39 receptions), Miller has 1,115 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. He has averaged 5.1 yards per carry.

If given an average workload for a 13-game starter (which he is), Miller would be thought of as a Pro Bowl running back. Perhaps even All-Pro. But the Dolphins -- whether driven by doubts about Miller's durability or good-old fashioned coaching incompetence -- refuse to test Miller's ceiling.

Monday night's game against the Giants was the low point. Miller was housing New York's defense in the first half, accumulating 69 yards and two touchdowns on his first seven carries. A beautiful bit of rushing on his second score should have been a siren blast to the Dolphins that the offense should run through Miller for the duration of the evening.

"Incredible stop-and-start quickness," ESPN's Jon Gruden gushed over Miller's lateral agility during replays of his dance through the hole.

This could have been Lamar Miller's coming out party. Instead, Miller disappeared from the Dolphins' game plan after his star turn. He had just six more carries over the final two and a half quarters and wasn't targeted in the passing game. Ryan Tannehill, meanwhile, threw 41 passes and averaged 5.8 yards per attempt in a 31-24 loss.

Miller had his ankle taped on the sideline during the game, but told reporters he was not injured and wasn't sure why he didn't have a bigger role in the second half. It certainly sounds like his absence was as inexplicable as it seems.

Next week, the Dolphins will face the Chargers, who have one of the worst run defenses in football. The game plan should revolve around Miller, who just might be Miami's best offensive player. Dolphins fans have the right to doubt that's how it will actually play out.

Run, Lamar. Run straight to a team that will appreciate your talents.

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