Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Jason Taylor: 'Wake's ass-kicking is no surprise'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Jason Taylor is a Cameron Wake fan, plain and simple. And he'd employ Wake if he had the power.

"If I was starting a team and needed a defensive end, he’d be the first guy I’d call," Taylor said Tuesday at the Miami Dolphins Touchdown Club Luncheon, via MiamiDolphins.com.

The retired Taylor, the most prolific pass rusher in Dolphins history, has been impressed with his former teammate Wake and his 14 sacks through 13 games this season.

However, Taylor expected nothing less from the former CFLer. (photo: Derrick Lee, Flickr)

"Cam’s kicking ass and it comes as no surprise," Taylor said. "Even when the numbers aren’t there the things he does to affect the game like the holding calls and the false starts, all the things that defensive players need to do to affect games, he does that a very, very high level.”

Wake's 14 quarterback takedowns ties his season-best, so he'll more than likely record his best statistical season in 2012.

But rushing the passer isn't a defensive end's only job. Wake has been maybe the Dolphins' best run defender, too. Again, that's no surprise to Taylor.

“I don’t see it as him picking up his game against the run because he’s always been good at it," Taylor said.

Wake is coming off a three-sack game against the San Francisco 49ers, though he said he'd trade all his sacks this season for a winning record. Unfortunately for Wake, he won't have a chance to chase down any signal-callers once the regular season commences.

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