Miami Dolphins' Cam Wake answers critics with four-sack game

DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins defensive end Cam Wake had four sacks against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, the second-best performance of his career (his best is 4.5 sacks) and two fumbles caused to set the tone for a defense that created four turnovers.

Wake, who had been battling a hamstring injury the previous three games, entered the game with one tackle and no sacks.

"I'll tell you what, he was feeling it," interim head coach Dan Campbell said. "He had four sacks and he probably should have had two more. He's all over the field, he's one of our leaders and he's an impact player that those guys look up to and will play for.

"So for any of the doubters out there that said that Cam Wake is slowing up or slowing down, I don't think so."

--Defensive end Olivier Vernon was flagged early in Sunday's game when he took a shot at Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota's knees. The Dolphins and Titans did lots of chirping after the play.

"It was BS," Tennessee head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "I think it should be taken out of the game. It's not the way you play football. I think it was done with the idea of trying to hurt our quarterback."

Some think the aggression and intensity Miami interim coach Dan Campbell preached during the week spilled over a little too much with that play. But Vernon, who registered his first sack of the season later in the game, said the hit wasn't meant to cross the line.

"I've never been a dirty player in my whole career," he said, "so why would I start now?"

--Right guard Billy Turner, who lost his starting job shortly before the season opener, got his first start and apparently did pretty well in taking over for rookie Jamil Douglas.

"Billy brings a physical presence," Campbell said, "and he'll tell you this, he's got to continue to improve on his fundamentals. There are some things that he didn't do a great job at, just pad-level, first step and all of those, but he played physical and to be able to get to his feet wet and get in there with his first start for the year, I thought he did a nice job and he's only going to build on that."

Left tackle Branden Albert also returned to the lineup after missing two and a half games with a hamstring injury, and seemed to do pretty well. It was the best health the offensive line has enjoyed since the opener at Washington and it showed.

Miami rushed for a season-best 180 yards.

NOTES: CB Brice McCain sustained a right knee injury in the first quarter and didn't return. There was no word Monday on the severity of his injury. ... TE Brandon Williams was signed by the Dolphins off the team's practice squad. Williams joined the practice squad on Sept. 30 after being waived by the Carolina Panthers, He caught four passes for 44 yards in 23 games over the past three seasons for Carolina. ... S Jonathan Dowling was waived by Miami after being signed from the team's practice squad last week.