The Miami Dolphins desperately need help in fixing their 30th-ranked run defense this offseason. According to second-year head coach Adam Gase, part of that solution is in-house.

Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is expected to start next to Ndamukong Suh next season. Getty Images/Joel Auerbach

Gase said the Dolphins will lean more heavily on 2015 second-round pick Jordan Phillips next season. The defensive tackle was up and down as a role player last season. But Miami's coaching staff is counting on increased reps -- about 45-50 snaps -- and a starting role in 2017 opposite Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh.

"We talked about it before the end of last season that we need to get his reps up," Gase said of Phillips on Thursday at the NFL combine. "Twenty-five plays a game is not really going to do anything for us. So we need his snaps to get up, and we have to shorten the snaps on defense altogether."

Former Dolphins defensive coordinator and current Denver head coach Vance Joseph put it best when describing Phillips last season. Joseph said you can put together a highlight tape of plays that would make Phillips look really good. But you can also put together a lowlight tape that would make Phillips look really bad. Both statements are accurate.

Phillips had 23 tackles and a half sack last season in 16 games. He split time with veteran defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who was recently released, and others. But Year 3 is the time for Phillips to prove he can be a full-time starter in the NFL.

Playing on a defensive line that features two Pro Bowlers -- Suh and defensive end Cameron Wake -- should help Phillips. Suh and Wake will command most of the double teams, so Phillips should get plenty of one-on-one opportunities against centers and guards next season.