With the season closing in, what do talent evaluators think of the Dolphins personnel? We solicited input from three NFL personnel directors and two former general managers and a scout. Some feedback:

Through three exhibition games, one big concern voiced was about the safety play. "Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson are more than capable against the run, but if they're trying to help the corners out, they might be a half-step too late in coverage,'' said former Denver general manager Ted Sundquist, who also noted the safeties missed tackles against Tampa Bay.

Bell has proved his worth, but one NFC personnel director said Wilson will struggle here. And ex-Browns scout Matt Williamson of ESPN's Scouts Inc. said as a tandem, ``Bell and Wilson are overrated in that they have similar skill sets. Both are better in the box. What do they do with Randy Moss when he gets by a corner?''

• One NFC personnel director said last week he won't be surprised if Will Allen, Sean Smith and Vontae Davis rank among the top cornerback troikas in the league eventually. ``I didn't like Davis the first game, but he has become a lot more aggressive,'' another executive said. A third executive said Smith will thrive against big receivers but worries about him defending smaller, quicker ones. He said, ``We have guys on our staff who have reservations that he's a tweener'' between safety and corner, though Smith has allayed most of those concerns.

• Evaluators have been impressed with Jason Taylor, who turned 35 Tuesday, but cautioned not to understate Matt Roth's absence. ``Jason is still rangy and has good instincts,'' Sundquist said. ``But when teams run right at them, those [outside linebackers] -- Taylor and Joey Porter -- are suspect.'' (Tony Sparano said Tuesday he believes ``Taylor can be an every-down player in this defense and still be effective.'')

• Cameron Wake's ``skills will translate from the CFL,'' said one executive who has watched him in preseason. ``He has some explosiveness.''

• Despite the struggles against Tampa, sentiment is Miami's offensive line will be fine and will be one of the team's biggest strengths (along with Chad Pennington and the running backs). ``They didn't open holes -- and Tampa's defense is horrible -- but they need to play together more,'' Williamson said. ``They should be in the top third of offensive lines.''

Said CBS insider/ex-Texans GM Charley Casserly: ``If I was going to watch a guy, it's Vernon Carey. Is he going to play as well or better than last year?'' (Carey struggled against Tampa and said his play in 2008 did not meet his standards.)

• Though Kendall Langford's growth earned praise, ``Miami's defensive line would raise concerns,'' one personnel director said. ``If you don't have great d-linemen, your linebackers have to be great.'' Sundquist said, ``That group is a little shaky. Can they hold together over a 16-game season? I'm not sure they will or play as well in the fourth quarter as they do in the first'' because of depth issues.

Williamson said: ``I worry about depth in the middle. Jason Ferguson is put together with tapes and bandages.'' Williamson knows Paul Soliai has improved but ``you would like to see him anchor and eat people up. It wouldn't surprise me if they pick a nose tackle in the first round next year.''

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