• Offensive line: Miami's 3-yard rushing average ranks third-worst, and ''it's nobody's fault but our own,'' left guard Justin Smiley said of the underachieving line. ``Enough is enough. Offensive lines take time, but we don't have time.''

Right tackle Vernon Carey said linemen are no longer given individual grades, but Carey and Smiley said internal feedback is they're each playing well. But center Samson Satele (two sacks allowed) was self-critical.

What about left tackle Jake Long? ''I've been OK, but I've got a ways to go. I want to be great. There's disappointment because I've had bad plays.'' ( Tony Sparano said Long has had eight negative plays.) Long, who said he had three penalties and allowed two sacks in four years at Michigan, already has two penalties and given up one sack.

Also, ESPN.com's KC Joyner (who has studied every play) said Miami has 18 yards on six running plays with Long at the point of attack (3.0 average). Joyner said among offensive-line starters, that's ahead of only right guard Ikechuku Ndukwe, who replaced injured Donald Thomas for Game 2 and struggled (1 yard on three runs behind him).

''Long looks mediocre,'' Joyner said. ''I thought they would pound the ball more behind the left side, Long and Smiley, but only 12 [of 41] runs have been to that side.'' Former longtime NFL scout Ken Moll, who evaluated both Miami games for ESPN.com, said, ``Long is not in the mold of great left tackles -- doesn't have that same athleticism.''

Rookie fourth-round guard Shawn Murphy said Sparano told him his ''progress needs to be faster.'' Sparano hopes he is a factor by midseason. . . . Besides the line, Joyner noted another problem: With a fullback in the backfield, Miami has averaged 2.7 yards on 16 rushes.

• Secondary: Safety Renaldo Hill's promotion (over Chris Crocker) was well-received because he's ''our best talker and will let everyone know what's going on,'' Yeremiah Bell said. . . . Jason Allen, a safety in training camp, worked mostly at cornerback last week, Hill said.

Andre' Goodman has allowed a completion or committed a penalty on nine of the 12 balls thrown toward him (for 181 yards), but the Dolphins gave him all the first-team cornerback snaps on the right side last week. But Michael Lehan -- listed No. 2 on Will Allen's side -- also worked on the right side and could push Goodman.

• Receiver: Starter Ted Ginn Jr. was ''surprised'' he was not used in three-receiver sets against Arizona -- ''I'm trying to be a team player'' -- but is expected to get more work Sunday. Miami wants more yards after the catch from Ginn. ''They realize Ginn has talent,'' Fox's Jimmy Johnson said off-air. ``But that's the problem when you change coaches -- they want their own players, and the previous regime's players don't [always] develop.''

An official in touch with the Dolphins said management keeps telling people how much it loves Davone Bess and wants to develop the young receivers because it believes available free agents aren't necessarily better.

'People ask, `How come you guys aren't getting separation?' But people aren't watching the film,'' Greg Camarillo said.

CHATTER

• Barring playoffs, several will play their final home game in a Marlins uniform Sunday, including Kevin Gregg and potentially Mike Jacobs, Scott Olsen and others. ''It's an organization that doesn't want to spend the money,'' Gregg bemoaned. Josh Willingham said he has a ''feeling I'll be back.'' Dan Uggla doesn't think the fact he's a ''streaky guy'' should be held against him: ``I am who I am. I helped out a lot in May and June.''

• Among Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's challenges: sorting out minutes at back-up shooting shooting guard and back-up small forward among James Jones, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook and Yakhouba Diawara: ''Other people might say it's going to be a problem. But I look at it and see versatility.'' Does Spoelstra have a playoff-caliber team? ``Too early to tell.''

• Though UM has oral commitments from running backs Bryce Brown and Mike James, Killian's talented Lamar Miller said UM assistant Micheal Barrow called and said ''they still want me.'' He's considering UM, UF and FSU, among others.

• Swingman Dequan Jones, ranked 23rd by rivals.com among incoming freshmen, is wowing UM people. ''His athleticism is ridiculous, how he spins in the lane and dunks on you,'' guard James Dews said. Canes coach Frank Haith said: ``The way he plays above the rim, we haven't had a guy like that since I've been here.''

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