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.''

• An NFC executive said two bubble players worth keeping are Lex Hilliard and Quentin Moses: ``Moses needs to get stronger, but he's long and lean and is showing he has upside as a pass-rusher. Hilliard doesn't have great speed, but he's a hard, physical runner and very tough.''

• Casserly expects big strides from Ted Ginn Jr.: ``I watched him, and he's playing with more confidence, seems more definitive in his cuts.'' But as a group, ``the top four are not good enough,'' Williamson said. ``Ginn is a No. 2, Brian Hartline is a No. 3 or 4, Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo are great slot-possession guys. They could use a 215-pound muscled receiver, a tough guy who can go get the ball.''

CHATTER

• Roth (groin) said Tuesday he's frustrated and surprised he hasn't returned from injury and is uncertain when he will. Asked if he thinks he will play this season, Roth said, ``Oh, I hope so. I can't make the decision.'' If he's placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list, he's out six games. . . . Though Hartline started the past two games, Camarillo practiced with the first team Tuesday.

• Buzz from inside closed UM practices: One insider said freshman Olivier Vernon already looks like UM's best defensive end; Ray Ray Armstrong has been good on special teams but isn't ready for a significant role at safety; no clear-cut No. 1 receiver has emerged, though UM believes LaRon Byrd will be that eventually; safety Jared Campbell and linebacker Arthur Brown have improved, but Brown still has a ways to go. . . . One UM official said it became clear in August that Taylor Cook (who left for Rice) wasn't good enough to run the offense well if Jacory Harris was injured.

• Among the reasons the Marlins believe Cameron Maybin, promoted Monday, is ready to stick: Not only is his .319 average higher than his .298 career minor-league mark, but at Triple A New Orleans, he struck out 19 percent of his at-bats (compared with 37 percent with the Marlins earlier this year, and 32 percent in the minors last year). ``Maybin is our future,'' owner Jeffrey Loria said.

• The Heat -- which says it would prefer to trade for a backup point guard than sign one -- spoke to New Jersey about ex-Heat guards Rafer Alston and Keyon Dooling, one of whom could be dealt. Nothing materialized, but the door was left open for further talks.