This is what the last decade-plus of mediocre-to-bad football has turned the Miami Dolphins fan base into: a passive bunch.

It's very rarely, ``the Dolphins are going to win because of this,'' and far too often, ``the Dolphins have to do this to avoid a loss.''

And it's what you will hear all week as the Fins prepare to take on Drew Brees and the score-happy Saints.

It's not an insult. It's the natural result of watching four previous coaching staffs take a similarly passive approach to the game. The old ``playing not to lose instead of playing to win'' was a common characteristic in Dolphins teams ever since Dan Marino stopped slinging footballs for a living.

That's changing now. It's the toughest task the Bill Parcells-Tony Sparano regime has had to accomplish in its tenure thus far, but it's one that is getting done, and you can actually see it.

DISTINCT IDENTITY

It comes from having an identity. Being very good at something, maybe even great at it, and forcing the opposition to worry about you just as much, if not more, than you worry about them.

These Dolphins have a very distinct identity. They are not just tough, but they are committed more than any team in the league to running the football.

It's acknowledged league-wide -- even if some don't respect it because it includes an unusual formation with a weird name. It's what makes the Dolphins a formidable opponent. And it's what should make a game like Sunday's against the Saints such an interesting contest. It's a study of two unique identities.

How many teams in the league can actually say with confidence that they have a truly unique identity (in a good way, not in the way the Redskins are uniquely awful)?

The Ravens can. No matter what the numbers say, they're the scariest defense in the league every year until Ray Lewis and Ed Reed retire.

The Colts can. Peyton Manning, his play-action passes and his downfield weapons are near impossible to defend.

The Steelers can. It's mostly an aura of toughness that comes from playing in that city with that quarterback and that wild-haired safety.

The Patriots can. Because their coach, quarterback and rings tell you they can.

And now the Saints and Dolphins can, too.

The Saints because they are the league's most balanced offense with a quarterback who plays no favorites and is as accurate as they come.

And the Dolphins because they are not only committed to running the football but are really, really good at it.

It's a lot more difficult to win by rushing for 5 or 6 yards at a time and having to execute flawlessly for a long drive than it is to pull a Peyton and score with three pass plays in a minute and a half.

But there's a pride that comes with taking the more difficult approach and still being successful.

If you throw out the opener at Atlanta (call it getting the kinks out) and the loss in San Diego (they lost their quarterback during it), the Dolphins have played to their strengths so well that they believe they're the aggressor and will come out on top.

They took on the Colts and could've won if not for questionable management near the end of the game.

They dominated a lost Bills team, and they beat a Jets team that thought it had developed an identity but learned it's still a work in progress.

Now the Dolphins will take on another challenge similar to the one Indianapolis presented, but they're doing so with the belief that their style can win out against the Saints.

``I think I know I have a physical team,'' Sparano said. ``What we have to do around here is -- part of changing this culture the way we're trying to change the culture, is that we have to take the next step. And the next step is to be able to consistently perform well every week. I think that we're starting to get that.''

GETTING ON BOARD

The fans should start to get that, too. Take pride in the running attack. It's the best in the league. Take pride in the Wildcat.

The Dolphins have a strong identity, which you couldn't say for some time. Jimmy Johnson's good-but-not-great defensive teams didn't. Dave Wannstedt's scared and conservative teams didn't. Nick Saban's teams didn't have much of anything, and Cam Cameron's had even less.

This team does. And it's why you should look at how the Dolphins can beat the Saints on Sunday instead of how they avoid losing to them.

The team's no longer passive. Why should you be?

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@