Football is not about tricky plays. It's about dominance. Physical and mental dominance. And the best way to dominate is to run the football. If you can run on a team, shove it up and down the field, it means you're kicking --- (that's physical) and both of you know it (that's mental). Running is power.

-- From Out of Bounds, the autobiography of NFL Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown.

The testosterone in the words of the greatest running back in NFL history sums up why the Dolphins' defense walks with more of a macho amble these days. For all of the explosive hits on pass routes over the middle and frightful violence on special teams, football's alpha maleness gets established in the push and shove of the running game.

Last season, the Dolphins were 30th in run defense and 32nd , dead last, in yards allowed per rush. After four games and holding the Chargers, who have All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson, to 60 yards on 19 carries, they are No. 7 and No. 6, respectively.

'NO. 1 GOAL'

Just surviving the NFL week-to-week establishes you as a physically tough individual. Still, don't think those Dolphins defenders don't feel just a little more manly than they did a year ago or after the Jets ran on them in Week 1.

''Defensively, every week we come to work, no matter who our opponent is, it's our No. 1 goal,'' Dolphins linebacker Akin Ayodele said. 'Because when a team can run, they really have you on your heels, and they can do a lot more to hurt your defense than passing the ball. You can scheme different ways, but, like you said, it's more of a male thing, such a powerful thing. `We're not going to let them mano-a-mano come down and smash us and run through us.' ''

It's so ingrained that last season, before the Dolphins faced New England and a passing attack gobbling air yardage faster than the Concorde, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter admitted he couldn't bring himself to say anything other than the Dolphins had to stop the run first. The thought of possibly giving up the run ran too counter to everything he stood for as a defensive player.

After the Dolphins beat Minnesota 24-20 in 2006 but had minus-3 yards rushing for the game, Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams roared arrogantly that the total wasn't worth discussing because, ``Nobody can run on us!''

It wasn't a tone usually associated with a losing locker room.

MATTER OF PRIDE

''That's the pride of the linebackers, that run,'' Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder said. 'They get the big pass and all -- Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald can jump out of the gym, so throw the ball up, he'll catch it, we'll go play the next play. But somebody running the ball down your throat is very disrespectful to you and just starts to grind on you. `We're going to line up and run the ball down your throat' -- that's just saying they're better than you. It does mess with you in the front seven.''

This year, the injury report is pristine, as opposed to including strong safety Yeremiah Bell, inside linebackers Channing Crowder and Zach Thomas. Xs and Os have a role, too.

''We're setting the edge really well,'' Dolphins outside linebacker Matt Roth said. ``Our guys inside are getting upfield. We're just constricting all the holes. They don't have much [room] to run it, and if they do we've got a defender right there.''

ATTITUDE COUNT

Although acknowledging the defensive scheme and everyone knowing their responsibilities plays a role in the Dolphins' improvement against the run over the past three games, Ayodele said, ``At the same time, it's attitude. Especially in this locker room, you have a lot of guys who are prideful. Some of us are arrogant. But, it's OK. You use that in a game. You use that in situations. You look at fourth-and-goal situations.''

Such as Sunday, when San Diego had fourth-and-goal from the Dolphins' 1 while trailing 17-10 in the fourth quarter. The Chargers didn't bother to disguise that they were sending Tomlinson over the left side.

''That in itself is such a powerful moment for us,'' Ayodele said. ``Look, we're playing at home, this is our turf. And they dare to go for it. Just talking to yourself and saying it out loud to one another. I think it really motivated us to come up with a play.''

It's a man thing.

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