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Miami Dolphins' defense tackles the basics

The Dolphins went back to basics on tackling Wednesday. Not coincidentally, a coach who helped teach Gibril Wilson when he was 9 years old gave the Dolphins safety all the analysis he needed after Monday's loss to the Colts.

``My Pop Warner coach called me about that,'' Wilson said. ``He said, `That's not you.' When he starts calling me about my tackling, I know it's bad.''

The call came even before Wilson left the stadium. Coach Tony Sparano put the Dolphins' missed-tackle count from Monday at seven. That's enough for a normal game, ridiculously high for a game in which the opponent ran only 35 plays and the Dolphins made only 19 tackles.

Miami Dolphins LB Channing Crowder doubtful for Sunday

Although middle linebacker Channing Crowder missed all the practice reps this week as the Dolphins installed their defensive game plan for the Jets, coach Tony Sparano said he doesn't anticipate any problems with Crowder being mentally ready if his left shoulder is ready to go Sunday.

``You always worry about a guy being prepared mentally if they don't practice,'' Sparano said. ``But from Channing's standpoint, I don't worry about that stuff. He is smart enough mentally to be one of our coaches.''

Crowder's physical readiness, on the other hand, is officially ``doubtful,'' according to Friday's injury report. Statistically, the Dolphins' rush defense is hampered greatly without Crowder, allowing an average of 168 rushing yards over the past five games he has missed. And when he missed the second half against Oakland in 2007, the Raiders, after running for 101 yards on 25 carries in the first half, ran for 198 on 24 carries in the second half. The Jets come in with the NFL's No. 1 rushing offense

Miami Dolphins' run defense must step up against New England Patriots

From the season opener, the Dolphins proudly placed their much improved run defense as a cornerstone of their identity. That cornerstone has been crumbling the past two games, and December is no time for an identity crisis in the NFL.

Buffalo running back Fred Jackson ran for 73 yards on 15 carries, 61 on 11 in the second half, as part of the Bills 129 rushing yards Sunday. The week before, Carolina's DeAngelo Williams raced through the Dolphins for 122 yards on 13 carries. Had Carolina not kept putting the game in the interception-prone hands of quarterback Jake Delhomme, the Dolphins might be on a two-game losing streak.

Once among the top five in stopping the run, the Dolphins have sunk to 12th and are down to 11th in yards per carry allowed. Ahead on the schedule are run heavy Jacksonville and Tennessee, as well as Pittsburgh, which might be getting back to its ground roots after half a season relying on Ben Roethlisberger's arm.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder 'dinged up'

Linebacker Channing Crowder spent Wednesday's practice on the sidelines, doing exercises for the shoulder he injured in Sunday's loss to New Orleans.

``Just dinged up a little bit,'' Crowder said. ``Shoulder's sore, so they said to sit out and try to get back right. See what [coach] Tony [ Sparano ] has to say. He deals with injury stuff. I hate missing games. I wanted to practice [Wednesday,] to be honest.

``Tony had to talk me out of it.''

Miami Dolphins have no answer for Texans offense

A Twitter-fitting summary of the Dolphins' defensive effort in Sunday's first half against Houston came from grim-faced Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor:

``We finally got to meet their punter in the second half. We had our heads up our [butts] in the first half.''

Or, perhaps, you're a numbers person, feeling they'd give a more precise picture. For you, the summary goes: 306 yards allowed; 27 points allowed: 15 first downs allowed; 8.7 yards per play allowed; 66 yards allowed on 15 rushes to the NFL's worst rushing offense before quarterback Matt Schaub's kneel-down; Schaub's 14-of-18 passing for 247 yards and two touchdowns.