Joe Berger likely will make the calls setting up the offensive line for the Dolphins on Sunday. Eight years ago, he figured his career would involve setting up machines for assembly lines.

That's a logical career outlook when you're a 210-pound freshman engineering student considering walking on at a Division II school. And that's the route Berger might have taken if not for former Dolphins nose guard Chuck Klingbeil.

Now, center Jake Grove's ankle injury -- officially, he's ``doubtful'' -- gives Berger his first NFL start, Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Don't be surprised if CBS puts up Grove's photo under Berger's name -- they have the same barrel torsos and shoe brush-cut gold hair.

``If Joe ends up starting in the game and Jake doesn't play, then I'm absolutely fine with that,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. ``Joe's ready to go, got a lot of work. He's a solid player, smart guy, going to get us lined up the right way and I know exactly what Joe will do in the game. I think that that's a good thing.''

They're also the two linemen named when discussing who's the smartest among the Dolphins offensive linemen.

``He was an engineering student,'' Dolphins guard Justin Smiley said when answering why he picks Berger as the brainiest. ``Knows every front, knows every play inside and out. In his mind, he can conceptualize if we do one thing to this front and they switch it here I'm going to do that. Sometimes, [offensive-line coach Dave DeGuglielmo] asks Joe, `Hey, what do you think about this right there?' because Joe's that smart.

``Second, I would say Jake Grove,'' Smiley continued. ``But if you're a center, you have to be [smart]. That's why I don't play center. You have to be able to see things from a different angle. You have to be able to think outside the box.''

Although Berger says, ``I've had some time to watch defenses, I think I know what I'm looking at,'' he believes his football gray matter gets overrated because of his degree. And he says DeGuglielmo asks him questions only because Berger spent just over two seasons in the same offense while with Dallas.

That's where Sparano got to know Berger, who was claimed by Dallas after the Dolphins put him on waivers almost exactly three years ago. The Dolphins had signed him off Carolina's practice squad early in the 2005 season. Carolina drafted him, but it's appropriate that Berger wound up with the Dolphins, considering his career kept running alongside Dolphins names.

After graduating from Newaygo High, Berger decided on Michigan Tech with an eye toward mechanical engineering.

``I went there to go to school,'' Berger said. ``My dad said, `You can try to play football there.' I was 210 pounds, walked into their office and said, `I want to play offensive line.' They said, `Sure. Maybe you'll get some playing time by your senior year if you put some weight on.''

Berger redshirted as a freshman, and he put on the Freshman 50.

``Dorm food,'' he said. ``And getting into my first real strength program.''

Klingbeil was Michigan Tech's strength coach at the time and helped build Berger into a 290-pound senior. After that season, Berger played in the Division II All-Star Cactus Bowl, where he won the Jim Langer Award as the game's top offensive lineman.

That got him drafted in the sixth round by Carolina in 2005, putting his real-world plans as a designer in their current holding pattern.

``I was looking at something in the car industry, which turns out not a great idea in Michigan right now,'' Berger said. ``Working the line with machines. I didn't want to sit behind a desk. I wanted to get down on the floor.''

There's no more ``on the floor'' than the interior line.

INJURIES

Also listed as ``doubtful'' with an ankle injury was defensive tackle Lionel Dotson. Dotson could be said to be doubtful each week anyway -- he's been inactive for eight of the 10 games this season and was inactive for 14 of 16 games last season.

For Buffalo, cornerback Ashton Youboty (ankle), defensive tackle John McCargo (calf) and offensive tackle Demetrius Bell (knee) are out. Rookie safety Jairus Byrd (groin), cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (knee) are questionable.

RICKY BACKS COLT

Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner and Texas alumnus, will be giving his Heisman vote to Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.

``I think he's had a good year. I know what it feels like to play with that pressure [of being a Texas star] every day,'' Williams said. Being a quarterback, McCoy's lived with that ``even more than I ever experienced. I think he really helps get the most out of their young receivers and young running backs. They're a really young team, especially on offense. I think he's done a great job as a leader, as a quarterback and he's a winner.''