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It's early in the offseason. But from the looks of it, the Miami Dolphins want to run an up-tempo offense under first-year head coach Joe Philbin.

The former offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers is known for putting pressure on defenses. Green Bay was as good as anyone in dictating tempo. Last year the Packers were third in total offense (405.1 yards per game) and first in scoring (35 points per game).

But can Philbin's philosophy work in Miami?

The key to Philbin's first year will be quickly learning and knowing his personnel. New coaches often make the mistake of assuming their system and concepts are one size fits all.

Miami quarterbacks Matt Moore or David Garrard certainly isn't Aaron Rodgers. Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline is not Greg Jennings, and tight end Anthony Fasano is not comparable to Packers tight end Jermichael Finley.

The Dolphins have uncertainty at quarterback and the worst group of receivers in the division. Going up-tempo has its risks. Miami could face plenty of three-and-outs, which would put a lot of pressure on its defense.

Philbin and offensive coordinator Mike Sherman need to be careful about this while installing their new West Coast offense. Green Bay's strengths under Philbin were the quarterback and passing game. It's much easier to go up-tempo when you have a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl-winning quarterback throwing to stud receivers and tight ends.

Miami doesn't have that on its roster this year. The Dolphins' strength is their running game behind their offensive line and 1,000-yard rusher Reggie Bush. It would be wise for Miami's coaching staff to keep that in mind.

The Miami Dolphins believe they have found their quarterback of the future in first-round pick Ryan Tannehill. Miami took Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick in last week's NFL draft.

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland called it an "all-in" decision by the entire organization. In many ways, this is a signature moment for Ireland, rookie head coach Joe Philbin and Miami's current regime.

If Tannehill develops into a stud NFL quarterback, Miami has a good chance to turn the organization around and become a force in the AFC East. If he's a first-round bust, the Dolphins can expect several more years of misery.

But Tannehill's success or failure is not totally up to him. There is a lot the Dolphins must do to ensure their prized rookie has the best chance possible to succeed at the next level.

Here is the AFC East blog's four-step plan that Miami should follow with Tannehill.

Step No. 1: Lower expectations

Miami is already failing in this department. I cringed over the weekend when Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said he hoped to retire Tannehill's No. 17 jersey someday. This was during Tannehill's introductory news conference. You don't put that kind of pressure on a rookie before his first NFL snap.

It also doesn't help that Tannehill is the first quarterback taken by Miami in the opening round since Dan Marino in 1983. In fact, Tannehill (No. 8) was taken much higher than Marino (No. 27). The pressure to fill those shoes has been immense for a long time. Miami hasn't had a legitimate, franchise quarterback since Marino retired in 2000. Fans expect Tannehill to be that player.

The good news is it's not too late to temper expectations. Tannehill will take the practice field for the first time this weekend during rookie minicamp. It's a chance for the media and coaches to see Tannehill in action and set the bar for where he really stands at the pro level.

For now, one of the best things Miami can do is stop talking about retiring jerseys, winning championships and filling Marino's shoes when it comes to Tannehill. Let the rookie develop his own identity with the team at his own pace.

Step No. 2: Sit Tannehill for a year

That brings me to my next point: Do not, under any circumstances, make Tannehill the starter this year. That would be the biggest mistake Miami could make.

The Dolphins have two veteran quarterbacks ahead of the rookie -- David Garrard and Matt Moore -- and a new scheme on offense. Let Garrard and Moore battle it out this year, while Tannehill holds a clipboard and gets ready for 2013.

Miami's offense is too fragile right now for a rookie quarterback, especially one with just 19 collegiate starts. Everyone is learning first-year head coach Joe Philbin's West Coast offense this year, and there aren't enough quality personnel in place to make the scheme successful.

Tannehill shouldn't be subjected to that right away. The strange thing is the rookie quarterback is probably the most knowledgeable about Miami's offense, considering his strong ties with Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, who coached Tannehill in college.

This is a rebuilding year for the Dolphins and they know it. The sooner Tannehill plays, the better the chance he looks like Blaine Gabbert. That would be disastrous for Miami.

The Dolphins should put Tannehill on ice for a year. The only circumstance in which he should play is if Garrard and Moore get injured. Perhaps one exception is starting Tannehill in Week 16 or 17 if Miami has nothing to play for and wants to get Tannehill's feet wet for 2013.

Otherwise, Miami should keep Tannehill on the bench and resist the temptation of short-term buzz and excitement. Tannehill should be treated with the long haul in mind.

Step No. 3: Use Dan Marino as a mentor

Here is some free advice for the Dolphins: They should encourage Marino to be Tannehill's mentor.

Marino, a Hall of Famer, is royalty in Miami. I've said several times in the AFC East blog that Marino is an underused commodity by the Dolphins organization. This is the perfect time and situation to tap into that resource.

Marino has already accomplished what Tannehill dreams of doing. Marino also speaks the same language and can relate to Tannehill in ways that the coaching staff and front office cannot.

If Tannehill is trying to fill Marino's shoes, it makes sense for Marino to be in Tannehill's corner throughout the process to provide support. It may not seem like a big thing, but this could go a long way for the rookie quarterback.

Step No. 4: Get better wide receivers

We alluded to the personnel in Step No. 2. The Dolphins aren't ready at receiver to make things easy on Tannehill.

Philbin says the team's doesn't need a No. 1 receiver, but you do need good receivers who can makes plays and get open. A Tannehill-to-Brian Hartline connection is not all that attractive this year. Hartline is Miami's top receiver and he caught just 35 passes in 2011. Davone Bess is a solid slot receiver but may be asked to take on a bigger role due to lack of competition. The other receiver positions are wide open.

I was surprised Miami didn't take a receiver higher in this draft. The Dolphins waited until the sixth and seventh rounds, despite the position being one of the team's biggest needs. You're not going to plug every hole in the draft, but this is one more reason to keep Tannehill on the bench this year.

If the Dolphins follow this four-step plan, Miami has a good chance to get the best out of Tannehill. He has all the physical tools and potential to be a solid NFL quarterback. But it is very important that Miami does whatever it takes to give Tannehill a fair shot.

The first-round pick was obvious. Everyone knew the Miami Dolphins loved former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the No. 8 overall pick, which went according to form.

But after that, I was curious when Miami was going to take a wide receiver in the draft. It didn’t happen in the second round. It didn’t happen in the third, fourth or fifth rounds.

Miami finally drafted a pair of receivers in the sixth and seventh rounds. The Dolphins selected B.J. Cunningham of Michigan State and Rishard Matthews of Nevada.

"I think we drafted a couple good players that we think could ascend," Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said. "But weren’t going to reach. That’s not my philosophy."

Does Miami have enough to be effective at wide receiver next season? Here is a look at the players currently on the roster.

According to rookie head coach Joe Philbin, the West Coast offense doesn’t need a star, No. 1 target. But projected starters Brian Hartline and Devone Bess and possibly Legadu Naanee could be put in roles bigger than what they are used to.

Miami traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears in the offseason. The Dolphins expect to throw the ball a lot with a new West Coast offense, probably more than last year, despite a group with a lot to prove.

"The more guys you can get into different spots to create mismatches for the defense, the better you’re going to be,” Philbin said. "I don’t think we lock in."

With the draft complete and free agency all but done, this is probably the receiver group Miami rolls with next season. Is this group good enough to produce in 2012?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Miami Dolphins fans. But it's probably going to be awhile before your team is a legitimate playoff contender again.

A disastrous offseason has gutted this once-promising team. Now, Miami is in full rebuild mode under rookie head coach Joe Philbin.

Miami is not a quick or easy fix. Here are five reasons why the Dolphins are a long way away from being a contender and probable for another top-10 draft pick in 2013:

Reason No. 1: Dolphins don't have a quarterback

Times are changing in the NFL. It's quickly coming to the point where if you don't have a quarterback, you don’t have a chance.

Miami is going into the season with a quarterback competition between career backup Matt Moore and againg veteran David Garrard, who hasn't played football since 2010. Moore is the favorite coming off a career year in 2011 and was 6-6 as a starter. Garrard, 34, is a wild card after being out of football last season.

Neither player is a great fit for Miami's new West Coast offense. It's a scheme based on precision passing and throwing the ball about 60 percent of the time. Philbin was a former offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers. If Philbin expects Moore or Garrard to step in and fill the role of Aaron Rodgers next season, the coach is terribly mistaken.

It's hard for Miami to be a viable contender until it figures out its quarterback position. That won't happen next season with Garrard and Moore. Neither is the long-term solution.

Reason No. 2: No offense

Not only does Miami not have a franchise quarterback, it also lacks a supporting cast to put together a successful offense. The Dolphins could have one of the worst offenses on paper.

The Dolphins certainly have one of the worst receiver groups. The team traded away Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall to the Chicago Bears for a pair of third-round picks, leaving Brian Hartline (35 receptions for 549 yards in 2011) as the No. 1 option. Slot receiver Davone Bess (51 receptions, 537 yards) is projected as the No. 2 receiver, while Legedu Naanee and Clyde Gates compete for playing time. None of these receivers strike fear in the defense to keep opponents from stacking the line against tailback Reggie Bush and the running game.

The right side of Miami's offense line also is a problem. The Dolphins lost their starting right guard (Vernon Carey) and starting right tackle (Marc Colombo) in free agency. With uncertainty at quarterback, below-average receivers and major holes on the right side of the offensive line, Miami's offense is not set up for early success. The draft will help, but Miami can't fill all these needs with rookie players.

Reason No. 3: Shaky ownership, front office

Is it more perception or reality with Miami's leadership? Both have hurt the team.

The perception is the Dolphins have a shaky operation at the top. Owner Stephen Ross has deep pockets but hasn't shown the ability to build a stable, winning franchise. And Ross' trust in embattled general manager Jeff Ireland wasn't a popular decision.

The reality is Ross has the resources and wants to win. But Ross isn't a "football guy," and his unwavering trust in Ireland has caused a ripple effect.

Ireland's track record as a talent evaluator is decent. But he doesn't appear to be well-liked in NFL circles. Several players and former players have bashed Ireland publicly. Even Peyton Manning -- although very politely -- informed the Dolphins he wasn't comfortable with the team's leadership when Miami pursued the quarterback in free agency. Head coach Jeff Fisher also chose the St. Louis Rams over the Dolphins this offseason, in part, because he felt the stability at the top was better in St. Louis.

Winning will help this perception. That will convince top free agents to eventually come to Miami. But that wasn't the case for Ross and Ireland this offseason.

Reason No. 4: Defense is overrated

I like Miami's defense. But for all the hype this group is getting, the Dolphins' defense is fairly overrated.

Miami was ranked No. 15 in total defense in 2011. You would think this was a top-five defense based on the good press it is getting. In reality, it was middle of the pack. More importantly, the Dolphins were ranked 25th against the pass.

Miami still has holes in its secondary. Miami cut its best safety and leading tackler -- Yeremiah Bell -- this offseason. The Dolphins will go with a patchwork group of Reshad Jones, Tyrell Johnson or converted corner Richard Marshall at safety. That means bombs away for opposing quarterbacks like Tom Brady, Matt Schaub and others on Miami's schedule this season. It's going to be tough to win games if you can't pass or stop the pass in today's NFL.

The Dolphins also don't have enough pass-rushers. Outside linebacker Cameron Wake is the biggest threat. Perhaps Miami could find another pass-rusher to go with Wake in this draft. But if the Dolphins can't get to the quarterback and struggle at safety, the defense could be middle of the pack again.

Miami’s defense has its strengths. It is stout against the run, for example, and rarely allows a 100-yard rusher. But contrary to popular belief, the Dolphins aren't dominant enough defensively to win games on just one side of the ball. A sputtering offense will hurt this group.

Reason No. 5: Division rivals are simply better

Miami was 6-10 last season and finished third in the AFC East via the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills (6-10). But a case can be made that the Dolphins are the only team in the division that took a few steps back this offseason.

As we mentioned, the Dolphins traded their best receiver, cut their leading tackler and failed to find a viable starting quarterback. Add in the fact that the team has an entirely new coaching staff and has to learn a new offense and defense, and you're sure to have growing pains. I doubt this team can better last year's record and finish with seven or more wins.

The reigning AFC champion New England Patriots have the NFL's easiest schedule and are much better than Miami. That's a no-brainer. But the Buffalo Bills, my sleeper pick in 2012, also are much improved, and the New York Jets still have a talented roster. The Dolphins appear headed for fourth place in the division. At best, Miami can finish third if something bad happens this year in New York or Buffalo.

Add up these five reasons, and it's clear Miami is much closer to the bottom of the league than the top. Look for the Dolphins to secure another top-10 draft pick and continue their lengthy rebuilding process into 2013.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall for a pair of third-round draft picks and have yet to find a replacement. If the season began today, Brian Hartline and Davone Bess would be the starters.

Miami currently lacks a true No. 1 receiver. But according to Dolphins first-year head coach Joe Philbin, it’s not a big concern in the West Coast offense.

"Part of the philosophy of the offense is to have balance. We want our quarterbacks typically to have what we call progression reads where they’re not necessarily isolated on one specific individual. With that being said, we’re going to play to our hot hand. We’re going to certainly strive to create mismatches and take advantage of the guys that we do have. But the offense, once we install the passing game, is not necessarily built upon, 'OK you’re the No. 1 guy, you’re the No. 2 guy, you’re the No. 3 guy.' As we put the plays together for the quarterback in his mind there’s a progression of who’s the first receiver, who’s the second receiver, who’s the third receiver."

Similar to the offense Philbin orchestrated in Green Bay, the Dolphins plan to throw for the football to the open receiver, regardless of who it is. For the most part there was no star system with the Packers, and the passing game was arguably the NFL's best.

But Matt Moore and David Garrard are not star quarterbacks along the lines to Aaron Rodgers. Can Miami’s starting quarterback drive the offense without help from star receivers in 2012?

The Miami Dolphins traded Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall Tuesday to the Chicago Bears. Vincent Jackson, Reggie Wayne, Robert Meachem and Pierre Garcon were all taken off the market quickly on the first day of free agency.

So who, exactly, will be the No. 1 receiver for Miami next season?

The Dolphins had two months to craft their offseason plan to build a title contender in 2012. But after one day of free agency, their plan looks confusing, particularly at wide receiver.

Miami is reportedly interested in Dallas Cowboys free-agent receiver Laurent Robinson. He had a career year replacing Miles Austin last season. Can Robinson be the No. 1 receiver for the Dolphins?

Or will Miami look to the draft? Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon is a top-10 pick. The Dolphins hold the No. 8 pick and now have a huge need at receiver. Should this be Miami’s next target.

What about Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline? He’s been decent opposite Marshall in the starting lineup. Is Hartline ready to take his game to the next level in Miami’s new West Coast offense?

Using our SportsNation poll, predict who will be Miami’s No. 1 receiver next season. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano felt it was important to add former NFL players to his coaching staff.

I posted a story Wednesday that looked into the importance of assistants with playing experience. To follow up, I wanted to share Sparano's thoughts on his three new position instructors: assistant wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard, tight ends coach Dan Campbell and pass-rush coach Bryan Cox.

Cox is the most familiar player to fans who follow the AFC East. He was a lightning-rod linebacker who played for the Dolphins, New York Jets and New England Patriots in a 12-year career. He recorded 51.5 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and a nice double-bird salute to Buffalo Bills fans.

Cox never played for Sparano, but former Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells -- the man who hired Sparano -- coached Cox for two seasons with the Jets. Cox's entire coaching career has been working as Eric Mangini's defensive line assistant for the Jets and Cleveland Browns.

"Since I came into the league with Bill Parcells, Bryan is a guy I've always talked to Bill about in different ways," Sparano said at the NFL owners meeting in New Orleans last week. "Bryan's a unique guy. His passion for the game is tremendous, and that's something that really intrigues me. Putting him in the role I have him in now gives me great luxury."

Former Dolphins defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni often would pull pass-rushers out of defensive drills to work with them individually. But current coordinator Mike Nolan doesn't like to leave the group much for one-on-one work -- although outside linebacker Cameron Wake didn't appear to suffer from a lack of instruction last season.

Cox "gives me the ability to split the pass-rushers up and get them away from the inside drills and exclusively work on pass-rush with a guy that's going to be able to help them," Sparano said.

Sparano was a Dallas Cowboys tight ends coach when Campbell was there. Sparano promoted him from intern to tight ends coach, replacing George DeLeone.

Sparano said Campbell, a 10-year veteran with three clubs, is "a guy I think an awful lot of" and called him "one of the toughest players I ever coached" and "fundamentally really good."

Hilliard was a receivers coach for the UFL's Florida Tuskers the past two seasons. He played a dozen NFL seasons for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He caught 546 passes and scored 35 touchdowns. He'll help first-time NFL position coach Steve Bush.

"Ike Hilliard comes highly recommended to me from a lot of people that I respect in this business, guys that he played for," Sparano said. "Steve Bush is very good from a mental standpoint, scheme, how he attacks people. But Ike Hilliard would be a guy from a fundamental standpoint that would help those guys, particularly with the man-to-man stuff and how he played the position.

"It's unique to have a guy that has played the inside position as well as Ike has played it in our league, to be able to bring some of those details to the table for a guy like [Davone] Bess or [Brian] Hartline or even Marlon Moore. These guys can learn a lot from him."

Brandon Marshall and Mike Sims-Walker ran pass routes together at Central Florida. Now they're pushing a little Twitter movement to reunite with the Miami Dolphins.

That might sound appealing to Dolfans, who crave a more dynamic offense than the deficient version they watched last year.

But Sims-Walker is not the way to do it. He certainly would upgrade most rosters, but not enough in Miami to warrant whatever he'll cost.

NFL buddies like to conjure scenarios during the offseason. The emergence of Twitter takes daydreaming public.

Sims-Walker tweeted in response to Marshall: "I'm trying to pull a lebron *hint*"

Marshall came back with: "I'm D-Wade and @MikeSimsWalker is Lebron."

Sims-Walker retweeted with the hash tag #makeithappen.

The problem for Sims-Walker is the Dolphins already have a player like him, only better.

His name is Brandon Marshall.

"Mike Sims-Walker is too much like Marshall -- big, physical, possession guy, kinda slow," Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson said.

The Dolphins certainly need to improve their passing game, especially in the red zone. But they seem to have the pieces in place. Whether it was quarterback Chad Henne's inconsistencies, a lack of chemistry or flawed play-calling, the Dolphins struggled despite having adequate receivers already on the roster.

They have a prolific target in Marshall and a talented slot receiver in Davone Bess. The Dolphins like Brian Hartline and are excited about youngsters Marlon Moore and Roberto Wallace.

Where the Dolphins are most lacking at receiver is with a reliable speedster who can stretch the field. Hartline has handled that role, but they can do better.

"If Miami is going to add a wide receiver," Williamson said, "it has to be a pure speed guy, someone to really stretch the defense and open up room for the running game and the underneath stuff to Marshall and Bess.

"Speed is the key. Especially considering all the needs Miami has, if they go wide receiver, they've got to go with a home-run threat. And Henne, despite his faults, can sling the long ball."

Sims-Walker wouldn't help much in that area. He has averaged 13.5 yards per catch for his career. Sims-Walker had 11 plays that went at least 20 yards and none that went at least 40 yards last season for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hartline's downfield numbers were better than Sims-Walker's when you consider Hartline played only 12 games and Henne went deep far less frequently than Jaguars quarterback David Garrard. ESPN Stats & Information charted nine completions for Henne on passes that traveled at least 20 yards in the air, compared to 18 for Garrard.

Hartline averaged 16.3 yards per catch as a rookie and 14.3 yards last season. Hartline had 10 plays of 20-plus yards and one play of 40-plus yards last season.

Plaxico Burress is scheduled to get out of the pokey June 6.

That would give the former New York Giants receiver plenty of time to get on a roster and play a full season. If a labor standoff doesn't compress the summer workout schedule, Burress also would have a good chance to learn the new offense by opening day.

Would Burress be a fit in the AFC East?

Before we consider each team, let's project the kind of receiver Burress will be.

His 34th birthday is in August. He hasn't caught an NFL pass since November 2008. Even before he went to prison after accidentally shooting himself at a Manhattan nightclub, his average yards per catch diminished four straight years.

Still, he's 6-foot-5 and always a threat to sky over defensive backs.

"When you look at him on the field, the guy is tall," ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck said Monday. "He's got long arms. One of the things the Giants loved to do is they'd get on [the opponent's] 45 and take a shot. With the way the rules are set up in the National Football League, it's absolutely perfect for a guy like Plaxico Burress, whose got the long arms, got the reach, who understands how to use his body.

"He's not as fast as he was two years ago. He can still be effective and still can help somebody out if that team ends up trusting him."

Hasselbeck said Burress' employment prospects could be helped by Michael Vick's successful return from prison. Vick seemed to have grown from the experience. Maybe Burress did, too.

Next to Hasselbeck on the "NFL Live" set was former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, who claimed prison might have helped Burress in another way. Pierce won a Super Bowl ring after Burress caught the decisive touchdown to deny the New England Patriots' perfect season.

"He was in jail for two years, and that's a lot of time for that body to heal up," Pierce said. "Plaxico had some ankle, some knee injuries. You sit around for two years, your body starts to heal.

"There's some teams out there ... that would love to have his services."

The AFC East could be a destination. I reached out to Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson for his thoughts on the four rosters and whether or not there would be room for a receiver like Burress.

"I really don't know what he will be able to provide," Williamson said. "He obviously will be the same size when he returns and should continue to use his big frame well, especially near the goal line. It is speculation as to what he will be like athletically, but I have to think that his big play ability and suddenness will be greatly compromised."

Buffalo Bills

Their receiving corps looks solid, but it can be upgraded. Lee Evans has been a disappointment, but defenses must account for him at all times. Steve Johnson had a breakout season with more than 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns. Roscoe Parrish had the best season of his career even though a broken wrist sidelined him after just eight games. Undrafted rookie David Nelson stepped up late in the year when injuries provided an opportunity. Interest in Burress: Low.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have invested heavily in Brandon Marshall, and Burress probably offers a similar skill set at this stage. They are tall, possession receivers who don't stretch the field (anymore). The Dolphins also have their slot receiver in Davone Bess. While Burress could help the Dolphins' woeful red-zone offense, what they need is a speedster who can help Chad Henne blow the top of coverages on occasion and loosen things up for Marshall and Bess underneath. Interest in Burress: Medium.

New England Patriots

The Patriots, as Williamson noted, are in a similar situation as the Dolphins. The Patriots have Wes Welker and Deion Branch plus tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Their greatest need in the passing game is a lightning bolt to help Tom Brady keep defenses honest. Brandon Tate and Taylor Price are burners, but they are young and haven't established themselves as capable. Interest in Burress: Low.

New York Jets

The Jets seemingly present the greatest possibility for Burress in the AFC East. "That could be a fit," Williamson said. "I could see them taking the risk. And after free agency departures, Burress might be attractive. Plus, they are in win-now mode." Points well taken. The Jets might not be able to re-sign all of their free-agent receivers: Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith. General manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan have shown with Holmes, Edwards and Antonio Cromartie they're open to second chances. Interest in Burress: High.

Back in my days covering the National Hockey League, "man games lost" were insightful stats we used frequently. The figures helped illustrate how injuries were impacting a team's season.

Man games lost aren't avidly tracked in the NFL. Rosters are more volatile than in the NHL, where fully guaranteed contracts generally cement a roster coming out of training camp.

NFL teams cut and sign players more frequently. Injured players can dress because there's one game a week, and they can be used situationally. In the NHL, you have to play offense and defense. There are no third-down specialists you can safely insert for a shift or two.

Football Outsiders managing editor Bill Barnwell has compiled a worthwhile chart for the NFL.

Better than man games lost, it's starter games lost.

The Indianapolis Colts led the NFL with 89. The Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs were tied for fewest at 11.

In the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins had the most with 62, ranking seventh in the league. They were banged-up all along the offensive and defensive lines. Receiver Brian Hartline, cornerback Will Allen and rookie defensive end Jared Odrick went to injured reserve among a few others.

The New England Patriots were tied for 10th with 54 starter games lost. Tom Brady played through a foot fracture, but they most notably lost cornerback Leigh Bodden and offensive linemen Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur.

The Buffalo Bills were tied for 21st with 42 starter games lost. That's a great development after what happened to them in 2009, when they finished with 21 players on injured reserve, including left tackle Demetrius Bell, right tackle Brad Butler, inside linebacker Kawika Mitchell, starting cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Terrence McGee and Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd.

The New York Jets lost starters 38 times, ranking 23rd in the league. Their biggest losses were nose tackle Kris Jenkins, safety Jim Leonhard and right tackle Damien Woody.

What do these numbers say, especially when four of the top five most injury-riddled teams (Colts, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles) made the playoffs?

It means that depth (or playing in the NFC West) is imperative to surviving.

Barnwell offered to break down the chart by upper-body and lower-body injuries, but I haven't gotten that file yet.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Rex Ryan, Jets head coach: Nothing seems to be going properly for Ryan. He's known as a master motivator, but he's not pushing the right buttons lately. He symbolically buried a game ball from the Week 13 debacle against the Patriots, and it looked like nothing more than a rah-rah antic after losing at home to the Dolphins. Ryan reportedly chafed his defensive players by criticizing them in his postgame speech. And then there's the Sal Alosi tripping scandal that might not go away as quickly as Ryan would like.

2. Jets offense: Mark Sanchez is playing poorly. LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene aren't finding room to run. Santonio Holmes and Jerricho Cotchery are dropping passes. Dustin Keller isn't involved. Right tackle Damien Woody is hurt. Other than that, there's nothing to worry about.

3. Dolphins offense: Chad Henne is playing poorly. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams aren't as productive as you'd like. Right tackle Vernon Carey is done for the season. Top chunk-yardage receiver Brian Hartline is out. While Miami's defense seems to be getting itself together, the offense seems to get worse by the week.

RISING

1. Inside linebacker Gary Guyton and the Patriots defense: The Patriots have put together a pair of strong defensive efforts against division leaders, holding the Jets to three points and the Bears to seven points. With rookie starter Brandon Spikes suspended for four games, Guyton stepped up with an interception and returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown on snow-covered Soldier Field.

2. Brodney Pool, Jets safety: Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine called him out last week for being inconsistent, but Pool arguably was the Jets' best player against the Dolphins and would have been considered the star had the Jets won. Pool recorded a sack, forced a fumble that Jason Taylor recovered and picked up a Henne fumble.

3. David Nelson, Bills receiver: The undrafted rookie from Florida caught a touchdown pass in his second straight game. His 11-yard grab was the only touchdown scored in a 13-6 victory over the Browns in Ralph Wilson Stadium. He should get more opportunities over the final three games. The Bills placed veteran receiver Lee Evans on injured reserve Tuesday.

A few thoughts from the Dolphins' 29-17 win over the Titans.

What it means: The Dolphins persevered through injuries to starting quarterback Chad Pennington (shoulder) and Chad Henne (knee) to score a crucial victory and remain in the AFC East race.

Injury report: Pennington's turn as starting quarterback lasted two plays. He injured his shoulder again. He was hit while completing a 19-yard pass to Brian Hartline. Henne came in for Pennington and played decently, going 19-of-28 for 240 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Henne was knocked out of the game in the third quarter.

Wildcat returns: The Dolphins went with their Wildcat offense rather than rely on third quarterback Tyler Thigpen right away. Thigpen eventually entered the game and completed four of his six throws for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Touchdown bonanza: The Dolphins' struggling offense received scoring contributions from all sorts of cast members. For the second straight week, the Dolphins scored on their opening possession with a Ronnie Brown run. Third running back Patrick Cobbs caught Henne's touchdown pass. Tight end Anthony Fasano caught Thigpen's.

Quiet day for Moss: In his Titans debut, Randy Moss made one reception for 26 yards. He did draw a 33-yard pass interference penalty on Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis that helped the Titans score a first-quarter touchdown.

What's next: The Dolphins have four days to prepare for the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, but at least the game is in Sun Life Stadium.

MIAMI -- The numbers were gaudy, especially for a so-called running team.

The Miami Dolphins threw hither and yon against the New York Jets. Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne passed for the most yards in his pro career. Brandon Marshall had a big day even by his standards. Davone Bess and Brian Hartline inflicted additional damage. Tight end Anthony Fasano scored a touchdown.

The Dolphins, it seemed, could do whatever they wanted through the air.

"Yeah," Jets coach Rex Ryan snapped, "except score when it counted."

On their final play of a grueling Sunday night for the Jets' defenders, they intercepted Henne in the end zone to secure a 31-23 victory in Sun Life Stadium.

After the two-minute warning, the Dolphins drove from their 31-yard line to the doorstep of tying the game. That's where the Jets finally stopped Henne from knifing them. Defensive back Drew Coleman came down with the interception on fourth down with 27 seconds on the clock.

"The pass defense was horrendous," Ryan said, "but we got it done, though. It was a team effort. Clearly, you've got to give credit to their football team. They do a nice job. They had some guys open, made some catches."

For the first time under Ryan, the Jets' offense had to rescue their defense. The defense hadn't allowed more than 17 points in a victory. Before Sunday night, they'd given up more than 14 points and won only twice during the Ryan regime.

"It feels good just to know that we can get their back," said Jets tight end Dustin Keller, who had six catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns -- all in the first half. "As great of a defense as they are, occasionally they're going to have a bad game. We just know that we can pull up the slack for them like they've done for us so many times."

The real estate the Jets yielded was frightening. The Dolphins rolled up 436 yards. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts were the only ones to amass more yards last year, gaining 461 to eliminate the Jets from the postseason.

The most yards the Jets had allowed in a victory were 344 to the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs.

Henne threw for 363 yards himself Sunday night, the most Ryan's defense has given up through the air. Henne found Marshall 10 times for 166 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't the best night for Antonio Cromartie.

"They completed a lot more than we expected," Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. "They had it rolling. They got in a good rhythm. It was tough. You don't expect them to throw for that many yards. We weren't making plays as a secondary. They hit us a few times, but we fought to the end."

Henne was particularly sharp on third downs, completing nine of his 14 attempts for 123 yards, six first downs and one touchdown. He converted four third downs of 6 yards or longer, including a 15-yarder and a 10-yarder in the third quarter.

The Dolphins' offense was so effective, on a nine-play, 76-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, they didn't face any third downs. The possession was aided by rookie cornerback Kyle Wilson's pass interference on a second-and-22 play.

When does Darrelle Revis get back?

The Jets will play the Buffalo Bills next week in Ralph Wilson Stadium. That might sound slightly more difficult than a bye week, but for those who didn't pay attention Sunday, the Bills' offense woke up against the New England Patriots.

The Bills scored one fewer point than the Jets did Sunday. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 247 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

After that, the Jets play host to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings at the Meadowlands.

The Jets, however, got another strong game out of their offense on a night reminiscent of the great Dan Marino-Ken O'Brien shootouts.

Henne might have recorded the more prolific stats, but Mark Sanchez had the better night: 15-of-28 for 256 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 120.5 passer rating -- and the W.

Sanchez threw for three touchdowns for the first time as a pro last week. Now he's done it twice in a row.

"I remember telling the offense before that sometimes the offense is going to have to pick up the defense," Ryan said. "That'd be what happened today. I told them in the locker room 'You know, I had confidence in our offense, but I don't know I really believed that statement.' "

Asked to elaborate about why he didn't have total faith in his offense, Ryan backed off a little.

"I always knew our offense could play to this level," Ryan said. "I just never thought our defense could play to this level, to be honest with you."

MIAMI -- The New York Jets outlasted the Miami Dolphins 31-23 in a thriller Sunday night at Sun Life Stadium.

What it means: The Jets have shaken off their disappointing opening-night loss and are in first place in the AFC East with two straight divisional victories, and the first over the Dolphins since Rex Ryan took over. The Dolphins also are 2-1, but their defense didn't look as formidable.

Critical call: The Dolphins were one of the most dominant running teams in the NFL last year, but when they got second-and-goal from the 2 in the third quarter, offensive coordinator Dan Henning called two pass plays. Both were incomplete, and the Dolphins had to settle for a field goal.

Hero: For the second straight game, Mark Sanchez looked the part of a franchise quarterback. He was composed all night and spread the ball around, even with Braylon Edwards benched for the entire first quarter. Sanchez never had a three-touchdown game, until last week. Now he has had two in a row. He was 15 of 28 for 256 yards and no interceptions.

Goat: Dolphins cornerback Jason Allen, coming off the greatest game of his pro career, had a rough night. Edwards scorched him on a 67-yard catch and run one play after the Dolphins took a 17-14 lead in the third quarter. Allen committed pass interference while guarding Edwards in the end zone on a third-down play with about two minutes left in the game. The extra set of downs drained more clock.

Big revelation: The Dolphins can throw after all. Chad Henne went into the game with 30 completions and 296 passing yards through two games. Henne was 26 of 44 for 363 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Brandon Marshall flexed his muscles with 10 receptions for 166 yards and his first Dolphins TD. Davone Bess caught six passes for 86 yards. Brian Hartline had five catches for 84 yards.

Trending: Miami punter Brandon Fields had two punts blocked in the preseason and had another Sunday night. He went into 2009 with zero blocks as a pro in preseason, regular season or the playoffs. Sunday's block by Eric Smith gave New York the ball on Miami's 17-yard line late in the third quarter. Nick Folk eventually kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter to take a four-point lead.

Worthy of note: Jets tight end Dustin Keller didn't have a catch in the second half, but he finally looks like a fixture. In his first two seasons, he would have a big game or make a sensational catch here or there, but he has been Sanchez's go-to guy. In the past two games he has 13 receptions for 213 yards and three touchdowns.

What's next: The Dolphins will host the 2-1 New England Patriots on "Monday Night Football." The Jets will head to Orchard Park to play the winless Buffalo Bills.

MIAMI -- Some first-half thoughts Sunday night from Sun Life Stadium, where the New York Jets lead the Miami Dolphins 14-10 at the intermission:

• The Dolphins made major changes to their defense because they couldn't cover players up the seams. They got rid of inside linebacker Akin Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson because they repeatedly gave up big gains down the middle. Yet they've forgotten to cover Jets tight end Dustin Keller. He's having a huge game with six receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
• The Dolphins' defense gave up two touchdowns in their first two games. The Jets scored two on their first three possessions.
• The Dolphins are picking on Jets rookie cornerback Kyle Wilson. On their first play, the Dolphins went deep. Brian Hartline had him beat, but Chad Henne overthrew him. Henne seemed a little extra jacked up in the first quarter. His passes sailed, but he settled down in the second quarter and seemed to find a rhythm.
• Miami receiver Davone Bess has made some big grabs. He has four catches for a team-high 60 yards.
• Meet the new Dolphins running back, Brandon Marshall. With about six minutes left in the second quarter, Marshall had two rushing attempts (3 yards) and one reception (10 yards). He finished the half with four catches for 43 yards.
• Miami's backfield hasn't done much. They have only 39 rushing yards. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have combined for nine carries and 32 yards.
• Jets owner Woody Johnson, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and head coach Rex Ryan voted unanimously to bench receiver Braylon Edwards for the first quarter as punishment for his drunk driving arrest. They did fine without him, taking their opening possession 72 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. Edwards didn't have the ball thrown to him.
• Jason Taylor elicited boos from the Sun Life Stadium crowd when he sacked Henne and did his bull's-eye celebration in the first quarter.