The Dolphins’ pass-happy descent to the verge of missing the playoffs is so puzzling that even one of their most famous former players — now wearing the uniform of a hated rival — is offering advice.
Jets pass rusher Jason Taylor, who faces his old team tomorrow at New Meadowlands Stadium, joined the list of Tony Sparano critics wondering why the Miami coach has made the running game an afterthought.
While the 6-6 Dolphins have let shaky quarterback Chad Henne pile up the passing attempts despite 15 interceptions, the potent backfield combination of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams barely is averaging 25 rushes combined.
“If I was the coach, would I give Ricky Williams the ball more? Yeah, I would,” Taylor said this week when asked about the Dolphins’ woes on offense. “But I’m an old-school guy.”
But Taylor, who signed with the Jets this offseason after Miami dragged its feet, insisted that facing the Dolphins is not a big deal.
“It’s a rivalry game, a division game, a home game, and we’re trying to get into the playoffs,” Taylor said. “So we have a lot at stake. I’m not even looking at the personal side of things.”
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Coach Rex Ryan
said his out-of-the-ordinary sitdown with Mark Sanchez
— scheduled in the wake of the quarterback’s three interceptions in the loss to New England — went well Thursday.
“I just [thought], ‘Give him a different perspective. Make sure that he knows exactly what I’m seeing as a defensive coach. If there’s some things that he can pick up on, then that’s great,’ ” Ryan said. “I know [Miami defensive coordinator] Mike Nolan well and I know [Pittsburgh defensive coordinator] Dick LeBeau well, so maybe the next two weeks, we’ll see if that helps.”
Ryan corrected himself, however, saying his description of the meeting as “lunch at Cafe Ryan” had been a misnomer because no food was consumed.
“It does make for a better story if we had it all — nachos, burritos, tacos, you name it, it was stacked up,” Ryan said jokingly.
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The Dolphins, as scheduled, practiced at the Giants’ complex yesterday afternoon before their expected trip into the city to see the NFL-sponsored play “Lombardi” on Broadway last night.
Inside linebacker Channing Crowder
was less interested about practicing in the Giants practice facility than he was about experiencing Broadway.
“This will be my first and last taste of Broadway,” Crowder told the Associated Press. “I love football and he’s a legendary coach, so it is cool. I love the concept of it, but I’ve never been to a Broadway play so I shouldn’t speak on it. I don’t have a tuxedo, but I’ve got a nice little sport jacket and a collared shirt, so I’ll try to impress the actress.”
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As expected, Ryan ruled out safety James Ihedigbo
for the Miami game with a high ankle sprain.
Offensive tackle Damien Woody
didn’t practice at all this week because of a knee injury, but Ryan listed him as questionable on the injury report and indicated Woody would play.
WR Santonio Holmes
was a late addition to the injury report yesterday with a back injury but is probable.
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Dolphins WR Brian Hartline
and tackle Vernon Carey
have been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Hartline hurt a finger on his left hand during last week’s loss to Cleveland, and Carey has been nursing a knee injury. Neither practiced this week. Carey had started 87 consecutive games.
WR Brandon Marshall
(right hamstring) is listed as questionable.