Dolphins’ housecleaning sends DC packing
Kevin Coyle’s replacement as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator wasn’t ready to explain Thursday how he’s going fix what’s wrong.
“I found out about an hour ago that I got this job,” Lou Anarumo said. “It’s a little bit early to say.”
Don’t fault Anarumo if he felt a bit overwhelmed. He has lots of problems to address after being promoted from defensive backs coach when new interim coach Dan Campbell fired Coyle.
The moves came after the Dolphins fired head coach Joe Philbin on Monday and promoted tight ends coach Campbell. The Dol phins have a bye this week and next play at Tennessee on Oct. 18.
Coyle was widely criticized for the decline of the defense since he joined the Dolphins in 2012. They gave up 317 points that season, followed by 335 and 373, and after four games they are on pace to allow 404 this season.
Miami (13) ranks last in the NFL in rushing defense at 160.5 yards per game, and last with one sack despite the offseason addition of $114 million tackle Ndamukong Suh.
FALCONS: Receiver Roddy White returned to the team and said he was encouraged about his role following a meeting with coach
Dan Quinn. White said he missed Wednesday’s practice to be with his mother, who had surgery.
White, the Falcons’ alltime leading receiver, is only fifth on the team with six catches this season. He complained about his diminished role earlier in the week but downplayed those comments on Thursday.
TITANS: Cornerback Jason McCourty finally is ready for his season debut Sunday, even though the veteran hasn’t taken a hit harder than what teammates muster up in padded practices.
McCourty isn’t saying if he’s 100 percent following groin surgery Aug. 24. When asked about his health, the Rutgers product had a short answer: “I’ll be out there. That’s all that matters.”
OBIT: Lindy Infante, the hardluck former coach of the Packers and the Colts, died Thursday. He was 75. Infante’s wife, Stephanie, told the Associated Press he died in St. Augustine, Fla., after a lengthy illness.
Infante was a head coach for six years in the NFL, compiling a 3660 record. He was the NFL Coach of the Year in 1989 with Green Bay, but his only postseason appearance came in 1996 when his Colts lost a wild card game to Pittsburgh, 4214.