Soliai, Wake remain questionable vs. Saints
DAVIE— Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai ( knee), the team’s best run- stuffer, and defensive end Cam Wake ( knee), the team’s best pass- rusher, were limited in Thursday’s practice, meaning there are still no answers onwhethereither will playat New Orleans on Monday night.
Cornerback Dimitri Patterson ( groin) didn’t practice and it appears he’ll likely miss his third consecutive game.
Patterson’s absence is an expected blow to a defense that has five other starters— Soliai, Wake and linebackers Koa Misi ( shoulder) and Dannell Ellerbe ( ribs) and safety Chris Clemons ( hamstring/ quadriceps) — on the limited practice list.
Soliai’s absence would cut into the depthona unit that’s already thin. Defensive tackle Randy Starks would be the fill- in starter, but newly- signedMarvin Austin might find hisway into what would be a three- tackle the rotation ( Jared Odrick, Starks and Austin) if Soliai can’t play.
The Dolphins have two defensive tackles on the practice squad ( Al Lapuaho, a rookie fromUtah State, and Issako Aaitui, a first- year player from Nevada- Las Vegas) that could be promoted.
Neither Patterson, Soliai, Wake or Misi played the fourth quarter of last week’s 27- 23 victory overAtlanta.
Linebackers Jason Trusnik and Jelani Jenkins filled in for Misi, and ends Derrick Shelby and Dion Jordan filled in forWake.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, on last week’s injury report for a shoulder ailment, wasn’t on Thursday’s injury report.
Can go high or low
Tannehill said the Dolphins don’t necessarily think they’ll need to score a lot of points to defeat the Saints on Monday.
“It’s not something where we go into the game and say, ‘ Hey, we have to score ‘ X’ amount of points to win this game,’ ” Tannehill said.
“We obviously want to score as much as we can every game, but it depends game by game. If the situation calls for it, then you’re going to have to score a lot of points.”
Big- play running game
backs yards rushing) and ( 65 yards) are off to a slowstart.
Coach isn’t asking for 4.8 yards per carry or 130 yards per game. He wants more plays such as Miller’s 49- yard run against Atlanta.
“I would like to have a littlemoreconsistency interms of the explosive [ plays],” Philbin said. “[ I’d like it] ifwe can get two to three a game every singlegameasopposed to none against Cleveland, two against Indy and one here.” Running
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The toughest part
Saints coach was suspended last season as part of the NFL’s investigation into the bounty scandal. Payton said the best thing was he got a chance to coach his 13- year- old son’s football team.
“I think the hard partwas just the inability to really communicate with anyone whether it was players or coaches,” he said. “All of us have a close circle of friends and then all of sudden for that to be quiet for however long it was is the part that was most challenging.”
Difference in Tannehill
Payton said one thing jumps out to him about Tannehill froma year ago.
“He’s certainly more confident,” Payton said. “You could see that the last game in the two- minute drill.”