The Sports Xchange

DAVIE, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are 1-2 and in the exact same situation they faced a year ago heading to London to play the New York Jets.

A year ago the Dolphins had a 1-2 record with back-to-back losses as they went to London to play the Oakland Raiders.

And they were mired in controversy because this was the week coach Joe Philbin, who admittedly made an error in judgment by sticking to his policy of not being specific on lineups during the week, refused to say quarterback Ryan Tannehill would be the starter.

This year there is no huge controversy, per se, but fans are calling for Philbin’s job after three lackluster performances to open the season, and players, who heard boos during last week’s 41-14 loss to Buffalo, are aware of the fans’ mood.

The cause of much of the unrest is the defensive line, the heart and soul of the team, the unit led by All Pro tackle Ndamukong Suh, who got a $114 million contract in the offseason, is part of a run defense that allows 142 yards per game, and part of a pass defense that has only one sack.

Suh has seven tackles, two for losses after showing some life last week against Buffalo, getting four of those tackles and both of the tackles for a loss.

But he has not been the disruptive force he was in training camp and preseason, or his previous five years in Detroit. Suh usually stays at left defensive tackle, but Miami moved him around against Jacksonville.

That might happen again this week and Suh seems receptive.

“I’ve always prided myself on being able to play all four positions on the defensive line,” he said. “I want to be able to understand them, and at the same time be able to execute and be productive from all of them. So that’s what I go for, and my focus.”

Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle doesn’t have any excuses or answers and intends to just keep his head down and keep working.

“We’ve just got to keep working at it,” Coyle said. “We have guys that we believe are excellent pass rushers and they’re going to keep on pushing and hopefully that’ll take care of itself as we move forward. We’re disappointed but yet our guys are working hard.”

Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips’ absence from the Buffalo game seems to be due to poor performance.

Phillips, the second-round pick from Oklahoma, was in the defensive tackle rotation the first two games but was inactive last week. He said coaches told him he needs to improve his game, all around.

Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell was limited in practice Wednesday because of a bad back. If Mitchell is slowed in Sunday’s game against the Jets, it will be a big blow to the already-under performing defensive line.

Cornerback Brent Grimes (one interception), who usually stays planted on the left side, hardly had any action last week as Buffalo picked on cornerback Brice McCain.

Look for that to change this week, because Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall is a primary receiver and Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will look for him no matter the matchup.

The Jets could be the team that knows the Dolphins better than any other in the AFC East.

First-year coach Todd Bowles was the Dolphins’ secondary coach, and interim head coach, as recently as 2011. And defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers was Miami’s defensive line coach last season.

Dolphins Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey said this is a “must-win” game.

A victory Sunday puts the Dolphins at 2-2 and temporarily back afloat heading into the bye week, as it did last year.

But a loss and the Dolphins drop to 1-3, and they head to Tennessee when they return from the bye. Miami was 4-4 on the road in each of the last two years.

Most likely, the defense, and specifically the defensive line, needs to lead the way to a victory. That’s the way this team is constructed.

But so far, the defensive line, and the defense, can’t even establish an identity.

“I don’t think we’ve shown our identity yet to be quite honest with you,” Coyle said. “We’ve been playing on our heels a little bit throughout the past three games. We haven’t just been able to go out and attack. I think that’s something that we need to address as we move forward.”

SERIES HISTORY: 99th regular season meeting. Miami leads series, 51-46-1. New York won the last meeting, 37-24, in Miami. The Fake Spike (1994) and Monday Night Miracle (2000) are two of the best-known games in the recent history of this series. But what matters to Dolphins fans is that they are 3-3 against the Jets under coach Joe Philbin, and have lost the last two season finales to their AFC East rivals at Sun Life Stadium.

GAME PLAN: Miami has to find a way to get its defensive line to lead the charge against the run, the pass, and emotionally. New York will try to run the ball against a Dolphins defense that ranks 27th against the run. If they’re successful, Miami will eventually bring and eighth man into the box and that’s when the Jets will hit them with play action. It’s worked for Miami’s previous three opponents. If the Dolphins can stop the run, they gain a huge strategy advantage.

Offensively, the Dolphins need to establish the run. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill (five touchdowns, three interceptions) has struggled to carry the offense by himself. Miami might not be able to count on special teams. Kicker Andrew Franks has missed an extra point and a field goal attempt, and last week the Dolphins had a running into the punter that extended a touchdown drive.