DAVIE, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins will face New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith this week, rather than Michael Vick. It is not a total surprise.

In fact, saying it is a surprise at all may be an exaggeration for the Dolphins, who apparently knew, perhaps expected, there was a chance Vick would be replaced at quarterback.

“No, I wouldn’t say we were surprised,” coach Joe Philbin said of the Jets’ quarterback switch. “We were getting ready for both players obviously. I don’t know if either one is a huge, dramatic shift from the other. They have some similar traits. Offensively, the good thing is there’s film on both guys. You can certainly take a look at both of them.”

The Dolphins will likely have a major issue at right cornerback, where starter Cortland Finnegan (ankle) and reserve Jamar Taylor (shoulder) might be sidelined for Monday’s game against the Jets. That could leave Miami to choose among a group that includes, and is probably led by, Lowell Rose, Walt Aikens and R.J. Stanford.

But Philbin doesn’t seem concerned it’ll be a problem.

“Not by Monday night,” he said. “We have a full week of practice and preparation. We’ll get our guys ready to go.”

–Philbin, whose team was 5-6 after 11 games last season, said he thinks this year’s team is better. But he couldn’t quite put his finger on the reason.

“I just think we are a better football team overall,” he said. “I haven’t really sat down and said, ‘We’re better in this statistical category than the other.’

“I don’t know. I feel like we are a better football team. I haven’t really studied it to be honest. I haven’t taken a sheet of this year and a sheet of last year and looked at where we were after 11 weeks. There’s just that sense that this feels like a better football team all-around.”