Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

DAVIE — The Dolphins are better than their nickel-and-dime record – 5-10 – indicates.

Maybe a lot better.

Maybe good enough to expect improvement sufficient to make the playoffs next season even if they don’t hire a big-time coach and even if Matt Moore remains the starting quarterback.

It wouldn’t seem a stretch considering Miami has lost two games by one point and three others by three points this season while four times winning by double-digit margins. The Dolphins have won three times by at least 20 points, but never have they lost by that many.

And it’s difficult to comprehend how a team that has a 1,000-yard runner (Reggie Bush) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Brandon Marshall) in the same season for the first time in franchise history has managed to lose twice as often as it has won.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

There are lies, damned lies and statistics.

But there’s also the fact that the Dolphins made a slew of worthwhile roster additions this season: Kevin Burnett, Bush, Charles Clay, Clyde Gates, Moore, Mike Pouncey, Jason Taylor and Daniel Thomas to list them alphabetically.

And that haul came a year after Miami added Karlos Dansby, Richie Incognito, Marshall, Koa Misi and Jared Odrick (who was injured almost all of last season).

Vontae Davis, Brian Hartline, Sean Smith, Taylor and Cameron Wake all came aboard before the 2009 season. Davone Bess, Dan Carpenter, Anthony Fasano, Jake Long and Randy Starks were 2008 newcomers.

The point is that significant personnel work has been accomplished, and it’s reasonable to assume the benefits should present themselves soon.

“I don’t see why not,” Bush said during a break in preparations for Sunday’s season finale against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium. “I think we’re closer to being a good team than the one that went 0-7 to start the season.”

That’s almost certainly true.

But the Dolphins still need to make what Marshall called the “momentum” of recovery translate into a good start next season. Miami started 2-2 last season but in the previous six years (counting backward) started 0-3, 2-4, 0-13, 1-6, 3-7 and 0-6.

“It took us time to jell, especially on offense,” Bush said of this campaign. “I don’t think that will be the case next season.”

He’s probably correct, although, a new coach likely will replace Todd Bowles, who holds the job on an interim basis in place of Tony Sparano, who was fired Dec. 12. A new man in charge, which also could mean a change of offensive coordinators, might sabotage whatever continuity has been established.

“It’s up to us as players to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Bush said.

The Dolphins’ problems this season have been rooted in an inability to finish. They have been outscored by more than double (116-55) in fourth quarters and overtime, which is an astonishing figure for a team that has outscored its opponents overall.

Also, there has been every coach’s lament when it comes to turnovers. The Dolphins have lost all seven games in which they’ve had more giveaways than takeaways.

Miami is about to complete its third consecutive losing season, which puts it in the miserable company of only Buffalo and Cleveland in the AFC.

Who’ll be the new coach remains anybody’s guess.

Moore likely will retain the starting quarterback job.

No matter what occurs in either case, though, the Dolphins don’t figure to be nickel-and-dime bad at this stage of next season. The optimistic view is that they might even be dime-and-nickel good.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 6:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

Posted: 6:03 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

DAVIE — The Dolphins could set a franchise record Sunday against the New York Jets, but it’s not one that would make them proud.

After allowing five sacks Saturday at New England, the Dolphins have given up 51 this year, just two shy of the team record set in 1969. The Dolphins allowed 52 sacks in 1968 and 2004.

The offensive line will get a break in the season finale in that the Jets have a mediocre pass rush. New York’s 34 sacks this season are 17th in the NFL.

The 51 sacks allowed by Miami are third-most in the NFL this year. The Dolphins have allowed four or more sacks in eight games (all defeats) and yielded a franchise-record nine to Philadelphia on Dec. 11.

Veteran right tackle Marc Colombo has allowed nine sacks this year, tied for fifth-most in the league among 76 offensive tackles. Left tackle Jake Long has, surprisingly, allowed five.

But interim coach Todd Bowles said everyone – from the linemen to the running backs to the receivers to quarterbacks Matt Moore and Chad Henne – is responsible.

“It’s never just one person involved,” Bowles said Monday. “There were a couple of them (Saturday) where Matt held the ball a little bit. Couple of them they got good pressure. Couple of them nobody was open. It kind of mixes in.”

Long left Saturday’s game in the first quarter, reportedly because of a torn right biceps.

Bowles said he has been “hearing rumors” about Long’s diagnosis (first reported by ESPN) but wouldn’t discuss details.

Bowles said “we won’t know anything until Wednesday,” when the Dolphins return to the practice field and are required to release an injury report.

While some players have played through a torn biceps, Long likely will sit out and be replaced by John Jerry.

The Dolphins are 5-2 when they allow three or fewer sacks, and figure to try to upgrade the right tackle and right guard spots in the off-season, when Colombo and Vernon Carey become free agents.

Meanwhile, Bowles said, the Dolphins won’t hesitate to pass even if it means pressure on Moore.

“You’ve got to throw the ball in this league,” Bowles said. “You just can’t win with running the football.

“We’re not worried about the sack record. We’re worried about protecting the quarterback.”

No word on Fasano, Davis: Tight end Anthony Fasano, who missed Saturday’s game, was not allowed to speak with the media because he still has not cleared all of his concussion tests. He was hurt Dec. 18 at Buffalo.

Bowles also had no update on cornerback Vontae Davis, who left Saturday’s game because of an elbow injury.

Bowles said the Dolphins won’t be extra-cautious about who plays in the finale.

“Everybody that’s healthy, and we can win with, we’re going to play with,” he said.

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 6:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

Posted: 6:03 p.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2011

DAVIE — The Dolphins could set a franchise record Sunday against the New York Jets, but it’s not one that would make them proud.

After allowing five sacks Saturday at New England, the Dolphins have given up 51 this year, just two shy of the team record set in 1969. The Dolphins allowed 52 sacks in 1968 and 2004.

The offensive line will get a break in the season finale in that the Jets have a mediocre pass rush. New York’s 34 sacks this season are 17th in the NFL.

The 51 sacks allowed by Miami are third-most in the NFL this year. The Dolphins have allowed four or more sacks in eight games (all defeats) and yielded a franchise-record nine to Philadelphia on Dec. 11.

Veteran right tackle Marc Colombo has allowed nine sacks this year, tied for fifth-most in the league among 76 offensive tackles. Left tackle Jake Long has, surprisingly, allowed five.

But interim coach Todd Bowles said everyone – from the linemen to the running backs to the receivers to quarterbacks Matt Moore and Chad Henne – is responsible.

“It’s never just one person involved,” Bowles said Monday. “There were a couple of them (Saturday) where Matt held the ball a little bit. Couple of them they got good pressure. Couple of them nobody was open. It kind of mixes in.”

Long left Saturday’s game in the first quarter, reportedly because of a torn right biceps.

Bowles said he has been “hearing rumors” about Long’s diagnosis (first reported by ESPN) but wouldn’t discuss details.

Bowles said “we won’t know anything until Wednesday,” when the Dolphins return to the practice field and are required to release an injury report.

While some players have played through a torn biceps, Long likely will sit out and be replaced by John Jerry.

The Dolphins are 5-2 when they allow three or fewer sacks, and figure to try to upgrade the right tackle and right guard spots in the off-season, when Colombo and Vernon Carey become free agents.

Meanwhile, Bowles said, the Dolphins won’t hesitate to pass even if it means pressure on Moore.

“You’ve got to throw the ball in this league,” Bowles said. “You just can’t win with running the football.

“We’re not worried about the sack record. We’re worried about protecting the quarterback.”

No word on Fasano, Davis: Tight end Anthony Fasano, who missed Saturday’s game, was not allowed to speak with the media because he still has not cleared all of his concussion tests. He was hurt Dec. 18 at Buffalo.

Bowles also had no update on cornerback Vontae Davis, who left Saturday’s game because of an elbow injury.

Bowles said the Dolphins won’t be extra-cautious about who plays in the finale.

“Everybody that’s healthy, and we can win with, we’re going to play with,” he said.