Dolphins defense has to stop missing tackles

The Miami Dolphins have had an up-and-down start to the 2012 season, which isn't all that unexpected for a team starting a rookie quarterback. As a result, they need their defense to keep them in games on a week-to-week basis if they're going to be competitive in 2012.

That means cutting down on big plays, especially when they come off of broken tackles. Kevin Coyle, the Dolphins defensive coordinator, gave some blunt quotes about it on Tuesday to the Miami Sun-Sentinel:

"The one a week ago was thrown five yards behind the line of scrimmage [for a 65-yard Raiders touchdown on which Koa Misi and Nolan Carroll fanned] and this one was about 8-9 yards down the field. We've got to eliminate that. We can't give up plays like that."

With the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals on the schedule this week, that means focusing on Arizona superstar Larry Fitzgerald, one of the NFL's premier deep threats - a receiver who has the speed and power to be dangerous on short screens and quick passes as well.