``Last year, we didn't swarm like we're doing this year,'' Bell said. ``You've got guys around the football to make up for it, whereas last year guys weren't running to the football like we should have been. Once one guy missed, the play was out of the gate.''
Perhaps the most memorable collapse happened against the Colts. The Dolphins missed seven tackles during a game when Indianapolis only ran 35 plays.
That might have been the worst day, but it wasn't the only one. The Dolphins found themselves doing tackling drills during September practices, not typically a time when coaches want their players on the ground because of the injury risks. This year, the Dolphins believe they improved their ability to make more open-field tackles before the season began. Bell and Clemons said they are seeing better results because of the emphasis that has been placed on the skill by new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.
``We're always practicing getting to the football,'' Clemons said. ``Wherever it is, we're hustling to it. If it's a pass, the defensive linemen turn and sprint. If it's a run, we're all in pursuit.''
That is something Nolan began talking about as soon as he arrived. He preached the need for every defensive player to have a sense of urgency to ``swarm'' the ball carrier, while also talking to the players regularly about pursuing smart angles to the play.
Bell said the unit isn't immune to missing tackles, pointing out that he actually missed one during last Sunday's game against the Bills. But although they are still susceptible to making mistakes, they aren't as vulnerable to those errors becoming magnified.
``It's just not as evident because we've got 11 guys flying to the football,'' Bell said. ``It's just a mentality that Coach Nolan brought with him from day one. He made sure we were always to the football, that no one guy was falling behind.
``That's one thing, when he came in, that we got sured up right away.''
Sparano warned that this Sunday's game will pose a challenge in that department, given Peterson's ability to put himself in isolated situations through swing passes and screens.
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