Miami Dolphin Talk

DAVIE — The Dolphins' inside linebackers, Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett, have a history of making big plays.

In a 2007 playoff game with Arizona against Green Bay, Dansby deflected a pass that was intercepted for a touchdown, forced one fumble and returned another for the game-winning touchdown. He has forced 16 fumbles and made 10 interceptions in his seven-plus seasons.

Burnett, who replaced Channing Crowder in training camp, had more big plays last year with San Diego - six sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery - than Crowder had in six seasons.

During the Dolphins' 0-4 start, neither Dansby nor Burnett has forced a turnover.

"Very frustrating," Dansby admitted. "You've got to make it happen. We've had a chance to make plays but we haven't taken advantage."

That could be said for the whole team. Giveaway/takeaway numbers generally are a good barometer of NFL success - or failure.

The Dolphins have had sub-par turnover ratios in recent seasons, the exception being 2008, when they went 11-5 and had a league-best +17 rating. Last season they were 30th in the league at -12.

Dansby, who joined the team before last season, and Burnett were supposed to help change all that.

After failing to make anything happen for the first three games this year, Dansby knocked the ball free from Chargers running back Mike Tolbert just before halftime of the game at San Diego in Week 4.

Dansby and Burnett battled ex-Dolphin Randy McMichael for the loose ball and thought they had it, but it was awarded to McMichael.

"I caused it, I recovered it, and they called it dead," Dansby said. "That was the weirdest thing I ever saw in my life."

Five plays later, the Chargers broke a 10-10 tie with a 48-yard field goal that put them on top to stay.

"Sometimes it's just blind luck, getting fumble recoveries," coach Tony Sparano said. "That doesn't mean the ball is coming to you, it just means you're in the right place at the right time."

That has yet to happen for the Dolphins, who entered their bye week as one of six teams with no fumble recoveries. Meanwhile, their two interceptions are well off the pace of last season, when they finished with 11 despite at least a half-dozen drops.

"We've worked on communication and being in the right position," said cornerback Sean Smith, who has yet to get his hands on a ball after dropping several last year. "We're definitely going to get that fixed."

Perhaps even more befuddling about a defense that has dropped from sixth in the league to 28th despite returning nine starters are the tackle numbers of the inside linebackers. Dansby, who had three straight 100-tackle seasons before finishing second on the team last year with 96, has 16; Burnett, who led the top-ranked Chargers' defense last year with 95, has 13.

"Two different years, two different teams," Burnett said. "Different scheme. So we have to take that into account."

But the mere fact the Dolphins' leading tacklers are all defensive backs - Yeremiah Bell (38), Reshad Jones (26) and Smith (20) - is a sign that opponents are getting downfield on a regular basis. The opponents' average of 6.4 yards per play (29th in the NFL) indicates that, too.

Bell said improving the turnover ratio is a good place to start fixing the defense, and that responsibility goes far beyond Dansby and Burnett.

"It goes to every group doing their part," Bell said. "We've got to have those guys up front getting after it, creating some errant throws, and we also have to cover guys in the back end to allow them time to get there. It goes hand in hand, and it seems right now everybody is doing their own thing."