The Ultimate Preview: Miami Dolphins (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

Preseason Week 4: Miami Dolphins (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (2-2) Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas Kickoff: 8 p.m. Weather: 92 degrees, clear TV: WTVX-Ch. 34 (West Palm Beach), WFOR-Ch. 4 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale). NFL Network replay: 7 p.m. Friday Radio: 940-AM, 105.9-FM, 94.3-FM (Palm Beach), 1290-AM (Palm Beach), 92.1-FM (spanish), 101.7-FM (Treasure Coast), 96.1-FM (Ft. Myers-Naples) Series: The teams have not met in the preseason since 1992. The Cowboys lead the all-time preseason series, 3-1. Miami leads the all-time regular season series, 7-4. Last Year Dolphins: 7-9, 3rd in AFC East, missed playoffs Cowboys: 11-6, 1st in NFC East, lost to Minnesota in Divisional Playoffs Coaches Dolphins: Tony Sparano , third year (18-14, one playoff appearance) Cowboys: Wade Phillips , fourth year (33-15, two playoff appearances) Last Week Dolphins: Lost to Atlanta, 16-6 Cowboys: Lost to Houston, 23-7 Full Rosters Dolphins: Click Here Cowboys: Click Here Dolphins injury report (unofficial) Injured Reserve: OT Nate Garner (foot), DE Phillip Merling (Achilles), LB A.J. Edds (ACL), TE Joey Haynos (foot). Out: CB Will Allen (knee), LB Channing Crowder (lower body). Questionable: LB Quentin Moses (hamstring) Cowboys injury report (courtesy of DallasCowboys.com) Out: WR Dez Bryant (ankle), G Kyle Kosier (MCL), S Gerald Sensabaugh (shoulder), DE Marcus Spears (MCL), RT Marc Colombo (knee). 2009 Team Rankings Dolphins Offense: 17th (Rushing: 4th; Passing: 20th; Points: 15th) Defense: 22nd (Rushing: 18th; Passing: 24th; Points: 25th) Cowboys Offense: 2nd (Rushing: 7th; Passing: 6th; Points: 14th) Defense: 9th (Rushing: 4th; Passing: 20th; Points: 2nd) Preseason Stats Leaders Dolphins Passing: Chad Henne – 293 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Receiving: Ricky Williams – 8 for 51 yards; Brandon Marshall – 7 for 116 yards; Marlon Moore – 5 for 75 yards. Rushing: Lex Hilliard – 12 for 37 yards, 1 TD; Ricky Williams – 11 for 35 yards Tackles: Vontae Davis – 12; Micah Johnson – 10; Nate Ness – 8 Sacks – Randy Starks , Erik Walden – 1 each Interceptions – Yeremiah Bell , Sean Smith , Jonathan Amaya – 1 each Cowboys Passing: Tony Romo – 287 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Receiving: Sam Hurd – 11 for 132 yards; Miles Austin – 7 for 99 yards, 1 TD; Martellus Bennett – 6 for 56 yards, 1

TD Rushing: Tashard Choice – 20 for 74 yards; Herb Donaldson – 13 for 34 yards Tackles: Jason Williams – 16; Victor Butler – 14; Barry Church – 13 Sacks: Victor Butler – 2; five players – 1 Interceptions: Terence Newman, Danny McCray, Cletis Gordon, Brandon Williams, Brandon Sharpe – 1 each Five Things To Watch For the Dolphins: How long will the starters actually play? Sparano didn’t pull any punches on Tuesday when talking about his team’s performance in the previous preseason game against Atlanta. “We stunk,” Sparano said. “I didn’t like any of it.” Ergo, even though the fourth preseason time is usually less strenuous for the starters than a game of shuffleboard, Sparano said the starters will play against Dallas until he is satisfied with their performance. Will that mean one series? One quarter? Either way, the Dolphins need the practice as the preseason winds down. Chad Henne and the receivers: Henne has had 11 passes dropped through three preseason games. That will eventually correct itself, right? Right? Where’s the pass rush? The Dolphins have all of three sacks this preseason, and only one by a starter (Randy Starks). Atlanta’s Matt Ryan emerged from last Friday’s game basically untouched and spot-free. Final roster battles: The Dolphins really only have six open roster spots still up for grabs entering this final preseason game. They have a little roster flexibility, but there could be two spots on the offensive line, two on the defensive line, one at linebacker and one at cornerback on the line today. Will Jason Allen hold off Nate Ness ? Who will win at middle linebacker – Micah Johnson , Austin Spitler or J.D. Folsom ? Is the Dolphins’ answer for the final two offensive line spots on the roster, or playing somewhere else? Cornerback Sean Smith: His shaky preseason came to a head last Friday. First he was benched for violating a team rule, then was flat-out burned on a double-move by Roddy White . The Dolphins are counting on Smith to lock down one of the starting cornerback jobs. He certainly could use a better performance this week.

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The Ultimate Preview: Miami Dolphins (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

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