NFL: Dolphins blockers up for this challenge

"I welcome the challenge," Nails said. "I hope everybody's watching the offensive line. Forget about the running backs, the quarterbacks, everybody. I hope everybody's watching us. I take it personal when people tend to think that we as a unit aren't as good as we are.

"If you want to spotlight us, spotlight us, that's fine and we'll step up to the challenge."

Given the line's play the past few weeks and Ricky Williams not topping 100 yards in a game the last five weeks, the spotlight is brighter than 100 suns.

Add in going up against the best run defense in terms of total yardage allowed and it's even brighter than that, if that's possible.

Add in rookie left tackle Wade Smith facing The Freak, Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse, one week after being schooled by Colts defensive Dwight Freeney, and it's a 1,000 suns.

"If need be, I'll give him a look, but we still expect him to go out there and perform and do his job," Nails said of Smith.

AT A GLANCE

Dolphins (5-3) at Titans (6-2) When: Today, 1 p.m. Where: The Coliseum, Nashville, Tenn. Radio: SportsRadio 770-AM (WWCN) Television: CBS (live) Key matchup: Dolphins offensive line vs. Titans defensive line -- Given the problems the line had last week, rookie left tackle Wade Smith in particular, and continues to have, put this down every week for the rest of the season. Ricky Williams can't get any room to run and whoever the quarterback is hasn't had enough time to throw. Of note: North Fort Myers High grad Jevon Kearse, a fifth-year defensive end for the Titans, is healthy and back to his old self, registering 7½ sacks. Kearse, who had 36 total sacks his first three years, missed most of last season with a foot injury. ... Tennessee has the best run defense in terms of yardage in the league. ... These two teams had two days of practice against one another in Nashville early in training camp. ... The Dolphins will activate wide receiver Kendall Newson from the practice squad. Newson will be the fifth receiver instead of rookie J.R. Tolver, who has been active for only one game. Newson played well in NFL Europe during the summer.

"We're 5-3 sitting here facing a must-win game, really," defensive end Jason Taylor said. "We're in the second half of the season now. I think everyone realizes how important this time of year is. This is kind of when you start separating teams.

"If you look at years past, even last year, the guys that made the playoffs and went on and had success late in the playoffs, they were in similar situations at this point in the season. This is when you have to separate yourselves."

The offensive line will have to get back to its 2002 form for the Dolphins to separate themselves in a good way.

Last week, Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt tinkered with putting second-year player Seth McKinney in for Nails on a few series. He indicated that would be a possibility again, with McKinney spelling Nails, center Tim Ruddy or right guard Todd Perry. McKinney has not played right guard as a pro.

"Just get some consistency with what we're running with the people that's in there," Nails said is the problem. "Basically, we have too many little mistakes, guys falling off blocks, guys stepping the wrong way, stuff like that. We've got to pay attention to detail a little better."

If the line does that, quarterback Brian Griese can pay more attention to his receivers down the field.

Griese, who is not as mobile as injured starter Jay Fiedler, was sacked five times and fumbled twice against the Colts.

"I have trust in my guys," Griese said. "We have enough talent and enough character on our team and on our offense, specifically, to get the job done and to play well. I fully expect for us to play well."

The ineffective offense -- the unit has scored 17, 13 and 17 three of the past four weeks -- has everyone waiting for the defense to start pointing fingers.

Most all of the players on defense say that's not going to happen. Instead, they're preparing for the worst, it seems, from the offense. Given the fact they're playing another high- powered offense -- the Titans average 30 points a game and have the league's highest-rated passer in Steve McNair -- they face a tall order indeed. And they could be without middle linebacker Zach Thomas (groin) and cornerback Patrick Surtain (ankle), both game-time decisions.

"I guess right now, we know consistently that the defense might have to do it week to week," said defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who has nine sacks. "If we get added help from the offense, that would be great. That would be much needed, but we can't look at it that way.

"We have to look at it as 'we are going to win on this side of the ball.' When the offenses have scored more than 11 or 10 points, they win. If we keep a team under 10 points, we'll win those games."