Second-year Dolphins DE Phillip Merling has only two sacks in 21 career games and wasn't credited with a tackle in Weeks Three and Four, but team observers say statistics don't do justice to the first pick of the second round in 2008. We hear Merling has been the Dolphins' second best defensive lineman through the early part of the campaign — only NT Jason Ferguson has outperformed him — and he has shown toughness by playing through an ankle injury he sustained on Oct. 4 vs. Buffalo. His reputation as a player who doesn't practice particularly hard has followed him into his sophomore campaign, and coaches have been critical of his work habits, but he has proven to be a gamer. Merling can flip the switch and head coach Tony Sparano is comfortable with him in the rotation at defensive end. He's going to have to be more consistent, however, if he wants to challenge Randy Starks for a starting spot.

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