The Miami Dolphins' defensive secondary could be a sight for the sore eyes of the Buffalo

Bills' receivers Sunday.

Or vice versa.

The Dolphins have been giving up long pass plays like waves hitting the beach the past two

weeks. The Bills had all kinds of trouble getting the ball to wideouts Lee Evans and Terrell

Owens in two of their first three games.

Both teams worked on their difficulties Wednesday in preparation for the AFC East meeting

in Miami.

"Yes, we'll do what we can to get it in their hands as many times as we can," said Bills

offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.

Owens was shut out in the Bills' loss to New Orleans, while Evans had four catches for only

31 yards.

"They did some different things that we've made adjustments to and have answers for now,"

Van Pelt said of the Saints. "Down the road, we'll not have those issues."

Miami gave up touchdown passes of 80 and 48 yards to Indianapolis in Week Two. At San Diego

on Sunday, the Chargers hit them for completions of 30, 47 and 55 yards.

"We had zero big plays [allowed] for like [the first] 30 something plays in the game," said

Miami coach Tony Sparano. "In the span of six plays, we gave up three [big plays]. That will

hurt you."

The Dolphins revamped their defensive secondary in the offseason, adding big-ticket free

agent Gibril Wilson at safety and drafting rookie cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith in

the first two rounds. Smith is starting.

"The thing about them is they're not afraid to get up and press you and play man to man

with no help," Van Pelt said. "That's rare to see, and it's a challenge for any rookie to come

in and be put in that position. They're good cover guys. They're going to play man to man, and

they're going to challenge you outside. That's one thing we have to anticipate this week."

The Dolphins also have a strong pass rush, which ranked seventh in the NFL last season. The

Bills had trouble pass blocking against New Orleans, which blitzed Buffalo quarterback Trent

Edwards with five or more pass rushers 19 of 39 times.

Asked if there were chances to beat the Saints downfield that were not taken, Van Pelt

said: "I'd say there were some chances, yes. There also were some chances where we chose to

run the ball when we had one on one outside."

Van Pelt rattled off the results on those occasions: "We gained 6 three times, 5 one time,

3 another time, minus 1, minus 2, minus 3. So do you jeopardize your run game and put your O-

line in a situation of holding the ball to try to throw it? You have to take all that into

consideration."

Evans said the Bills can expect pressure from the Dolphins.

"I think they'll try to get to him [Edwards] before he can get the ball off," Evans said.

"So like I said, that'll be the game we play. When they want to do it [blitz], how they want

to do it, and if we can execute it the right way then we can make big plays."

Owens, who has five catches in three games, said Wednesday he's focusing on his job.

"All I can say is I am working hard, and we are working hard as a team," Owens said. "We

are just going with the opportunities. For me, I just have to make what is best of the

opportunities that come my way."

Owens, in fact, did a good job of being as noncontroversial as possible when asked about

the offensive struggles.

"They brought me here to give this team a lift and create some opportunities, and I don't

know what else to say," Owens said. "I just want to try to stay positive, keep working hard

and hope for the best. That is all I can do."

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