James Walker, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Dolphins baffled by recent rash of dropped passes

DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase usually has answers for the team's issues. However, Gase has been at a loss as to why his offense has dropped 10 passes in the past two games.

“I don’t know,” Gase said. “It’s just we haven’t caught them. We haven’t caught the passes. It’s an area that we’re really stressing and we need to obviously improve because right now, I think we’re dead last in the league with catchable passes, and we have to improve on that very quickly.”

Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry didn't have an explanation either.

“I don’t know,” Landry said with a shrug.

The Dolphins are 3-2 entering Sunday’s game against the rival New York Jets (3-3). However, Miami’s offense is ranked last in yards per game (242.8) and points per game (12.2).

Not much has gone right on that side of the ball this season, and the drops certainly do not help. The Dolphins had five drops in each of the past two games -- wins over the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.

Most of the blame goes on the receivers. Landry, tight end Julius Thomas, running back Jay Ajayi and receivers Kenny Stills and Jakeem Grant all have been culprits of dropped passes the past two weeks.

Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler also shares some of the blame, although a smaller part. His mechanics and ball placement at times have been inconsistent this season. Cutler has been under pressure and too often finds himself throwing off his back foot, which has made some of his throws tough to catch.

“You’ve just got to go to the next play and just encourage these guys,” Cutler said of the drops. “I think we’ve got guys with really good hands that can make plays for us. Whether it’s lack of concentration or me putting the ball in a little bit different place for them, it’ll come. We’ll clean that stuff up along the way. If dropped passes are our biggest concern, I feel pretty good about that.”

Here are some other notes for the Dolphins:

• On the injury front, receiver DeVante Parker appears to be a long shot to play Sunday due to a right ankle injury. Parker missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

• Center Mike Pouncey also is not expected to play Sunday against the Jets. He suffered a concussion last week against the Falcons and remains in concussion protocol. Backup Jake Brendel will start if Pouncey is unavailable.

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