Stats say ‘Fins an enigma

If statistics meant everything, the Seattle Seahawks would attempt roughly zero passes today at Qwest Field. They would simply hand the ball to Shaun Alexander, the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,055 yards in nine games, and watch him run all over the Miami Dolphins’ 31st-ranked run defense.

Statistics do not mean everything, of course, and so the game plan must extend beyond the obvious.

“Sometimes I wish they wouldn’t keep statistics,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. “They make for a lot of interesting questions, but they make for a lot of baloney, too.”

Few teams are as statistically conflicted as the Dolphins. They allow a league-low 150.1 yards passing per game, yet only New Orleans allows more than the Dolphins on the ground (149 yards per game to 145.6).

And yet the Dolphins, for all their struggles in sagging to a 1-8 record, are still known for defense. Only six NFL teams allow fewer total yards per game, and no defense is more effective on third down.

“They know their defense well and they play their defense well,” Holmgren said. “They have a great middle linebacker (Zach Thomas), they have great corners (Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain), they have a great defensive end (Jason Taylor).”

The Dolphins also have a great former running back in the notoriously retired Ricky Williams. Without him, and without injured receiver Chris Chambers, the Dolphins have the look of a severely flawed team.

Dave Wannstedt apparently agreed, deciding to step down with seven games remaining. Interim coach Jim Bates had been Wannstedt’s defensive coordinator since 2000, during which time the Dolphins’ defense finished no worse than 10th in the league rankings.

The current unit ranks seventh.

The Dolphins recently defeated St. Louis before falling just short against Arizona; the Rams and Cardinals are 3-0 against Seattle.

“For anyone to think that we would take this game lightly is kind of foolish,” Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “It’s anybody’s game, and we need to come ready to play.”

The Cardinals were 1-4 and coming off a bye when they surprised the Seahawks with a tricked-up game plan.

Might the Dolphins, with a new head coach and an extra week to prepare, re-invent the wheel (route)? Not likely, but there are sure to be a few surprises.

“It’s a chance to turn the page and start over, a chance to get healthy coming off a bye week and start fresh,” Dolphins defensive end David Bowens said. “We need to just look at what’s ahead and try to make some good things happen.”

Bates’ first move was to bench veteran quarterback Jay Fiedler. Former University of Oregon passer A.J. Feeley is back in the lineup for the first time in two months.

There’s a chance the Dolphins will become more pass-oriented, breaking from Wannstedt’s approach.

“I think there is no limit as to what we’re going to do as far as the ratio of run to pass,” Feeley said.

Injuries have caught up to Fiedler lately, but the 32-year-old veteran had played efficiently in two of the past three games. That stretch included the Dolphins’ lone victory of the season, a 31-14 decision over St. Louis on Oct. 24.

For his career, Fiedler has 68 touchdown passes with 66 interceptions in 73 career games.

Feeley, meanwhile, has played in only 12 games since entering the league with Philadelphia as a fifth-round pick in 2001.

The Dolphins acquired Feeley from Philadelphia before the season, trading a third-round choice in the 2005 draft. Wannstedt never committed fully to a starter, however, benching Fiedler in the opener, then restoring him as the starter in the fourth game.

Now it’s back to Feeley. It’s up to Seattle to tell the difference.

“Fiedler probably hung onto the ball a little bit longer,” Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom said, “but other than that, that’s about it.

“Feeley did a great job last year (actually 2002) when he got to play and he’s an accomplished quarterback.”

Nice try, Grant. Feeley owns seven career starts, with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

In two appearances this season, he has completed more touchdown passes to the other team (three) than to his own (two).