The Miami Dolphins defense has a singular focus this week against Jacksonville -- force turnovers. That's a lofty goal for a unit with only one takeaway the past six games.

“’Drought’ is the appropriate word,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle told the Palm Beach Post. “It’s hard to figure.”

The team had success earlier in the year with takeaways, forcing 11 turnovers in a six-game stretch between Week 2 and Week 9. Since then, the team has managed only one takeaway -- an interception of Patriots QB Tom Brady on Dec. 2.

So what’s the biggest reason for the team failing to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes? It could actually be as simple as the ball not bouncing Miami’s way. The Dolphins have forced 17 fumbles this year, but recovered three.

Coyle pointed to an early sequence in a 27-13 loss at San Francisco last week as evidence of his team’s bout with bad bounces. 

“Right there the first drive of the game, Cam(eron Wake) hits the ball, the ball bounces and Karlos (Dansby) is diving for it as their offensive lineman is, and they recover it and we don’t,” Coyle told the newspaper. “It’s not for anybody’s lack of effort. Everybody is doing a great job rushing the quarterback; Koa Misi does it. He actually hit the quarterback first and as he ricochets off him, Cam comes in and jars the ball loose. It seems like it’s happened a number of times.”

Slow going: NFL network analyst Mike Mayock says the problem with the Miami offense is simple: The players are too slow.

“Your offense is really difficult to watch because you’re trying to manufacture yards without speed,” Mayock said on WQAM 560-AM on Tuesday. “There’s no vertical threat on a consistent basis. It’s almost like watching an offense playing in a red zone for 100 yards because defenses begin to compress on you.”

Mayock continued to say the absence of an elite deep threat is the biggest obstacle holding the offense back.

“You have to complement (rookie QB Ryan Tannehill) with some speed, that’s what today’s NFL is,” he said. “As much as I like (Davone) Bess, as much as I like (Brian) Hartline, you still need somebody who can stretch the field vertically. And without that, your quarterback is going to be hampered.”

The NFL Draft guru also preached patience with Tannehill, adding the growing pains of this season should pay off down the line.

“What I watched on tape, I thought this kid’s got a really bright future,” Mayock said. “I think it’s hard to say to the fans in Miami, ‘Be patient’ because there hasn’t been a lot of winning there for awhile. But that’s the key -- be patient with this new staff and trust that you’re going to get some receivers and some people to complement this kid. Because in my opinion, this kid can play. He’s the future of your franchise.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Miami Dolphins from blogger Dave Carey, follow @CBSDolphins