Dolphins coach Joe Philbin has a new weapon for masking his team’s deficiencies: great special teams play.

“We’re not a super-high scoring offense today as we speak,” Philbin said. “I think we’re going to get better as the year goes on. Our defense is playing well on third down. They’re playing well in the red zone. That’s kind of the way we’ve been playing.”

The kicking units were nothing short of spectacular against the New York Jets last weekend. DB Jimmy Wilson blocked a punt recovered by rookie DE Olivier Vernon, who also swatted a field-goal attempt late in the first half.

“I think they like being a part of it,” Philbin said of Wilson and Vernon. “I think they look forward to it. They’ve got some enthusiasm. You can see that on the film. They play hard. Yeah, I think those guys, they both got a lot of snaps, both defensive. Those two specific players that you mentioned both got snaps defensively and special teams.”

But it didn’t stop there.

Special teams ace LB Jason Trusnik recovered an onside kick, RB Marcus Thigpen had a 57-yard kickoff return, K Dan Carpenter was a perfect 3 of 3 on field goals and P Brandon Fields buried five punts inside the Jets’ 20-yard line.

“I think it’s a combination of personnel, scheme, commitment to it, the teaching of it,” Philbin said. “I don’t think it’s anything different than the other two phases of the game.”

Cut line: Miami cut WR Anthony Armstrong on Tuesday.

The team acquired Armstrong off waivers from the Washington Redskins at the start of the season, but he failed to make an impact as he finished his time in South Beach with just three catches for 12 yards. He didn’t even make the stat sheet in the team’s past three games -- all wins.

Miami also signed WR Jabar Gaffney earlier this month and he delivered in his first game with the team, making one catch for 30 yards in a win over the Jets last weekend.

“We use the term upstairs, ‘He moved around like a football player,’” Philbin said of Gaffney. “He kind of ran routes the way you’d like to see a receiver run routes. He wasn’t perfect, but he had the one explosive catch.”

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