MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- DeMarco Murray found room on the flanks and then shimmed for extra yards. Marcus Mariota kept scrambling up the middle past the first-down marker before sliding to safety.Smashmouth, Titans style.There was muscle involved, but also lots of finesse as Tennessee rushed for 235 yards Sunday to grind up the Miami Dolphins, 30-17.The offensive approach was the sort coach Mike Mularkey envisioned when the Titans signed Murray last spring.It kind of gives you an example of what were capable of, Mularkey said. We just need to do it like that consistently.The Titans (2-3) clawed back into the conversation in the AFC South, while the Dolphins (1-4) appear destined for an eighth consecutive year out of the playoffs. Here are some things to know about both teams:GROUND GAME: Murray ran for 121 yards, Mariota dashed for 60 and Derrick Henry added 54 to give the Titans their most productive rushing performance since 2009. They averaged 5.7 yards per attempt.The guys up front did a great job, Mariota said. They controlled the line of scrimmage and really allowed us to do what we want. If we can run the football the way we did today, it will really open up some things in the passing game.Thats what happened against Miami. Mariota was an efficient 20 for 29 for 163 yards, with no turnovers, no sacks and three scores.He completed passes to eight receivers. The touchdowns covered 5 yards to Andre Johnson, 20 yards to Delanie Walker and 4 yards to former Dolphin Rishard Matthews.In addition, Mariota repeatedly hurt the Dolphins with his legs, including a 5-yard keeper for his first rushing touchdown of the year.TANNEHILLS TRIALS: Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill was sacked six times , but hes not getting sacked by his coach.The Dolphins totaled just eight first downs, and disgruntled fans chanted for Tannehills backup, Matt Moore. First-year Miami coach Adam Gase is staying with the fifth-year starter, however.Hes not coming out, Gase said. You can ask me 100 times. Hes going to be in there the rest of the season.The Dolphins were without both starters on the left side of the offensive line. Rookie guard Laremy Tunsil hurt an ankle during the pregame, and tackle Branden Albert was too weak to play after battling a virus and losing 12 pounds.I felt we had plenty of guys to fill the roles we need to fill, Gase said. We just have to do a better job.GOOD HALF: The Titans started fast, for them, and finished the first half strong.Mariotas scored the games first points with 23 seconds left in the first quarter. It was Tennessees first TD in the opening period all year.He directed a 75-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of the half, completing all five of his passes in the series to put the Titans ahead 21-14.The former Oregon star is accustomed to playing hurry-up.Ive just operated in that kind of realm for a long time, so Im really comfortable in it, Mariota said.SUDDEN STRIKES: Miami would have been shut out if not for three big plays. Rookie Jakeem Grant scored on a 74-yard punt return , Damien Williams had a 58-yard catch-and-run to set up a touchdown, and DeVante Parker made a 50-yard reception that led to a field goal.Those hurt us and kept them really in the game, Mularkey said.UP NEXT: The Titans play Cleveland next Sunday in the first of three consecutive home games.Cant look too far in the future, Mariota said. Its nice that well be home for a few weeks now. Hopefully this will build into some momentum.The Dolphins, already three games behind New England in the AFC East, continue a four-game homestand when they play Pittsburgh.You better play this thing out, Gase said. You never know what is going to happen.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/steven-wineAdam Jones Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Gary Roenicke Jersey . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. https://www.cheaporioles.com/1848i-george-kell-jersey-orioles.html .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Terry Crowley Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Mike Bordick Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Back in the early 1980s, Ernesto Escobedo Jr. dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player.But I did not have any talent, he explained last week from Las Vegas. No, no, no. I wasnt really a tennis player.As a teenager, he played events in Mexico and found his way to small-money tournaments in Holland, France, Italy and Spain. But after a few years of scuffling -- his career-high doubles ranking was No. 727 -- he returned to Mexico.I loved everything about tennis, he said, laughing. But when I hit 20, I started to realize it wasnt my future. I always had the feeling that I was going against the water, the ocean.In Mexico, where most of his family was, he met his future wife, Cristina. In 1986, they moved to Los Angeles, Ernesto Jr.s birthplace.A decade later, Ernesto III appeared, and although his father tried to steer him into team sports like soccer and basketball, he was happiest with a tennis racket in his hand. This made Ernesto Jr. very unhappy.He didnt want to me to go through what he did, Ernesto III said.The son hit against the wall at school, sometimes joined by his mother. Initially, Ernesto Jr., who drove a truck for UPS, stayed out of it. But when he saw those unnaturally fluid strokes, Ernesto IIIs precocious court sense, he eventually relented.The first tournament, at the age of 8, came at Pacific Palms in Industry Hills, California.I lost first round, Ernesto III said. But it was so much fun. I liked being out there and competing.Gradually, the fathers deferred dream came true -- for the son. And today, the son is succeeding primarily because of his father.On Oct. 15, when Ernesto III won the ATP World Tour Challenger event in Monterrey, Mexico, the first call was to his father.He cried, Ernesto III said. He said he was proud of me.That meant a lot.Escobedo, at 20, is one of the most dynamic young players in this country. Brad Gilbert, former coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick (one of Escobedos idols growing up) sees him as a future top-50 player and maybe better.The title at Monterrey completed a spectacular 53-week cycle that saw his ATP ranking rise from No. 541 to a career-high No. 129. After reaching the semifinals a year ago in Monterrey, Escobedo ripped through the Challenger circuit, reaching the finals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Cary, North Carolina, and winning in Lexington, Kentucky, beating highly regarded American teenager Francis Tiafoe in the final.At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Escobedo hits the ball big off both wings and, according to Gilbert, has a better serve than his modest body would suggest. Gilbert, however, describes his movement as average.When this was relayed to him, Escobedo started laughing.Im not the quickest guy on the court, he said. Its something for me to improve on. Ive been working hard for the past two months on the track with explosive weights, and thats been helping me a lot.Working hard is something he picked up from his father, who like Richard and Oracene Williams started his child on the public courts of southern California.Same thingg, Ernesto Jr.dddddddddddd explained. I didnt want to get into tennis because I knew how hard it was. I had no resources, no money. So it was the parks, not the clubs. I started hitting with him and, little by little, we got hooked again.I told him then, If youre going to be good one day, its not going to because of the money.Ernesto Jr. cut his job back to part time so he could spend more time on court with his son. Like the Williams parents, he also avoided the conventional junior system, saying he wanted to keep the family together.He started playing Futures tournaments when he was 16, Ernesto Jr. said. When he reached a semifinal, we started practicing harder. My plan was for him to go to college, but he said he wanted to see if he could make it in the pros.He told me, A lot of players dont have this opportunity. I dont want to be regretting this for the rest of my life.I wasnt convinced.But his sons persistence -- and evident happiness -- changed his mind. Ernesto Jr. still wishes he was pursuing a college degree that he said was offered by USC, but hes seeing progress.A year ago when Ernesto III reached the semifinal in Monterrey, he wasnt ready.I couldnt focus at all, Escobedo said. It was too big of a stage for me, and my emotions got in the way.I learned a lot from that match. Ive matured a lot. Im much more comfortable in that situation.His goal is to be in the top 100 pretty soon, which would qualify him automatically into the main draws of Grand Slams. He said he is trying to be a more aggressive player, coming to net more often and serving and volleying. This isnt the conventional baseline style, but Escobedo isnt as big as some of the ATPs other #NextGen players, such fellow American?Taylor Fritz, with whom he shares coach Peter Lucassen, or Alexander Zverev of Germany.This weeks Las Vegas Challenger, where he won his first-round match, was his 28th event in a jammed calendar that included a good mix of Futures, Challengers and ATP tournaments. He won his first ATP-level match after qualifying in Nottingham back in June, beating Diego Schwartzman. Escobedo, a wild card at the US Open, split four sets with Lukas Lacko before winning by retirement. Escobedo will finish up with Challengers in Ecuador and Colombia.With the help of the USTA, Escobedo is getting coaching and support as he travels the world and learns the nuances of the game. His father still insists he play hard and exhibit good body language.Understandably, because of his personal experience, he is cautious.You cant get ahead of yourself, Escobedo Jr. said, speaking more of his son than himself. Im trying not to get too excited. We dont know what lies ahead, two, three years.But, Ive already done my part.What was it like to hear that his son had won an important tournament?Doing what I dreamed of, he said, voice trailing off. Its a beautiful feeling. Beautiful. I cant ask anything for more. ' ' '