DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins have been criticized for several things this offseason after back-to-back collapses in December. But one recurring theme is questioning the team’s mental toughness.

At least two national football analysts -- Damien Woody of ESPN and Brian Baldinger of the NFL Network -- have called the Dolphins a mentally soft team.

"I got issues with Miami up here," Woody said recently on ESPN’s "NFL Live," while pointing to his head. "The last couple of years they've melted at the end, which tells me they’re soft. They’re soft mentally. Until they’re able to finish, you know, I’m going to call it what it is."

Added Baldinger on "The Joe Rose Show" in Miami, "We know the Dolphins just have not been a tough team. Physically, mentally, the month of December, they just have no toughness whatsoever."

Miami has started fast the past two seasons and positioned itself to get into the postseason. However, the Dolphins suffered crucial, late-season losses to keep the team out of the playoffs both years.

I asked Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin about questions regarding the team’s toughness down the stretch during our one-on-one interview this week.

"We’ve been two games over .500 at some point in time in the month of December and both years we finished up with an even record," Philbin said. "So what are the reasons for that? We’ve looked at the game plans. Is it injuries? Is it how we prepared those particular weeks? Is it the schedule? Is it a lack of discipline? Is it a lack of focus? Is it a lack of effort? Did we keep the players on the field too long in September and October and not have them fresh in November and December?

"Trust me when I tell you, we’ve look at this a lot of different ways and we’re going to make some changes."

Internally, Philbin and the Dolphins do not believe toughness is the issue. According to Philbin, the team is focusing on exploring ways to keep the team healthy and fresh late in the year instead.

Whether Miami's alterations work this season remains to be seen. But making the playoffs is a quick and easy way to silence doubters who question the Dolphins' toughness.