Dolphins can stand tall after latest pre-season game.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

Miami _ It's still just the preseason, even when the Dolphins win and look sharp. Just as it was just the preseason when the Dolphins were losing and playing sloppy.

But the world sure seemed sunnier to coach Dave Wannstedt on Sunday afternoon, after a convincing 24-3 road win against the expansion Houston Texans.

"When you get the kind of results that you got Saturday night, you feel good about it," said Wannstedt, particularly pleased with the defense's front seven and the offense's conversion of all four short-yardage situations.

So the Dolphins can stand straighter and prouder now, even as members of arguably their most important unit _ the newly reshuffled offensive line _ hunch over crutches and force the coaching staff to bet on hunches.

Brent Smith, who started camp as the No. …