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Posted on Sunday, 08.23.09

DOLPHINS DEFENSE

Miami Dolphins' secondary improves against Carolina

Rookie Vontae Davis and the Dolphins' secondary played better Saturday night during the team's second exhibition game.

Dolphins vs. Panthers | Sat., Aug. 22, 2009
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BY DAVID J. NEAL

dneal@MiamiHerald.com

The secondary that failed during Monday's first half against Jacksonville's pedestrian -- at best -- group of receivers acknowledged improvement Saturday night against Carolina.

Yet, they did so with caveats.

``Steve Smith didn't play,'' Dolphins safety Gibril Wilson said. ``Mushin Muhammad didn't play.''

And there was that one touchdown drive that included two third-and-long completions, a 15-yarder on third-and-8 and a 16-yarder on third-and-12. On the touchdown, a 25-yard DeAngelo Williams run, Wilson joined the line and linebackers in the missed tackle act.

``During the regular season, we can't let that happen,'' Wilson said. ``For the most part, we did a good job. We got off the field on third down.''

In fact, those aforementioned third-down conversions were the only ones Carolina got in 11 attempts. Rookie safety Chris Clemons had a fumble recovery on special teams.

So did Courtney Bryan, as video confirmed after officials blew the call and gave Carolina the ball (it wasn't reviewable by replay).

Then again, this was a different group than the one that Jacksonville quarterbacks David Garrard and Todd Bouman hit up for 123 first-half passing yards on 11-of-17 passing.

The Dolphins cut cornerback Eric Green on Wednesday.

Rookie cornerback starter Sean Smith, who helped make Green expendable, and cornerback Jason Allen, fighting to keep from being expendable, both missed Saturday night's game with flu-like symptoms and were being tested for swine flu.

That forced first-round pick Vontae Davis into the starting lineup -- and the mid-game lineup -- and the end-of-game lineup. On Monday, Davis got dipped in humility during his first game. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano claimed Davis had three minus plays on defense Monday and that didn't count Davis' two special teams penalties that cost the Dolphins dearly in field position.

On Saturday, Davis ended with four tackles, two for losses. That doesn't count a hit on Mike Goodson that disrupted a hitch pass on third-and-5 from the Dolphins' 20. Linebacker Channing Crowder finished the play, a 4-yard loss.

The next play, Davis hounded holder Jason Baker into throwing the ball away on a fake field goal.

``He played well,'' cornerback Nathan Jones said. ``He went out there, challenged a guy, made some big tackles. He grew up a lot in four days.''

Said Davis: ``It just was a blessing to bounce back from penalties and stuff like that. I just feel great about my play [Saturday].''

Asked what specifically he improved, Davis said, ``Focusing on the little things, controlling only what I can control.''

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