Two interceptions strengthen Will Davis’ case to stay with Dolphins
If this was Will Davis’ last game in a Dolphins uniform, he went out with a bang.
And two picks.
Davis, the third-year cornerback who is squarely on the roster bubble, intercepted Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon twice in the first half of Thursday night’s preseason finale.
The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Davis, who has been shopped by the Dolphins in recent days and is in danger of being cut. But after Thursday, his trade value has perhaps never been higher.
After struggling in his first three preseason games, Davis — 10 months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL — had the game of his life on Thursday.
His first interception came midway through the first quarter. Glennon tested Davis deep with a pass to Rannell Hall, but Davis got inside position and secured the ball.
His second pick came a few possessions later. Glennon, who continued to throw at Davis throughout, targeted Cameron Brate in the red zone. But Davis jumped the route, picked off Glennon at the 3 and returned the interception 37 yards. The Dolphins converted the field position into their first touchdown of the game.
Davis started Thursday, as the Dolphins rested Brent Grimes and Brice McCain. Jamar Taylor didn’t dress; he is still recovering from a quadriceps injury he sustained two weeks ago. Taylor is expected to be ready when the Dolphins open the regular season on Sept.13.
DARR A WEAPON
The Dolphins’ faith in Matt Darr has already been rewarded.
Darr, who beat out longtime Dolphin Brandon Fields for the punting job, was a field position-switching weapon on Thursday night.
He twice knocked down a punt at the Tampa Bay 5-yard line in the first half. Darr was also steady as the Dolphins’ holder, executing perfectly on a field goal and an extra point.
ONE FINAL LOOK
Jamil Douglas was the only offensive starter to play Thursday. And he appeared to play well.
Douglas passed Billy Turner on the depth chart earlier this week, but Dolphins coaches wanted to get one last look at him before deciding on their lineup for the season opener.
Turner, meanwhile, did little to win the job back. He committed a personal foul in the first half, costing the Dolphins 15 yards. Then, on the Dolphins’ first drive of the second half, he jumped before the snap.
THIS AND THAT
▪ The Dolphins sat all but two starters Thursday. Here is the complete list of the game’s lineup changes: WR DeVante Parker for Greg Jennings; LT Donald Hawkins for Branden Albert; LG Jacques McClendon for Dallas Thomas; C Sam Brenner for Mike Pouncey; RG Douglas for Turner; RT Jeff Linkenbach for Ja’Wuan James; TE Jake Stoneburner for Jordan Cameron; WR Matt Hazel for Kenny Stills; RB LaMichael James for Lamar Miller; WR Cobi Hamilton for Jarvis Landry; DE Emmanuel Dieke for Cameron Wake; DT C.J. Mosley for Ndamukong Suh; DT Jordan Phillips for Earl Mitchell; DE Terrence Fede for Olivier Vernon; LB Zach Vigil for Koa Misi; LB Jordan Tripp for Jelani Jenkins; CB Davis for Grimes; CB Zack Bowman for Taylor; S Michael Thomas for Reshad Jones; K Andrew Franks for Caleb Sturgis.
▪ Walt Aikens was the only projected defensive starter who played Thursday. He lined up alongside Thomas on Tampa Bay’s first play from scrimmage. Both Aikens and Thomas later bit on a play-fake that resulted in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Glennon to Adam Humphries.
▪ The Dolphins spent the five days before the Buccaneers game working on the stadium issues that surfaced in last Saturday’s soft re-launch of Sun Life Stadium. The organization expects Phase 1 of the two-year, $425 million renovation project to be completed in time for the University of Miami’s home game against Nebraska on Sept.19.
This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Two interceptions strengthen Will Davis’ case to stay with Dolphins."