Miami Dolphins talking points: Vontae Davis’ education continues against T.O.

(Please join me at 1 p.m. Monday for a live chat to discuss where the Dolphins go from here. Click here to ask a question.) ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Following Sunday’s 31-14 loss to the Bills, the playoffs seem to be out of the question. But the Dolphins will have plenty at stake in the season’s final five games. Developing the rookies is one of many things the coaching staff will be looking do as the Dolphins face several tough tests, beginning Sunday at home against New England. The ups and downs of the 2009 rookie class kicks off today’s talking points. 1. Rookie cornerback Vontae Davis is getting schooled by some of the NFL’s elite wide receivers. In November alone, Randy Moss, Steve Smith and Terrell Owens have beaten Davis for TDs. Ever since he replaced injured veteran Will Allen, Davis has faced one tough test after another one. He hasn’t backed down, but Davis has taken some lumps, too. The latest were courtesy Owens’ 51-yard TD that gave the Bills a 24-14 lead. In the locker room after the game, Davis said T.O. pushed off, similar to a move Moss made on a 36-yard catch to set up the Patriots’ first TD a few weeks ago. “I can do nothing about that,” Davis said. “‘Wow,’ that’s all I can say is, ‘Wow.’” Davis said he pleaded with the official and even pointed to the replay on the Jumbotron, but to no avail. “You live and learn,” he said. “There’s certain ways you have to play guys like that. They’re going to grab your arm and push off. I can’t do nothing else. “They’re not giving me that call.” If Davis keeps improving, one day he might get some of those calls. 2. Rookie Brian Hartline is emerging as a clutch wide receiver. With two touchdowns, he has twice as many as the rest of the Dolphins’ WRs. Hartline had not only the Dolphins’ longest play of the game, a 20-yard reception from Chad Henne to the Buffalo 1

that set up Miami’s second and final touchdown, but also had their lone receiving TD, a 4-yard pass on which he made a nice adjustment on the ball. He wound up with three receptions for 31 yards. Ted Ginn Jr.’s harvest? Two for 18 yards. While he continues to be targeted less often than possession receivers Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo, Hartline continues to make the most of the opportunities that come his way, averaging a team-high 15.9 yards on each of his 17 catches this season. 3. Coaches continue to use rookie quarterback Pat White oddly. Sunday, he played three snaps at key times to little effect. This point has been discussed at length, but can someone please explain the purpose of playing White, particularly at the times the Dolphins choose to put him in? Miami is in the midst of a workmanlike, 16-play TD drive to open the second half, when suddenly White appears in the game at QB on the 11th and 12th play to hand off the ball to Ricky Williams. Williams gains six yards the first time, hinting the defense was waiting to see what White did. The next run gains nothing and White comes out of the game. White appears later with the Dolphins trailing 17-14 and the season on the line. On 1st-and-10 from the Miami 34 White runs the option for a 2-yard gain. Chad Henne returns to the game on second down and throws his first interception to end Miami’s chances. (T.O. scores on the next play.) White’s one snap had little to do with Henne’s interception. But these days, Henne needs every snap in he can get, while White has been nothing more than a gimmick that has worked for one series at New England. Put White in the game if the Dolphins are way ahead or behind. Tony Sparano had it right at Carolina when White didn’t play a snap in a close game.

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Miami Dolphins talking points: Vontae Davis’ education continues against T.O.

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