Vontae Davis has been proving that this month ever since he returned to action for the second time from a hamstring injury. The third-year corner who was Miami’s first-round draft pick in 2009 has come alive in the secondary, intercepting two passes in the last three games and racking up 12 tackles (11 solo), and four pass breakups.

Mire importantly, Davis’ presence back there and ability to handle man-to-man coverage has allowed defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to be more aggressive in his play calling. It’s also allowed some of Davis’ teammates on that side of the ball to take more chances.

“We can blitz now. The more we can blitz and the more pressure we can apply from one side or the other you limit them to throwing to one side of the field,” said inside linebacker Kevin Burnett, whose production also has dramatically increased during this recent stretch. “You also limit them to throwing in the places where they can beat you and when you can limit that as a defense then you have something special.”

Last Thursday at Dallas was another memorable outing for Davis right from the opening drive for the Cowboys. He timed his jump perfectly as soon as Dallas quarterback Tony Romo tried to fit a pass into tight end Martellus Bennet down the right sideline and tipped the ball to himself for the interception.

Free safety Reshad Jones was over the top in coverage and Davis knew he could make the gamble because of that. He came down with the ball and returned it the other way 25 yards to his own 42.

“I was just making a play on the ball and I just was in the right place at the right time and came up with the interception,” Davis said. “It was just about being in the right place and making the best of my opportunity.”

Two possessions later Davis watched fellow cornerback Sean Smith intercept Romo at the Dallas 26 with a nice diving catch. The two of them came into the league together, were roommates as rookies and have become best friends, so Davis was quick to point out how much he’d like to see the pair have interceptions in the same game more often.

Davis’ tight man coverage on Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant also did not go unnoticed and the growth both he and Smith have made at the position is something Head Coach Tony Sparano is happy to see. He is quick to remind everyone this is just their third season as pros yet they are being given important responsibilities on defense.

“If it’s a man pressure and you’re leaving those guys by themselves out there it’s pretty important,” Sparano said. It’s important twofold; one that you get there, and we’ve been doing a better job of getting there, and then secondly that those guys can hold up in the back end long enough for you to get there. They’ve done a good job that way and I think they’re playing with obviously a lot more confidence and starting to understand what we’re asking them to do a little more each time. With Vontae what you’re seeing is that he is more healthy right now and Vontae when he’s healthy is a heck of an athlete out there. He’s a physical guy and a hard guy to deal with when he’s healthy.” It was easy to see the fire in Davis’ eyes whenever he lined up opposite Bryant because of the skill set Bryant brings to the field and his physical attributes. Because Davis is such a physical corner he likes to use his strength against those bigger receivers and let them know he’s going to be there all day, which is what he did on Dallas’ first play from scrimmage in that game. Romo threw a quick screen to Bryant out wide and Davis came up and tackled him immediately around the legs for a 1-yard gain.

Plays like that help set the tone for the game and Davis helped fire up the rest of the defense with that tackle. Now that unit is firing on all cylinders from front to back, with the interior line putting pressure up the middle, the linebackers stuffing the run and pressuring from the edge and the defensive backs covering well.

“Sean and I have been playing together for three years so we’re comfortable out there and with some of the other guys we’ve been playing with,” said Davis, who has 30 tackles (28 solo) and two interceptions on the season. “The whole defense we’ve picked it up a lot the last several weeks and are clicking together.”

Jones is in his second season with the Dolphins and won the starting free safety job in training camp. Injuries have hampered him a bit but he has benefited from playing out there with Davis and Smith, specifically Davis because he often finds himself on Davis’ side of the field as he deep help on the back end.

The former Georgia Bulldog had a front row seat on Davis’ interception and appreciates how Davis impacts his job on the defensive side of the ball.

“It kind of makes your job easier when you have a cover corner like Vontae,” Jones said. “When you’re on his side just by his presence they know he’s a good corner, so whether it’s from rerouting and getting back in Cover 2 or whatever his assignment is that makes it easier on us. If I’m over top they (the corners) know they’re good and that’s what happened on that interception. I was looking for a pitch from him but I should have got out in front and blocked for him because he deserved it.”

If Davis keeps playing at this level, there will be plenty of more opportunities for Jones to get that pitch.

SPARANO GETS SOME “ME TIME”: After having to prepare for three games in 11 days Sparano finally had a weekend to himself to recharge. This allowed him to actually watch some football games on televisions both at the college level on Saturday and in the NFL yesterday.

“I came in here, did some work and got a little bit of me time in here, which was nice,” Sparano said. “I didn’t have the ‘Coach, can I ask you one question,’ 45 times and then I got a chance to do that again on Sunday. I watched a little of the Oakland to get ready and when I watch the game obviously I don’t root for anybody. So when I watch the game I’m watching scenarios and situations. I saw a couple of fake punts, a punt return, a reverse punt return and more than anything else you’re watching those kinds of things.”

Now he’ll get back to watching actual game film of the Raiders coming off of their 25-20 win over Chicago.