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Marshall drops 2 but Dolphins beat Bucs 10-7

Aug 15, 2010 - 2:52 AM By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer

MIAMI(AP) -- In the matchup of new receivers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins, rookie Mike Williams outplayed Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall.

The Bucs' Williams caught a deep pass for a 30-yard gain to set up the only score by either first-team offense Saturday night, while Miami's Marshall dropped both passes thrown his way in the Dolphins' 10-7 victory.

Williams, a fourth-round draft pick who has already made the starting unit, beat cornerback Vontae Davis along the sideline and caught Josh Freeman's pass for a gain to the Miami 13-yard line.

"This could be the start of something good," Williams said. "It was good to start like that."

Coach Raheem Morris agreed, calling Williams' reception "awesome."

"Seeing him get open against one-on-one coverage, which you have to do in this league, that was promising," Morris said. "I want to see more of that."

Williams is well aware he was considered a risky pick by some NFL scouts because of off-the-field issues at Syracuse.

"I try not to listen to it: `This guy is bad, he's going to ruin the team, why did you take him here?"' Williams said. "I don't listen. They're going to say what they have to say. I just go out and play."

Two plays after Williams' catch, Freeman threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Sammie Stroughter, who outmaneuvered cornerback Sean Smith to cap a 60-yard drive.

Miami's first-teamers played four series and netted only 39 yards in 15 plays with two first downs. Marshall, acquired from Denver in an offseason trade, failed to pull in a chest-high pass as he cut over the middle wide open.

"I just dropped it," Marshall said. "I get paid a lot of money to catch that. In my short time in the NFL I've caught a lot of balls, so it's nothing to panic about."

He also dropped a short pass when cornerback E.J. Biggers got a hand on the ball.

"Every time I touch the ball, I need to have it," Marshall said.

Miami's Brian Hartline also dropped a pass from Chad Henne, who finished 5 of 11 for 19 yards. Ronnie Brown carried five times for 20 yards, and Ricky Williams ran three times for 10 yards.

"We need to be more efficient," Henne said. "The biggest thing is being more concentrated in what we have to get done, and taking advantage of each opportunity."

It didn't help the Dolphins to run most of their plays in the mud in the first quarter. Heavy rain at the start of the game soaked the dirt infield used for Florida Marlins games.

"We definitely need to play better in those conditions," Marshall said. "Early on the elements got to us, including myself."

The Bucs' first-team offense played two series, totaling 83 yards in 12 plays with four first downs. Freeman went 4 of 4 for 53 yards, and Carnell Williams carried four times for 21 yards.

"I was very pleased with the way we ran the ball," Morris said. "I was very pleased with the way we threw, especially the first unit. And I was very pleased with the defense, the way we stopped the run. It was a pretty good day."

Bucs backup quarterback Josh Johnson went 8 of 13 for 72 yards and had two turnovers. Against Miami's first-team defense, he ran for 18 yards on a keeper on third-and-16.

Biggers had four tackles and recovered a fumble for the Bucs.

Smith, who had no interceptions as a rookie starter last year, picked off a long pass by Johnson.

Dolphins backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen went 10 of 19 for 145 yards. He directed a drive in the final minute of the first half that ended with a 33-yard field goal by Dan Carpenter, and a 61-yard march capped by Lex Hilliard's 2-yard touchdown run.

Miami's Brandon Fields had punts of 63, 62 and 61 yards, but also had a kick blocked by Corey Lynch.

Tampa Bay had the ball inside the Miami 10 twice in the final minutes but failed to score.

Bucs starting receiver Maurice Stovall sprained his ankle in the first quarter and did not return. Morris said the injury didn't appear serious.

Tampa Bay rookie cornerback Darrell Pasco left the game with a shoulder injury.