Asked two weeks ago why he hasn't had an interception in two years, safety Mark Roman explained that quarterbacks simply don't throw the ball his way. Well, Roman got his wish in the first quarter today when Chad Pennington heaved a long pass in his direction. The ball was intended for tight end David Martin, who is hardly a speed demon. Martin saw it coming. Heck, everyone in Dolphins stadium saw it coming. Everyone, that is, except for Roman, who got turned around, lost track of the play then watched as Martin ran in for a 61-yard score.

Ah, but Roman would get revenge, right? In the second quarter, Pennington lofted a meatball down the right sideline to Ted Ginn, Jr. Nate Clements had excellent coverage and Roman was back, too. But the safety ended up crashing into Clements and the ball dropped harmlessly to the ground. Two chances for an interception; zero ball skills; nearly injured own player. Maybe that's the reason Roman has no interceptions in two years. (And we're not even mentioning Ronnie Brown's 4th-quarter run in which Roman failed to hold the edge.)

Other observations:

• What to make of Vernon Davis? In many ways, he's the only 49er with a real heartbeat, a Joey Porter-like passion that can ignite a team. But Davis continues to be as notable for his miscues as the plays he makes. Sunday it was one third-down pass that bounces off his hands and another - a critical one in the 4th quarter - that bounces off his butt. Those are the types of plays that give the quarterback confidence and the kind that Davis can't routinely make.




• You know who would make a good mentor for Davis? (No, not Brian Jennings). I'm thinking about Isaac Bruce, who has become Shaun Hill's johnny on the spot because he is always in the right place and because he always makes that toe-tapping catch for a first down. Bruce is the consummate quarterback's aid. Maybe he's no longer a No. 1 receiver, but I wonder how well this offense would work without him.
• I've been a big supporter of Michael Robinson. The guy's a real leader and he has a unique set of skills. But I'm beginning to wonder whether carrying the ball is one of them. Robinson seems to work well in space - like when he catches a ball in the flat. But he doesn't seem to have that instinct for choosing the right hole and making the right cut that running back's must have. In other words, he plays like a guy who's not a natural running back. (Joe Pa ain't no dummy.) His line from Sunday: five carries, eight yards, 1.6-yd avg.
• Finally, Mike Singletary. The whispers around the league are that the 49ers still are not sold on Singletary. Is that gamesmanship - trying to coax more victories out a team that's still learning how to win - or do GM Scot McCloughan and owner Jed York have true reservations? I don't know. But apart from a cold game in December at the tail end of 2006, I can't remember a recent 49ers team playing as well on the road in as meaningless a game. That's got to count for something, right?