Vontae Davis Has a STFU game for his critics

I honestly only recall 2 passes completed against him specifically. One was the quick throw that resulted in a loss, and the other was a longer throw (maybe 12 yards), but he was right on the guy and tackled him immediately.

 

I had a love affair with Vontae last week, and still do this week.

 

He was usally lined up across from our seats so I got a good look at him, he played solid.

 

I remember his name being called on a few passes for tackles. Not many, maybe 3-4. Again though like I said in my other thread I need to watch the game on NFL Network to confirm everything, and that will piece everything together.

 

My guess as well.
OLB - both Porter and Taylor are going to be one more year into their 30's. You can never have an over abundance of pass rushers.
NT - unless Soliai really shines this year
ILB - if a real playmaker is on the board when we pick
Safety - I could definitely see that.
On the other hand...
I could see a TE or OG if one is standing out when we pick.

 

Yeah there should be quite a bit of names this year. If we need a strong side linebacker, abnormally large Corey Wootton of Northwestern should be considered. Troy's Brandon Lang will rise quickly up boards, in my opinion and his fluidity in coverage is VERY impressive in my opinion. Ole Miss' Greg Hardy has character issues but I wonder how many of them are true. I really do wonder that because whilst he's said to take plays off, he has dominated every time he has stepped on the field and his background (former basketball player) is exactly what I think Ireland looks for.

I think even if Soliai shines, its tough to depend on him as the future nose tackle when he's let you down in the past. Not to mention, Ferguson is getting up there in age and we need depth so I wouldn't count out a nose tackle, in any round.

Yeah I think we have to replace Ayodele. I'm just not big on him, at all. Two names that should be interesting are Joe Pawalek of Baylor and Brandon Spikes of UF. Especially Spikes IMO because he's shown a pretty good first step off the edge as well, as he has lined up on the weak side at OLB for UF. I lost my notes (pretty pissed about taht lol) on Pawalek from last year but I recall him covering very well despite playing straight-legged. His coverage skills were very reminiscent of James Laurinaitis'. I can't remember how well he takes on blocks so that's something to watch for this year.

 

Love that guy. Always around the ball.

 

I haven't watched the game yet but its good to hear that Davis played better. I have no idea why it would be a STFU game though. He played poorly last week and was reasonably criticized. If he plays poorly again he will be criticized again.

 

He did have a great game.

OT: I'm watching Packers vs. Bills highlights and BJ Raji was an absolute monster. First game ever in the pros and he is commanding triple teams. The Bills looked like crap too.

 

My only problem with Davis last week was that he seemed not to take being a professional seriously enough. I'm sure he had many players and coaches climbing up his butt all week. Seems to have got him on the right track...

Absolutely love having a CB that can dish out punishment too. His physicality is as good as was advertised.

Would love to see him and Smith push Will Allen to 3rd corner by next season

 

I don't think any of them needs to be called the 1-2-3 corner. The great thing is they all bring different skill sets to the table.

Smith is a big guy who can cover those big, fast receivers.

Allen is a veteran who knows the game, and can stay stride for stride with anyone.

Davis is a physical guy who can make the sure tackle and keep plays in front of him.

We need to change them around for every matchup instead of calling them 1-2-3 IMO.

 

I think his ceiling is very high, I would agree that he could be a Pro Bowl cornerback in this league. Just needs to put it all together.

I didn't catch the game but that's a great sign if he played that well, in my opinion. That's probably one of the main ingredients, if not the main one, in cornerbacks in my opinion. The ability to put that last pass or game behind you. Just like with quarterbacks, if you're fragile mentally, you're likely to fail at the next level.

 

No problem with that....

I would imagine you'll see Davis used like he was in college, in position to help support stopping the run.

 

Thanks man. Appreciate it. Means a lot coming from you.

Well said. I agree on all points.

 

The kid didnt give up sh$# tonight relative to how much he played....3 quarters of play..2 catches 7 yards i would guess. VD balled tonight

 

I thought that the immaturity comments were a joke, especially when people were judging just one game. I am not going to say Davis is going to be a pro bowler by any means, but to call him out after one game was just ridiculous.

It's a shame really, because the only reason "maturity" issues come up is because his brother is Vernon Davis.

 

Sorry but last week the guy played with a hell of a lot less discipline than he did this week....that's maturity. It appeared that he learned a lesson from it and after tonight I'm sure he's smart enough to realize how much it pays off..

Relax, no one's asking for him to be waived...

 

Vontae really showed me last night why he was our #1 draft pick, just love his enthusiasm, hitting and speed. When he truly learns the game and it slows down for him, he is going to be one tough CB for us for many years!

 

Adam, generally have to agree with you as well. I think he played consistently tonight, and was tight in coverage throughout. He did have a few short pass receptions in front of him, but that's to be expected. I don't think we should be anointing him into the HOF just yet, but he certainly had a better game than last week. He needs to have a good or even better game next week, and the following week. He needs to show he's coachable, something he was not in college.

At any rate, I was very pleased with his play this week, too...

 

Not for me GiK, the way the Dolphins win games is through error free football, when one guy screws up it effect the chances that we win the game, when they constantly screw up it is normal that they should be questioned.

Vontae had one poor game, and one good game, I think everyone can agree with that, now we play again on Thursday, and it's the third preseason game were the starters play into the second half, we'll see were Vontae shakes out.

I'd love to be able to drink the Davis koolaid, same with Sean Smith, but they have to stand the test of time.

 

Vonte looked alot like a young Antoine Winnfield tonight, I think he will be ready to unseat Will Allen by years end and all of a sudden we have two young stud CB's.

...Now if we could only get a stud Saftey.

 

I think MLB better be towards the top of that list as well

Completely agree with the rest.

Back OT. Best thing that can happen is for Smith to still have to fight for the starting nod, or Vontae to do so.

I agree with the consensus, if Vontae can gain some maturity and shore up the mental aspect of his game, we will be very very set at CB for quite awhile. And that indeed opens up incredible possibilities for the D-coordinator and the Unit

 

Looks like a DT heavy draft, atleast on the top end just dont know if anyone will be around at #32.

 

The difference is, Vonatae can afford to have a poor game, C Williams couldn't, he had to eliminate his mistakes and did not, as a UDFA and with Sparano being turnover adverse, we may not see Chris Williams have another shot.

I hope Sparano sees the upside and give Williams another shot, but at this point he would have taken Fulton Walker out of the stands over Chris Williams.

 

According to Coach.. twice, he did not have a bad first game. He simply made a couple of bad plays. I'm thinking I was too harsh myself after the Jax game.. my worries were that "oh no" another Jason Allen. Vontea's interview after the game was pretty good. I heard and saw a lot of things I liked. It was a contrast to the enthusiasm we saw on the feild.. someone.. Griese maybe, made a comment about rookies celebrating that I agreed with BUT, the interview was, IMO, exactly the attitude I had hoped to see.

 

Rarely will Sparano call out a player publically Marty, i'm not sort of trying to say "yeah Vontae sucked in the first game" what I am saying is clearly Vontae had a poor game Monday and Sparano was just refusing to pile on his own player publiclly.

Now he had a great game last night no mnetal errors, his strengths as a player shined through, tackling, closing speed, enthusiasm for playing, he said in his post game interview that he wanted the game to continue...no way a Veteran says that about a preseason game...

 

I believe Will Allen has his merits on this good start of VD and Sean Smith.

remember that report (from april or may) which he said he had a troubling NFL start because his NYG veteran teamate CB didn't help him and saw him as an enemy and he ended up getting his spot.

So he'd not do that and would receive well the young CB's miami drafted and help them as much as he could. I hope Allen can maintain his game level for a couple more years and help the youngsters to take over for him when he's not playing at his highest level anymore.

 

We're running Quarters, not Man Under. The underneath is given up to completely blanket the downfield.

 

Actually the coaches and Tony Sparano said Vontae graded out "very highly" against the Jags. Your grading system must deviate from theirs, giving him a "poor" performance. I'm with coach and the staff though on this one, and thought he played well against the Jags.

I think Prez simply thinks that Vontae caught a lot of guff for his 2 or 3 bone head plays, and all the subsequent backlash on these boards. And that his performance against the Panthers redeemed himself rather strongly against his critics.

 

25% of us were high on Vontae last week. and its not like we're gloating now, but more of dispelling the myth that he had a horrible game last week, or that he is "destined to be a nickel back at best".

And with Williams, I think he basically needed to be exceptional all the time, to get a roster spot with our depth at WR. A muff last week, a doink off the facemask. Its probably over.

 

You sound as if I was going to the extremes of the subject. I didn't say anyone wanted him to be waived, but there was a lot of negative talk about his maturity and discipline. The guy had a bad game, so what... It was one game into the preseason and, personally, I don't think there's any reason to get extremely uptight about a player just yet.

 

well unfortunately Zook took him out of one game last season, which is really where this whole 'character issues' crap came from in the first place. Zook had nothing but great thigns to say about Vontaes heart, abillities and toughness, but because of he 'benched him' one game, everyone assumed hes a problematic player. And really, once you have a reputation, it's hard to get rid of it.

 

As usual Adamprez, I agree with you.

 

Most ppl's negative reaction to him in the first game wasn't so much about his actual play in the game. It was more us being concerned that our number one draft choice might be a problem child....all most of us wanted was to see his fellow teammates and the coaching staff, get him straightened out asap. So far it looks like they're doing a good job of it.

Yeah I ragged on em, but I'm excited as anyone about this kid...