Smith, who replaced Jason Allen as a starter in the eighth game, was targeted only 44 times out of 661 snaps — the NFL’s second-lowest percentage among cornerbacks, behind Philadelphia’s Nnamdi Asomugha. Davis was targeted the 10th-lowest rate (72 in 1,025).
Smith allowed 24 completions on those 44 throws, with that 54.5 percent receiver success rate ranking 26th-best among corners. Davis allowed 62.5 percent, which ranked 59th. But Davis allowed fewer yards per catch: 11.8, which ranked 38th, to Smith’s 13.5, which was 68th. Smith was beaten for one score, Davis three.
Smith realized he needed to mature on and off the field after losing his job to Allen last August. “With coaches, it was, ‘When is Sean going to grow up? He’s late to meetings.’ I didn’t take things too seriously. That was the wake-up call I needed. It didn’t hit me that I had to fight for my job every day.”
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