Absolutely horrible performance right there.

 

Didn't see the game, but I saw that play. Dreadful, good word for it. What a poor decision that was.

 

Sean Smith's hands and tackling ability are horrible. For a big guy, he is soft. Aside from our O-line, my second biggest worry is our secondary.

 

the 2 players i've been most hard on are Carey and Smith .... Carey was discussed in another thread ....

Smith does get lauded a lot here .... but i thought Carroll would unseat him this year -- that is not likely the case, but still believe either he or Wilson will by next year. this regime likes Smith a lot in the nickel ..... as do i, due to his length ... but as a corner, i think he is highly over-rated based on some sideline highlight plays.

 

I could not disagree more. Smith worked his *** off last off season to add 10 pounds of muscle in order to be better at tackling. It paid off in that he only missed 3 tackles all of last year. VD missed 13 to make a comparison. Yet, some want to blast him for missing a PRE-SEASON tackle. Absolutely amazing.

Last week, Fasano sucked in some fan's minds for dropping a PRE-SEASON pass, while only dropping 2 all of last year, compared to Marshall's 13.

I would strongly suggest that some posters look at what our players have done for our team overall, and not target a mistake in a meaningless PRE-SEASON game. JMO

 

It's amazing how people pile on Smith when he has been far better in coverage than Vontae. Yes Vontae is more aesthetically pleasing to watch but Smith is the more effective corner right now.

 

As Revis said, "The tape doesn't lie." I just hope the Defense plays better when it counts.

 

With Henne playing well, some have to find someone else to pick on, a very disappointing negative nature of the beast, and I do not refer to Marshall.

 

I made a bet that we will beat Revis for at least one big play this coming season with a Jet's fan. I really think it will be more than one but, Jettie accepted just one. It may be Gates, a la Ginn, Hartline, or the Beast, who is looking MUCH better. I like my chances.

 

Smith only missed 3 tackles last year? Where did you get this? Just wondering....

That's pretty impressive, but maybe a bit circumstantial. Maybe Davis was targeted more? Maybe Davis, being around the ball more, has more opportunities for misses? Also, Smith was used more in covering TEs last year. Tight Ends generally do not have the juke of a wideout.

Vontae, sometimes, goes for the big hit rather than the sure tackle. He pops people, and needs to sometimes just make the tackle rather than going for the big hit.

My problem with Sean Smith is his body control. He is a BIG CB, and sure as hell plays like one in the open field. Guys can make moves on him. Davis definitely has him beat in that department.

Although your stats are impressive, Davis is a much better athlete. Stats do not always tell the big story. Maybe Davis came from the other side of the field to try make a hit? Davis is definitely around the ball more often than Smith, giving him the opportunity for more misses.

 

I dont get the hate. Yes, he should of went for the tackle and he screwed that play up, you really going out of your way to bash him for one play? Should I create a thread for every time he didn't allow a catch (first two games).
His rookie year Sean refused to tackle. He was chewed out on regular basis and last year he came out and tackled well. Now, he is no Bob Sanders, but he goes for the tackle so you cant hold that against him.

 

He's entering his third season in the NFL and aside from the interception in the Bengals game last year the kid has done NOTHING. I'm not trying to rag on him or over exaggerate his short comings. He has seriously done NOTHING. And yet he's beloved by so many people. I don't get it.

 

That was from PFF, although I'm sure NFL and ESPN will agree, based on how they also ranked Smith very high.

I am not disputing what Davis did, just that Smith CAN tackle. IF anyone can show me that he cannot, other than a missed tackle in PRE-SEASON, I'm all ears and eye's. :)

 

How has he done nothing. He regularly shut people down last season once he got in the starting line up. Sean has hit some rough spots and I haven't always been a supporter of the pick, much less his play. But he proved to me his ability last season.

 

I might suggest watching games more closely, and targeting Smith's play. IF you do so, there is a fair chance that you just may get it. :)

 

Here's a very general question for this forum. I have seen many posts about how this Dolphin player sucks, and that one cannot do this or that, and that others have done nothing.

With exceptions, a lot is based on a play or two, going along with other negative comments, or just a lack of knowledge which is easily accessible for anyone on line.

I have noticed that most posters, posting some positive stuff, have backup to what they are saying in stats and what they have seen. Negative posts, with some exceptions, don't seem to have the same.

Why is that?

 

Sure he plays tight coverage and from time to time has the ability to shut a guy down. But at the same time the kid can't make a play to save his life. He can't tackle, he can't hold onto interceptions and he's scared to get physical with guys. When more excuses are made for him than plays are made by him there's an issue.

 

I want to watch him play more this year. He supposedly has better focus and has "grown up". We'll see soon enough. For the record, I like him I just commented on his play on That play.

 

That's not entirely true. There's plenty of sunshine and rainbow threads with no factual basis. If you go through my post history you'll see that I'm pretty level headed, not a knee jerk "this guy sucks" type of guy. But if you want stats, here's the stats: 1. That's how many interceptions Sean Smith has in 2 years. I mean, hell, Sparano benched him last year cause he wouldn't tackle and couldn't make a play in the secondary. The kid's heart has never been in the game. Until that changes he'll never be anything special.

 

So you base your thoughts on a CB on interceptions?

 

So you base your thoughts on a post by just one sentence in it?

 

Smith is actually a very good shutdown corner. Opposing QB's tended to avoid throwing at Smith's direction. He doesn't get many interceptions (Hit the jugs machines Smith!) but Sean Smith does knock down a lot of balls.

 

All you keep saying is he doesnt make plays and can't tackle. Then you question his INT #s. I'm asking you how you judge CBs, because you seem to think Sean isn't very good despite him shutting down people last year and tackling well...

So other then Smith tackling, which he proved last season he could do, what is it you have against SS?

 

It was a general question, not directed at you. As to this debate, J Allen started because Smith had a tuff time in picking up what Nolan was doing. Nolan gave Allen the nod, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Sparano, he wouldn't make tackles, and couldn't make plays in the secondary.

IF this were even remotely true, he would have been benched in the second half of the season, and not the first. Did you know that? If so, how can you possibly explain it.

I do enjoy reading most of your posts but, every once in a while, you do go off for little or no reason. :)

 

I find that to be generally true, not just here, but everywhere. I saw a study once where self-described optimists and pessimists (often the pessimists called themselves realists) were asked to read a story or sequence of events and then relate what happened and if it was good or bad. What they concluded was that pessimists tended to focus on just the negative news and ignore the positive information while optimists tended to mention both the positive and negative information. In other words, the optimists tended to have a more complete sense of reality than the pessimists. I see the same trend here. People who are being negative seem likely to cite one stat as their "proof" and ignore everything else. The optimists, outside of a few cheerleader types, tend to post more complete comparisons using other players and several stats.

 

Oh no, Sean Smith whiffed trying to tackle a 250 lb RB, cut him! Who gives a ****. He's a CORNERBACK not a linebacker. As long as he can cover WR's, which he does a damn good job of by the way, I could give 2 ****s if he doesn't offer us run defense from the cornerback position. All of that is extra as far as I'm concerned. You want to ***** about something, ***** about dropped interceptions.

 

That is a very fair shot R&R. Smith dropped at least 6 or 7 picks which he should never had done. In that regard, HE SUCKED, and has claimed that he never had that problem, and that there is no way it will happen again.

Bell had like 11 missed tackles, after only one the year before, and that SUCKED. Marshall had 13 drops, and that SUCKED. Our RB's last year SUCKED. Clemons was bad in coverage, and that SUCKED.

I am, in no way, against taking justifiable shots at our players but, doing so with little or no reason bothers me.

 

I'll say this about Smith and Vontae. When the starters were playing how many completions did Freeman make to WRs? And when he did, how many were for more than 7-8 yards? Think about that, for a while, it seemed like Williams and Benn had sat the game out. When it comes to covering WRs ..... Smith is awesome, and getting better, as is his counterpart. Did he mess up on this one particular play? But by all other CB measures, he had an awesome game!

 

He's getting his hair did and shutting down WRs.

 

He missed the tackle and when he caught back up he went for the ball. I see nothing wrong with going for the ball. Hell, I bet Blount would have carried Smith 15 yards before the rest of the team caught up anyhow...

Smith and VD are two very good corners and I can't see why either one would be a worry for anyone.

 

He took a swing at the ball trying to make a play. It worked on Marshall, just didn't work on Blount.

 

Last year, Smith was thrown at 44 times. He gave up 24 catches for 325 yards, 1 TD, 137 YAC, had 1 pick, and 3 MTs.
Revis was thrown at 57 times, 22 catches, 369 yards, 3 TD's. 132 YAC, 0 picks, and 3 missed tackles.

Granted that Revis was not himself after the holdout but, was still VG, and Smith was about the same as he was.

 

His play has been up and down but I thought he played better after getting benched last season,now if he could just hang on to some of those interceptions we wouldn't be having this discussion.

 

Rankings, although a good gauge on where a player/team is, are subjective. And of course, Smith can tackle. He is just not a sure tackler, and because of his height, tends to drag down players instead of making good form. He did, however, come back nicely after the Jason Allen situation.

I do not doubt Smith has gotten better at tackling, but, as shown last night, his tendency is to tackle high. And I do not care who you are, it's just not happening against Blount. And he does have that issue, along with his body control. It's simply because he is a big guy who does not bend at the knees and wraps up his opponent. Missed tackles or not, the guy does not have the form tackling of some other guys, and he may never be that guy simply because of his size. Unlike Vontae, who will throw his body in there and stop AP on a 4th and goal.

Smith is definitely stronger at the LOS, where he can use his size to his advantage. And if he can alter a receiver's route just a bit, advantage Smith. And Smith is bigger than most wideouts, so he can make those tackles up high against them. But in run support, the guy is simply not that good. Sure, he may throw his body in there, but it's generally a poor effort while he waits for backup.

In saying that, Smith is not that guy anyway. It's difficult for a QB to throw a ball Smith's way when he has his guy covered decently simply because of his size.

 

Who cares if the guy can do his job and lock down opposing WR's. He whiffed on a 250 lb runningback, cut the guy immediately. Cornerbacks are not supposed to cover opposing WR's, their sole purpose on the field is to stop the run...

 

What really gets me is everyone *****es about Sean Smith's tackling, when it was Vontae and his 9 missed tackles last year that looked like the worse tackler...