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Dolphins rookie cornerbacks still share duty

DKphin

DKphin

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DAVIE - Splitting time is fine with rookie cornerbacks Sean Smith and Vontae Davis, who shared the burden almost equally in their regular-season debut against the Atlanta Falcons.

That's good because Dolphins coach Tony Sparano isn't looking to end the unusual arrangement next Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts.

"I'm not really in a hurry to do that right now," Sparano said Wednesday. "I kind of like seeing both of them play. I think they're both good players. I'm not in a hurry to do it, but if it happens because one guy just completely takes it over, that's the way it goes."

Smith, a second-round draft pick from Utah, took over the starting spot from veteran Eric Green a week into training camp and relinquished it only briefly due to illness. Davis, a first-rounder whose health had been in question after tweaking his left knee in the preseason finale, wound up taking a few more snaps than Smith against the Falcons.

"If I'm just looking out there and I'm thinking, 'There's no way I can leave this guy off the field,' then that's what we'll do," Sparano said. "Until then I think I'll rotate them."

Smith played the first two series, making him the first rookie cornerback to start in Week 1 for the Dolphins since Don McNeal in 1980. The two rookies rotated every two series thereafter.

A poor throw from Matt Ryan saved Smith from giving up a touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins on the second series, but he recovered to break up several passes, including a near interception on a deep ball to Roddy White early in the third quarter.

"I thought they both played pretty well during the course of the game," Sparano said of his rookie corners. "Made a couple technical errors. Sean got beat early in the game, which we've talked about. Somebody's going to go after him ever game and test him."

This was a double move or "sting" route that got Smith turned around.

"He'll learn from that," Sparano said. "Those are going to be part of the growing pains. I liked both their looks during the course of the game. Never rattled. No mental errors, either one of them. Both probably played 30-plus plays, were sound from a mental standpoint and I thought competed."

Davis avoided any particular mishaps in the opener. His highlight came when he planted Jenkins for a three-yard loss on a completion early in the fourth quarter.

"I felt like I tackled well," Davis said. "You can always get better. Being a rookie, you've got to learn. Take baby steps and every game gets better and better."
Click to expand...
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-dolphins-rookie-cornerbacks-091609,0,2745868.story
 
Smith played the first two series, making him the first rookie cornerback to start in Week 1 for the Dolphins since Don McNeal in 1980.
Click to expand...
I don't remember right now. But didn't Troy Vincent start when he came in ?

I know he started in his rookie season. Just not sure about week 1.

BTW, 1980 is a long time to not have a rookie corner start right away. If true, it just shows how bad our drafting has been.
 
They both played fairly decent for it being their first game. Made some mistakes that i can remember. If i went back and watched it again id prob be able to point them out specifically but one that i do remember blatantly is the one Sparano mentioned in that article. Other than that i dont really recall anything too bad that they did.
 
From the Int that I thought Sean had it seems he might have Chris Chambers syndrome.
He makes the superman catch and lets that one go through his body.
We ended up with better field position anyway.
If in 2-3 years our db's are Smith and Davis I dont think anyone will complain about that
 
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