Versatile Sapp 'keeps showing up' for Dolphins

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano says that cornerback Benny Sapp is a "pain in the neck.''

And that's a good thing.

Sapp took advantage of the injury-releated absence of veteran cornerback Will Allen last year and filled in admirably in nickel situations while excelling on special teams. He played 16 games, including six starts, and notched 41 tackles with a career-high 10 passes defensed and two interceptions.

"He's a pain in the neck in a good way,'' Sparano said after Wednesday's final training camp practice. "He keeps showing up.

"He was good in the blitz packages last year, he made some plays that way. He shows up in the coverage out there and could do some things on special teams.

"He's got a lot of jobs. It takes a certain type of individual to play in the slot in our league because there's some darn good receivers in our conference, in our division, so he's a guy that has a pretty short memory, he gets in there and really likes to compete, so he's a pain in the neck.''

With Sean Smith and Vontae Davis locked in as the starting corners, Sapp is pushing his mentor, Allen, 33, for the starting nickel job, while fending off young corners Jimmy Wilson and Nolan Carroll.

"I always feel like I'm in a battle,'' said Sapp, who made a diving interception of a John Parker Wilson pass and ran it back 39 yards in Friday's preseason win over Atlanta. "My thing is come out, work hard and do my best.

"It's going to be a pretty difficult decision for the business. Whatever they do, the other players, including myself, will get work somewhere.''

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...notes-0818-20110817,0,4568945.story?track=rss

 

[Vaark]

Glad he's impressing - he's from Boyd Anderson HS in FLL...probably grew up rooting for the Fins. Gotta pull for the local boys so also rooting for UDFA LB Jonathan Freeny from Margate (who happens to be a distant cousin of Dwight) to make the roster.

 

[oasis]

He did not run that INT back 39 yards. Just sayin'...

 

[Slim]

And on that note... we can all say goodbye to Will Allen. At this point, i'd put money on Allen being cut. No doubt about it.

 

[Kdawg954]

I graduated with Benny Sapp in 2000 from BA. Knew him from his days playing with the Lakes Vikings as well. Didn't know Asante Samuel that well but I knew Benny Sapp. Played basketball with him afterschool all the time in middle school. Big track guy also. It's funny I still live directly across the street from Boyd Anderson High School. He was a big Dolphins fan, talked football when others were just interested in him for other things, nothing new there. He's a good guy though . . . glad he is back in his hometown, one thing about Benny, he is going to give it his all, he doesn't get complacent. Not the most physical gifted guy on the football field but he gives a 150% . . . and that is all you can ask. He didn't make it this far based on just physical talent.

 

[MiamiDolphins34]

Why the f. is smith a lock in as the starting cb? Pathetic...we are wasting a pretty good D again.This will be our downfall.

 

[MarshallFin1]

Why the f. is smith a lock in as the starting cb? Pathetic...we are wasting a pretty good D again.This will be our downfall.

Sean smith improved alot last year, my biggest worry with smith is him gettin burnt deep but he has improved in other areas drastically. If sparano is puttin as the starter this early he must like what he is seeing, have some faith, dont be such a downer.

 

[Oraclepz]

Sean smith improved alot last year, my biggest worry with smith is him gettin burnt deep but he has improved in other areas drastically. If sparano is puttin as the starter this early he must like what he is seeing, have some faith, dont be such a downer.

Also improved his tackling... still not the best tackler but I've noticed he sticks his head in a lot more often...

 

[flynryan15]

Benny Sapp sucks! Although I do wish we could put his heart in Corn Row Barbie!

 

[Crzynick25]

Why the f. is smith a lock in as the starting cb? Pathetic...we are wasting a pretty good D again.This will be our downfall.

People keep dogging Smith but he actually had a pretty good year and his Catches against him % was better than Davis and Davis was beat for more TD's to

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.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/31/2338393/dolphins-cbs-davis-smith-ready.html#ixzz1VP3fKWDF