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Vontae Davis thoughts?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by mbmonk, Aug 18, 2009.

  1. mbmonk

    mbmonk I have no clue

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    After watching the game on a grainy, low resolution live stream (which I am very thankful for BTW), I am a bit concerned about what I managed to make out of Vontea Davis.

    The play that was especially concerning was the one where the Jags threw the screen pass that went for a TD and was called back because of a penalty. The camera angle suggest that Davis didn't really make an effort. If that is the case then that is a bit alarming.

    If you aren't willing to give an effort when you are battling for a starting spot, when will you? Most 2nd stringers are going all out when they get in a game trying to get that starting spot. He hasn't achieved Randy Moss or T.O. status where they take off plays and they get away with it. Those two are elite players in the NFL. Vontea hasn't even proven to be the 3rd best corner on the team yet, and he is going through the motions?

    I will watch the game tonight in the proper manner ( the television broadcast, not the live stream ) and see if that was the case, but if it is the case then Vontea being the nickle back is the the most I can expect this year. They might be able to motivate him in the short term until the maturity switch goes off in his head; that will solve it long term. Not sure though.

    Hopefully I am wrong. I am really pulling for this young man. :up:

    What are your thoughts on Davis's play in the first game?
     
    RickyNeverInhaled likes this.
  2. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

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    he needs time to develop
    I see a lot of the young Jason Allen in him (Jason looked strong in the game)
    may be a deveopmental project
    looks like: Smith & will Allen so far
     
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  3. mbmonk

    mbmonk I have no clue

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    From what I could tell Jason Allen looked much better than Green, but you are right. He just needs time, luckily Smith seems a bit more 'ready' to seize the opportunity thankfully. We really need a rookie to step in and play well at that position this year.
     
  4. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I just think he needs to get checked by his teammates in the locker room and he should be good to go, he didnt get beat last nite from a physical standpoint, he just needs to learn that hes playing with men, not boys, i liked the way he closed on the receiver when he got the flag, and i saw him break on the running back comin off the edge and stick the carrier..
     
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  5. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I think that nickel back is the most that you can expect from him this year. I said since before the draft that Smith was a far better CB and nothing has happened since to change my mind. Davis has had and continues to have maturity issues. I don't know that it's possible to predict when a player like that will figure it out. He is still an awesome physical talent and he's a terror in run support but he needs to work on his technique and not just rely on that talent.

    I think he could be pretty effective punishing guys in the slot this year although I expect that we'll suffer through many more PI penalties. He seems to get grabby when he loses focus.
     
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  6. firedan

    firedan Well-Known Member

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    He was awful.
    Reality set in for him today and he has to get better.
     
  7. mbmonk

    mbmonk I have no clue

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    I bet he is hating having to watch that film w/ the coaches. I know I would not be looking forward to that :)
     
  8. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    Vontae seemed a little too amped. That first penalty on the Kick Catch Int. was a mental error brought on by his adrenaline. I know the knock on him coming out was that he took plays off, I don't see that as being an issue with this regime. He definitely needs to improve, and I think the competition with Smith will help.
     
  9. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    Davis did have a lot of nice tackles and looked good on run support. I wouldn't say he looked awful. Just not very good.
     
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  10. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    It looked like on that first penalty he was doing the practice thump from TC. And I don't think he takes plays off from a physical stand point. He just loses focus.
     
  11. Agua

    Agua Reality: Try It!

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    He needs to calm down and get focused. It's just going to take a while with him.
     
  12. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    The interesting thing is, the player who got in his face wasn't Y Bell, it was Gibril Wilson, he let him know that he needs to tighten up his game.
     
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  13. Stitches

    Stitches ThePhin's Biggest Killjoy Luxury Box

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    That's because Gibril Wilson is the man.
     
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  14. BuckeyeKing

    BuckeyeKing Wolves DYNASTY!!!!

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    Well wasn't happy with the pick but surely he can make a impact a Dime CB his rookie year.
     
  15. dolfan94

    dolfan94 New Member

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    They were ripping him pretty badly this morning on QAM
     
  16. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

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    he desrves it & it' all a part of the game
     
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  17. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    He is immature. We knew that when we took him. Its going to take time, but the kid will be a player eventually.
     
  18. Drowning

    Drowning ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH

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    I'd have to go back and take a second look but I remember commenting on what idiots the commentators were for bringing up the play you mention above because by the time it would've taken Davis to fight off the block, the runner would've already been in the endzone regardless. Could he have atleast made a fight out of it? Sure. And you'd like to see that. But to bring negative attention to your first round pick for a play that was going to have the same end result is, in pure South Florida fashion, ridiculous.
     
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  19. HardKoreXXX

    HardKoreXXX Insensitive to the Touch

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    He would've in all likelihood still scored, true. But If he can't get off the block there what if he has to get off one at midfield? Doesn't really matter where the block occurred, he still needs to do a better job of fighting them off. That will come though.
     
  20. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    I was very disappointed with his performance. I thought he showed a real lack of maturity, and he just seemed over matched at times. Smith looked head and shoulders better (pun intended). That we're having this kind of conversation about our first round draft pick is very discouraging.

    Having said all that, I recognize it was his first game as a pro. And, nerves and adrenaline were likely factors (as is the rookie learning curve). So, I'm willing to give him a mulligan. But, man oh man...this kid needs to smarten up.
     
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  21. Dolphin1184

    Dolphin1184 Member

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    It was awesome watching the leadership of this team (Gibril Wilson) let him have it when he made that stupid mistake.
     
  22. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    Perfect example is when Troy Williamson caught the tipped pass on the slant route. Davis had him locked down and then he let up for a quick second and paid for it.
     
  23. Sethdaddy8

    Sethdaddy8 Well-Known Member

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    I liked what I saw. He learned lessons monday night. he has a ton of confidence and ability. he made dumb mistakes, and backed down on a goal-line collision that would've rendered him concussed, but he didnt actually play poorly imo. i think he shows tons of potential as a ball hawk, and has the moxy and athleticism to play one of the toughest positions in this game very well.
     
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  24. PhinsRock

    PhinsRock Premium Member Luxury Box

    He proved one thing to me last night: he is a rookie. Sean Smith proved another thing: he is currently not playing like a rookie. As disappointed as I was in Vontae, I was even more gratified by the play of Smith. Vontae will be our nickel CB this season IMHO, and that's probably the best place for him, just the kind of athleticism needed to smack the crap out of guys like Wes Welker, and the speed to cover them.
     
  25. Rick 1966

    Rick 1966 Professional Hipshooter

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    I didn't like what I saw, but it's early. He still has a lot of chances to improve. That said, I was a bit leery about the pick, but I will reserve judgement until I see a lot more of him.
     
  26. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    I couldn't agree more. I meant to mention that in my post, matter of fact. Maybe he made an impression on the rook.
     
  27. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    Wilson is a leader....good to see

    Davis is in mature and over confident

    He's a project and will not start
     
  28. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I thought he lost focus earlier on that play. It looked to me like Williamson had beaten him pretty well. If the QB had gone to Williamson directly it would have been a completion. And frankly I don't consider Williamson to be all that good of a route runner.
     
  29. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    We may be thinking of different plays or we saw it differently. I don't remember Williamson beating Davis on that play. I remember Davis jamming him well and then the pass was tipped, then Williamson proceeded to drop to the ground and catch it. Right after that, the commentator mentioned what I saw as well.
     
  30. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I know the play and I heard what the announcers said. They said he "relaxed", but if you watch the replays they showed during the review you'll see that he got spun before that. They engaged in some hand fighting off the line and then right before Williamson went to cut inside he pushed Davis' hand off him. Davis ended up facing the sideline as Williamson turned towards the middle of the field. Then Williamson pulled up b/c he saw the pass go to the other WR. This allowed Davis to catch up. Then Davis "relaxed" and Williamson went and got the tip.

    And that wasn't the only play Davis got beat either. In the third quarter Bowman over threw a flag route out of bounds. As the camera tracked the ball though you saw that Underwood had beaten Davis by at least two steps.

    It was just not a good showing by Davis.
     
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  31. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    You're right, my bad.
     
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  32. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    No worries man. I re-watched the play just now to verify I had it right.
     
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  33. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    :up:
     
  34. jetssuck

    jetssuck I hear Mandich's voice...

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    I think it's up to the coaches, Parcells, leaders on the team and etc to climb up this guy's rear and stay there until he gets his head on straight....we can't afford for him not to pan out. In fact, we desperately need him to get it together enough to competently man the 3rd corner spot this season.

    Personally, I'd like to see the depth behind Will Allen, Sean Smith and Davis......on the field as little as possible. :wink2:

    I think this situation requires an urgent response. The quicker you make it known to him that he WILL grow up or else, the better chance this guy reaches his potential.

    Not to mention the quicker I can sleep at night without waking from nightmares of seeing Eric Allen on the wrong end of a ESPN highlight clip. Good lord is that guy bad....:sad:
     
  35. Rocky Raccoon

    Rocky Raccoon Greasepaint Ghost Staff Member

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    Why is everyone so worried about him? He's a rookie who just played his first preseason game. Sure, he made some errors, but they will be corrected and he'll get better.
     
  36. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    People want perfection from all rookies the first time they step on the field.
     
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  37. alen1

    alen1 New Member

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    I didn't think anyone was worried? I thought they were simply discussing Davis' mistakes? That's what I was doing at least.....
     
  38. Rocky Raccoon

    Rocky Raccoon Greasepaint Ghost Staff Member

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    I don't know man. It's not just in this thread but since the game was played a lot of people seem to be in a state of panic over him.
     
  39. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Some are even calling Vontae a "bust" after a single preseason game..
     
  40. rafael

    rafael Well-Known Member

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    I think it's only those that thought he was going to be a stud right out of the gate. Most of those that watched him play in college realized his game had some obvious deficiencies. My highest expectation for him was that he would compete with Green or Jones for the #3 CB spot this season. That expectation hasn't changed.
     

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