Sean Smith on his play.

Kudos to saying what he did wrong but I'd prefer he just not talk about mistakes. Put it behind himself and just go out there and do better. You've got to have a short memory as a cornerback. He's got a lot of talent and I still don't think he's been as bad as some have said, but he does need to do better. He now knows that you can't turn your head until you're inphase with the wide receiver. That is taught to every cornerback in every NFL camp, every HS practice. He needs to know that stuff. However, I'm confident he'll learn it. He's still learning and he's starting. Him and Vontae have a lot to learn. Both guys have had struggles.

I would love to think that too, but I just don't. To me the bigger issue on that TD was he appeared to be in press coverage and gave Hurd a totally free release. Hurd got immediate separation and the play was timed perfectly. Considering that mistake within the 1st 5 yards, Smith actually stayed relatively close and almost recovered less the little glitch he mentioned. But you just can't let a guy off the line that easy. Or if it wasn't press and you do plan on letting a receiver streak down the field, you need way better route recognition and hip turn when you start running with him...

Yeah. Saw the video interview of this one. They seem to have cleaned it up, as all I remember hearing was cursing and what I could only make out as the word "amberlamps"

SS24...Get your game right brother...focus in, and play the game like your 5 foot 10..

The difference with Vontae, however, is that while he got burned just as much, he also made a number of big plays in coverage (picks) and he's really good in run support.

Smith did not make those same kinds of plays in coverage and his run support... I just don't know. Couple his poor play with our weakness at free safety... it's my biggest concern going into the year. I have JB Brown flashbacks every time I see a pass in Smith's direction.

"alen1 wrote:

Kudos to saying what he did wrong but I'd prefer he just not talk about mistakes. Put it behind himself and just go out there and do better. You've got to have a short memory as a cornerback. He's got a lot of talent and I still don't think he's been as bad as some have said, but he does need to do better. He now knows that you can't turn your head until you're inphase with the wide receiver. That is taught to every cornerback in every NFL camp, every HS practice. He needs to know that stuff. However, I'm confident he'll learn it. He's still learning and he's starting. Him and Vontae have a lot to learn. Both guys have had struggles.

"SF Dolfan wrote:

I would love to think that too, but I just don't. To me the bigger issue on that TD was he appeared to be in press coverage and gave Hurd a totally free release. Hurd got immediate separation and the play was timed perfectly. Considering that mistake within the 1st 5 yards, Smith actually stayed relatively close and almost recovered less the little glitch he mentioned. But you just can't let a guy off the line that easy. Or if it wasn't press and you do plan on letting a receiver streak down the field, you need way better route recognition and hip turn when you start running with him...

It was press-bail technique and Man-Free. Sean turned his head early. He is right, he was not inphase.

"SF Dolfan wrote:

The difference with Vontae, however, is that while he got burned just as much, he also made a number of big plays in coverage (picks) and he's really good in run support.

Smith did not make those same kinds of plays in coverage and his run support... I just don't know. Couple his poor play with our weakness at free safety... it's my biggest concern going into the year. I have JB Brown flashbacks every time I see a pass in Smith's direction.

Yeah, he hasn't made big plays but he doesn't allow a ton of completions. They both have their ups and downs IMO.

True on Sean not being as good as Vontae in run support, but he has improved.

I took snapshots, here.

Press-bail at the line, turns and runs, bumps the wide receiver with his hands, turns his head early and is a step behind. That does it.

I thought the coverage on that TD was very good. It was only completed b/c it was a perfect pass. There is no defense for a perfect pass. If he covers well enough to force a perfect pass all year then I think we'll be very happy with his play. And while I agree that he turned his head back early, I actually prefer that he do that rather than turn too late, which I thought he did a few times last year.

Thanks for the pics alen. I just think the bump was soft to the point of virtually non existent. If he slows Hurd down for even a split second, the timing is off and there's no TD. That play was timed PERFECTLY and the pass thrown PERFECTLY. You really can't defend against that at the time of the catch. You can, however, disrupt the receiver just enough at the line to throw that timing off. That's my point.

"alen1 wrote:

I took snapshots, here.

Press-bail at the line, turns and runs, bumps the wide receiver with his hands, turns his head early and is a step behind. That does it.

"rafael wrote:

I thought the coverage on that TD was very good. It was only completed b/c it was a perfect pass. There is no defense for a perfect pass. If he covers well enough to force a perfect pass all year then I think we'll be very happy with his play. And while I agree that he turned his head back early, I actually prefer that he do that rather than turn too late, which I thought he did a few times last year.

I want to see him be very physical at the LOS..Use your physical advantages when you can, and when it comes to his, getting his hands on the guy, and using your huge frame to impede the route.

"djphinfan wrote:

I want to see him be very physical at the LOS..Use your physical advantages when you can, and when it comes to his, getting his hands on the guy, and using your huge frame to impede the route.

Raf will stick up for Sean till the day he dies bless his heart. SS already admitted it was HIS fault. He got blown by at the line, was out ran, looked back too early and it resulted in a TD.

I dont mean to hate on S Smith, but once in a while you need to step into reality.

"Mcduffie81 wrote:

Raf will stick up for Sean till the day he dies bless his heart. SS already admitted it was HIS fault. He got blown by at the line, was out ran, looked back too early and it resulted in a TD.

I dont mean to hate on S Smith, but once in a while you need to step into reality.

The reality is that he was shoulder to shoulder with Hurd and that if the pass wasn't perfect it wouldn't have been completed.

"rafael wrote:

The reality is that he was shoulder to shoulder with Hurd and that if the pass wasn't perfect it wouldn't have been completed.

Ok so there was no mistake made on that particular play? He didnt just mention his mistake himself? Were all seeing things?

He got roasted on the play. It was a good pass yea, but that doesnt account for the fact he was too late in getting there. Do you remember the PI shortly after that play when they saw the blood in the water and went after him in coverage?

Hes been a hot topic of discussion all around here and you continue to defend his every action. I want him to succeed too, but cmon. Stop acting like hes something great because of the stats you've read.

BTW look at Alens 2nd screenshot, thats not shoulder to shoulder.

Sometimes you gotta step back and admit that the other guy just made a great play.

On that play it was beautiful coverage up until the end he tried to just run under it when he needed to stick his hand up or jump and knock that ball away.

"Pandarilla wrote:

Sometimes you gotta step back and admit that the other guy just made a great play.

That was not perfect coverage. Hes getting burned deep, and often enough for it to be a concern. Im not calling him a bust.

Watch that play a few more times, and then the PI that follows, then the Roddy White play against the Falcons. I dont know what else to say...I hope he proves to be a solid #2 corner.

"rafael wrote:

The reality is that he was shoulder to shoulder with Hurd and that if the pass wasn't perfect it wouldn't have been completed.

He was not shoulder to shoulder. He was not in phase. He got beat because of a mistake on his part. He KNOWS he's not allowed to turn his head early and he did.

"Mcduffie81 wrote:

That was not perfect coverage. Hes getting burned deep, and often enough for it to be a concern. Im not calling him a bust.

Watch that play a few more times, and then the PI that follows, then the Roddy White play against the Falcons. I dont know what else to say...I hope he proves to be a solid #2 corner.

I think he should be fine. Both of the guys are raw and both have technical flaws. Vontae doesn't always turn his head around, instead he tries to read eyes. I've seen him do that going back to his Illinois days. In zone, he does not always stay disciplined. For Sean, he's still learning cornerback. This will be his fourth year playing it and it's clear he hasn't picked up everything yet. Maybe he will, maybe he won't.

I'm not sticking up for any single player, here. I'm just trying to look at it from a level headed view, which I'm not saying you aren't.

"RickyBobby wrote:

On that play it was beautiful coverage up until the end he tried to just run under it when he needed to stick his hand up or jump and knock that ball away.

This. I also though he had a chance to jump and knock the ball away, but he just never did.

"gandalfin wrote:

This. I also though he had a chance to jump and knock the ball away, but he just never did.

yep, and that is what irritates me the most about him. Great athlete but when it comes time for him to make the play his feet and hands appear to be stuck in elmers

"rafael wrote:

I thought the coverage on that TD was very good. It was only completed b/c it was a perfect pass. There is no defense for a perfect pass. If he covers well enough to force a perfect pass all year then I think we'll be very happy with his play. And while I agree that he turned his head back early, I actually prefer that he do that rather than turn too late, which I thought he did a few times last year.

"Mcduffie81 wrote:

Ok so there was no mistake made on that particular play? He didnt just mention his mistake himself? Were all seeing things?

He got roasted on the play. It was a good pass yea, but that doesnt account for the fact he was too late in getting there. Do you remember the PI shortly after that play when they saw the blood in the water and went after him in coverage?

Hes been a hot topic of discussion all around here and you continue to defend his every action. I want him to succeed too, but cmon. Stop acting like hes something great because of the stats you've read.

BTW look at Alens 2nd screenshot, thats not shoulder to shoulder.

How can you even ask that question when I specifically stated what I thought he did wrong on that play?

And I don't base my analysis just on what I've read. That would be as silly as basing my analysis solely on a handful of plays that I see and ignoring the rest. I base my analysis on what I've read and what I've seen. Your analysis seems to be based on a system that ignores 95% of the plays since you don't see them and then becomes so biased that you can't even admit when a CB is shoulder to shoulder with a WR. If Smith or any CB has positioning like that all year then they will have a great season.

And yes I saw the PI. I just don't agree it was a blood in the water thing. If it were then they would have targeted him repeatedly and that simply didn't happen.

I've stated repeatedly that both Davis and Smith played poorly last year but they they have so much undeniable talent that you have to let them develop. I've only defended Smith against inaccurate representations that Davis played better last year. The fact of the matter is Davis was targeted more, beaten more and allowed more TDs last season despite starting fewer games.

Most yardage allowed by CBs, 2009
Player Rec. Yards TDs
Derek Cox, Jaguars 64 951 8
William James, Lions 64 906 9
Vontae Davis, Dolphins 46 902 7
Ike Taylor, Steelers 63 899 3
Chris Johnson, Raiders 47 857 5
Bryant McFadden, Cardinals 61 803 3
Nick Harper, Titans 58 799 5
Domonique Foxworth, Ravens 53 772 4
William Gay, Steelers 63 745 2
Ronald Bartell, Rams 52 736 5
Sean Smith, Dolphins 35 729 4
Source: Stats Inc.

"alen1 wrote:

I think he should be fine. Both of the guys are raw and both have technical flaws. Vontae doesn't always turn his head around, instead he tries to read eyes. I've seen him do that going back to his Illinois days. In zone, he does not always stay disciplined. For Sean, he's still learning cornerback. This will be his fourth year playing it and it's clear he hasn't picked up everything yet. Maybe he will, maybe he won't.

I'm not sticking up for any single player, here. I'm just trying to look at it from a level headed view, which I'm not saying you aren't.

:up: I agree with you. Im not hating on him. I personally think Vontae has shown alot more ability, and think he has alot more potential. But we all need, and want Sean Smith to succeed as well.

Feels like people choose sides of one or the other, and tend to favor them when watching what has unfolded. Theres no way I can agree with it only being competed because it was a "perfect pass".

I know I seem to be piling on, but if you notice Hurd had the whole outside cleared if the pass happened to be thrown there. The ball didnt have to be thrown in that EXACT spot. Sean wasnt using the sideline as his friend while escorting him downfield in this case.

"rafael wrote:

I thought the coverage on that TD was very good. It was only completed b/c it was a perfect pass. There is no defense for a perfect pass. If he covers well enough to force a perfect pass all year then I think we'll be very happy with his play. And while I agree that he turned his head back early, I actually prefer that he do that rather than turn too late, which I thought he did a few times last year.

I think that if Smith didn't go for the interception and went for the ball he would have had a better chance of breaking up the pass.

Also he could have pulled his hand down on the ball after the ball was completed and knocked the ball out that way.

The pass was a perfect pass, however Smith could have made a better decision and break up that play