FanPost

Over/Under: Vontae & Sean

[The following is the fourth in a short series of related posts in which I ask the Phinsider community to share its thoughts on the potential 2010 production of key members of the Miami Dolphins]

Part I: Chad Henne / Part II: Ricky & Ronnie / Part III: Brandon Marshall

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The first three installments of the Over/Under series have focused solely on the offensive side of the football, so I thought I'd pull a 180° and consider the defense for a wee bit. So, in today's pass-happy NFL, where better to start than with our two second-year cornerbacks, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith.

It is now pretty clear to Dolphin fans that Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland are keen to doubling down on their target draft positions, and this was really driven home with the selection of both Davis and Smith in 2009. Cornerback was clearly a position of need for the team, and it was expected that one, if not both of them would need to step up and contribute almost immediately. An unfortunate season-ending knee injury to veteran Will Allen made this move look genius in retrospect. They would, of course, suffer their fair share of first year troubles, but on the whole, the pair put together an admirable and promising rookie campaign—Vontae would lead the team with four interceptions and Sean, although void of any picks, certainly used his tremendous size to flash at times. The future appears bright indeed for this tandem.

But how will they shine in 2010? As is the case with many a Dolphin, the biggest concern surrounding Vontae and Sean is whether or not they are ready to take the proverbial "next step". With Miami seemingly ready to compete for a division crown, the play of our two talented, albeit young cornerbacks will certainly be a crux of any successful playoff berth. That being said, let's take a moment to ponder exactly what kind of statistical progress fans can expect out of 21 and 24. But, first, we should consider a few determining factors:

  • Will both Vontae and Sean start in 2010, or can Will Allen successfully rehab himself back into the starting lineup?
  • Can Cameron Wake & Co. put enough pressure on opposing passers to force mistake throws into the secondary?
  • How will the presence and coaching of newly hired defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan, affect the continued development of Vontae and Sean?
  • Will Miami get improved play out of the free safety position this season, perhaps easing the burden placed on its cornerbacks?

Obviously, not one person here can give a 100%, definitive answer on any of these important questions, but there are certainly opinions abound. Thus, I present to you a number of what I consider to be reasonable over/under polls to ponder for the upcoming season. I hope you enjoy, and I look forward to reading your expanded thoughts and justifications in the comments!

1. Over/Under: 5 interceptions for Vontae

2. Over/Under: 5 interceptions for Sean

3. Over/Under: 50% reception rate vs. Vontae

4. Over/Under: 50% reception rate vs. Sean

5. Over/Under: 8 starts at cornerback for Will Allen

[Note: According to ProFootballFocus.com, Darrelle Revis led the NFL in reception rate in 2009 with a 36.9%, while Vontae finished 65th with a 63.2% and Sean finished 36th with a 56.7%]

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Phinsider's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of The Phinsider writers or editors.