By BRIAN BIGGANE Palm
Beach Post Staff Writer
Cornerback Sean Smith's return to the starting lineup got put on hold Sunday. His return to a prominent role in the Dolphins' secondary did not.
After he replaced Jason Allen in the second half last week against Pittsburgh, it had been anticipated that Smith would start against Cincinnati.
He began the day on the bench. But after Terrell Owens beat Allen on a slant route for a 7-yard TD to cap the Bengals' first drive, Allen was out and Smith was in.
Smith's time to shine didn't come until the Bengals' final snap, but when it did No. 24 came up big, intercepting Carson Palmer on a second-and-10 from the Miami 22 to end Cincinnati's last drive.
"I'm happy for Sean," linebacker Channing Crowder said. "I was asking him all game, 'Who's the best corner in the league? 2-4, 2-4.' Him and Vontae (Davis). I say that all the time to try to get them going."
The interception was the first of Smith's career, although he started all 16 games at right cornerback as a rookie last season.
"That's hard to believe for a guy with his ball skills," coach Tony Sparano said. "But I thought Sean did a good job. Played a good game in there."
Smith lost his starting job to Allen just before the start of pre-season and had been playing mostly as the team's sixth (or dime) back on passing downs before stepping in for Allen last week.
Asked if the interception helped his confidence, Smith replied, "My confidence was already high. I just knew I had to go out and do my job and show the coaches the kind of player I am."
Smith said he anticipated Owens running a deep slant against him on the play and got a lot of help from the pressure the defensive line put on Palmer.
"It definitely forced him to get the ball out quicker than he wanted to," Smith said. "During that drive, the guys up front kept telling the secondary, 'Just hold it down and we're about to make some plays for you guys.'"
Sparano told his defense that he wanted physical play against the Bengals receivers, particularly Owens and Chad Ochocinco.
Linebacker Karlos Dansby knocked Ochocinco out of the game with three minutes remaining. He and Owens combined for eight catches for a modest 99 yards.
Sparano said Smith's "length" -- he is 6-foot-3 -- helped him deal with Owens, who is the same height.
"I noticed five or six times he had good jams on Terrell," Sparano said. "You can't let that guy get going."
