From the WTF Files:

[TonyB0D]

Breaking news:

Sparano names Jason Allen as starter opposite Vontae.

[Tepop84]

well sean smith sucks, what do you expect?

[JVides]

I will say this:  Jason Allen is physical as hell.  Davis & Allen will be hell in run support...

Relax, Tepop...Smith will be fine.  If he fails at corner, then I see a 6'4" safety coming right up.

[Tepop84]

oh good, i was hoping that we would get a safety who gets burnt and never gets any turnovers.

[Brian Fein]

I applaud this move.  Jason Allen has skills.  I don't know why everyone is so down on him.  He's done nothing but make plays for this team.

Like Ted Ginn, its not his fault he was drafted in the first round.

[bsfins]

I'm half on board with Jason Allen starting,I've never seen him afraid to stick his head in there to make a tackle (he's played mainly special teams),continuing with "We want to be a physical team". I think he's got ok ball skills (if memory serves me from a few years ago),but I question his cover skills....I can't see Sean Smith covering slot guys though....

[Pappy13]

I don't look at this as a permanent move, it's just till Smith get's his head straight.  Last year the kid was better just playing on instinct, this year he's thinking too much.  Maybe a demotion is just what he needs.  Besides it was only preseason, let's see what happens when the games start for real.

[Phishfan]

^^^ This move is for when games are for real. There is no more preseason.

[dolfan13]

well hopefully he's ready because the offense is going to throw to the guy he is covering on every pass play.

[Pappy13]

^^^ This move is for when games are for real.

Which is based on preseason play for both players.  I'm not convinced that it will stay that way for long unless Allen performs well and if he does, so be it.

It's also possible that this move is based on the defense that Miami will play.  Allen might be more of a press/blitz CB than Smith.  We haven't seen the real defense that Miami is gonna play once the games count.

[Landshark]

The question is, has Allen's play really improved or has Smith been playing so bad that they're benching him until he gets his act together?

[Pappy13]

The question is, has Allen's play really improved or has Smith been playing so bad that they're benching him until he gets his act together?

It's a bit of both, but probably more than latter than the former.