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Updated: August 19, 2010, 7:32 PM
Five For Fighting
Eatman: Saturday's Game Huge For These 5 Rookie DBs
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow nickeatman on Twitter
OXNARD, Calif. - About a week from now, the Cowboys will be preparing to not only break this monster month-long training camp, but head off to Houston for the real dress rehearsal to the season.
That night will be rather electric just because the people in H-town will treat it as the second-biggest game of the season, next to the Sept. 26 regular season matchup down there.
Regardless, it will be important for the Cowboys to see how the starters stack up in extended playing time, which usually goes for a half and sometimes well into the third quarter.
So if that night is big for the starters, then Saturday's game in San Diego is one of the last real opportunities for some of these young players.
Yes, I know about the final preseason game - Sept. 2 against the Dolphins. They haven't cancelled it - not officially anyway. But we all know the goal for that game is to simply go through the motions and stay healthy. Sure, a few players can make a difference, but for the most part, the minds have been made up.
So if the starters hold their dress rehearsal next week, this one against the Chargers should be deemed just as vital for these bubble guys trying to make it.
And while those players are sprinkled all over the roster, let's focus today on the defensive backs. To me, there are five rookies - two cornerbacks and three safeties - who are very much competing for a roster spot and possibly positioning themselves for playing time.
Who knows how much, if any, they will get in that fourth preseason game in Houston? So they have to make this one count.
I've got five rookie defensive backs. Before I get to them, let me also throw in Cletis Gordon, who returns to face his former team in San Diego. Now, he's obviously not a rookie and didn't actually fit into the theme of my story.
But this game is just as important to him, maybe even more than the others. With rookies, you're just looking for potential. You're looking for maybe a handful of plays that show the kid has it. Now what is "it?" That's always debatable. But you want to see if they've got something to work with.
But a guy like Gordon is different. Been around several times before. In some ways, this really could be his last shot, and you've got to give credit to him, he's making the most of it. Wait, let's clarify, Gordon has so far made the most of his opportunity ... in practice. And yes, he's been the practice star of camp, with an interception just about every day.
However, we really haven't seen it yet in a game. In his defense, he got hurt in the second quarter against the Bengals and missed last week's game against Oakland. He really hasn't had the chance to make it happen in the games, but he'll get that chance Saturday night. And Gordon needs to make the most of it.
Because he's got five young defensive backs, two of them cornerbacks, fighting to land a spot. Let's take a closer look at each of the five players and what must happen for them to stick around.
CB Jamar Wall - Draft picks usually have an edge over a rookie free agent, especially if it's a close race. Obviously, the Cowboys aren't afraid to cut draft picks or keep undrafted rookies, but Wall still has the edge at the end of the day. Cutting draft picks admits a mistake. Wall has to make some plays and he really hasn't done it so far. He batted down a pass that should've been intercepted near the end of the Raiders game. That could've helped his cause, but he made the play.
Yet, there just haven't been a lot of them from Wall, who is more of a physical cornerback and uses his strength. He needs a few more plays right now. Even though he's a draft pick, I would guess he could be on the outside looking in.
CB Bryan McCann - Personally, I think McCann has the edge - right now. I think if you had to make a decision you keep him over Wall. He's got more athletic ability, is much faster and quicker, and he can return both punts and kickoffs.
Plus, what's the big difference between a sixth-round pick and a rookie free agent?
Again, with three preseason games to play, it's still up in the air. I would say both McCann and Wall are trailing Gordon at the moment. But all it takes is a few big plays in the games, and everything changes.
And,
Five For Fighting
Eatman: Saturday's Game Huge For These 5 Rookie DBs
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
Email | Follow nickeatman on Twitter
OXNARD, Calif. - About a week from now, the Cowboys will be preparing to not only break this monster month-long training camp, but head off to Houston for the real dress rehearsal to the season.
That night will be rather electric just because the people in H-town will treat it as the second-biggest game of the season, next to the Sept. 26 regular season matchup down there.
Regardless, it will be important for the Cowboys to see how the starters stack up in extended playing time, which usually goes for a half and sometimes well into the third quarter.
So if that night is big for the starters, then Saturday's game in San Diego is one of the last real opportunities for some of these young players.
Yes, I know about the final preseason game - Sept. 2 against the Dolphins. They haven't cancelled it - not officially anyway. But we all know the goal for that game is to simply go through the motions and stay healthy. Sure, a few players can make a difference, but for the most part, the minds have been made up.
So if the starters hold their dress rehearsal next week, this one against the Chargers should be deemed just as vital for these bubble guys trying to make it.
And while those players are sprinkled all over the roster, let's focus today on the defensive backs. To me, there are five rookies - two cornerbacks and three safeties - who are very much competing for a roster spot and possibly positioning themselves for playing time.
Who knows how much, if any, they will get in that fourth preseason game in Houston? So they have to make this one count.
I've got five rookie defensive backs. Before I get to them, let me also throw in Cletis Gordon, who returns to face his former team in San Diego. Now, he's obviously not a rookie and didn't actually fit into the theme of my story.
But this game is just as important to him, maybe even more than the others. With rookies, you're just looking for potential. You're looking for maybe a handful of plays that show the kid has it. Now what is "it?" That's always debatable. But you want to see if they've got something to work with.
But a guy like Gordon is different. Been around several times before. In some ways, this really could be his last shot, and you've got to give credit to him, he's making the most of it. Wait, let's clarify, Gordon has so far made the most of his opportunity ... in practice. And yes, he's been the practice star of camp, with an interception just about every day.
However, we really haven't seen it yet in a game. In his defense, he got hurt in the second quarter against the Bengals and missed last week's game against Oakland. He really hasn't had the chance to make it happen in the games, but he'll get that chance Saturday night. And Gordon needs to make the most of it.
Because he's got five young defensive backs, two of them cornerbacks, fighting to land a spot. Let's take a closer look at each of the five players and what must happen for them to stick around.
CB Jamar Wall - Draft picks usually have an edge over a rookie free agent, especially if it's a close race. Obviously, the Cowboys aren't afraid to cut draft picks or keep undrafted rookies, but Wall still has the edge at the end of the day. Cutting draft picks admits a mistake. Wall has to make some plays and he really hasn't done it so far. He batted down a pass that should've been intercepted near the end of the Raiders game. That could've helped his cause, but he made the play.
Yet, there just haven't been a lot of them from Wall, who is more of a physical cornerback and uses his strength. He needs a few more plays right now. Even though he's a draft pick, I would guess he could be on the outside looking in.
CB Bryan McCann - Personally, I think McCann has the edge - right now. I think if you had to make a decision you keep him over Wall. He's got more athletic ability, is much faster and quicker, and he can return both punts and kickoffs.
Plus, what's the big difference between a sixth-round pick and a rookie free agent?
Again, with three preseason games to play, it's still up in the air. I would say both McCann and Wall are trailing Gordon at the moment. But all it takes is a few big plays in the games, and everything changes.
And,