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Can the Cowboys' cornerbacks get on the ball?
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
With the Dallas Cowboys set to open training-camp practices Saturday, here is the first of a position-by-position look at their roster:
CORNERBACKS
Returning players: Orlando Scandrick, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Deji Olatoye, Josh Thomas.
Gone from last season: Terrance Mitchell.
New this season: Anthony Brown (sixth-round draft pick), Isaiah Frey (free agent), Dax Swanson (free agent), Arjen Colquhoun (undrafted free agent), Jeremiah McKinnon (undrafted free agent).
Position coach: Joe Baker (fifth season with the Cowboys, first as secondary coach).
Deji Olatoye celebrates his interception last year with head coach Jason Garrett. Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Biggest issue: The cornerbacks combined for two interceptions last year. One came from Olatoye, who spent most of the year on the practice squad. The other from Mitchell, who was cut in the offseason. They have to find a way to make plays on the ball in 2016. A better pass rush will always help, but the Cowboys’ pass rush does not look to be in a good way at this juncture. Scandrick has never had more than two picks in a season in his career. Carr hasn’t had an interception since Thanksgiving 2013. Claiborne has three interceptions in his career. They have to do things they have not done.
Player to watch: Claiborne, the Cowboys’ first-round pick in 2012, signed a one-year deal as a free agent with the hopes of being able to play well and cash in next year. He had one of his best offseasons in part because he was not recovering from surgeries. He was able to train for football. He has the tools to be a good corner, but he has yet to put it together. If he can carry over what he did in the spring to the summer, then he could play his way into the starting lineup over Carr, who moved to the right cornerback spot in the offseason.
Medical report: Scandrick missed last season with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. He did not take part in team drills in the organized team activities and minicamp but he is expected to be ready to go. The Cowboys may choose to work him in slowly the first few days but there have been no hiccups in his recovery.
Play it out: Byron Jones is now a full-time safety but the Cowboys will always have the flexibility of having him play some cornerback, which can help them in how they set up their roster. Keeping five corners is a general rule, however, the Cowboys once went into a season with only three. Their top three corners are set, but the final two are open with Brown and Olatoye getting the early edge. McKinnon could sneak into the picture because of his skills, even if he doesn’t run great.
Notable number: Eight. The Cowboys had only eight interceptions last season. Only the Baltimore Ravens (six) had fewer last season. You have to go back to only 2012 to find a season in which the Cowboys had fewer interceptions, when they had seven.
Quote board: “I knew all along when I got hurt this was a 12-month process for the type of injury I had. By the grace of God I’ve been able to be ahead of schedule on everything. You’d hate to get so far then get out there a little too early and suffer any kind of setback that would be a lingering problem. Once I get to the season I expect to be a full participant. I expect to play 16 games. I expect to practice every day. I don’t want it to be one of those things you’ve got to manage to get to the game and then in season you have to skip all the practices because your knee’s tired. I think the plan in place is great.” – Scandrick on his return.
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
With the Dallas Cowboys set to open training-camp practices Saturday, here is the first of a position-by-position look at their roster:
CORNERBACKS
Returning players: Orlando Scandrick, Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne, Deji Olatoye, Josh Thomas.
Gone from last season: Terrance Mitchell.
New this season: Anthony Brown (sixth-round draft pick), Isaiah Frey (free agent), Dax Swanson (free agent), Arjen Colquhoun (undrafted free agent), Jeremiah McKinnon (undrafted free agent).
Position coach: Joe Baker (fifth season with the Cowboys, first as secondary coach).
Deji Olatoye celebrates his interception last year with head coach Jason Garrett. Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Biggest issue: The cornerbacks combined for two interceptions last year. One came from Olatoye, who spent most of the year on the practice squad. The other from Mitchell, who was cut in the offseason. They have to find a way to make plays on the ball in 2016. A better pass rush will always help, but the Cowboys’ pass rush does not look to be in a good way at this juncture. Scandrick has never had more than two picks in a season in his career. Carr hasn’t had an interception since Thanksgiving 2013. Claiborne has three interceptions in his career. They have to do things they have not done.
Player to watch: Claiborne, the Cowboys’ first-round pick in 2012, signed a one-year deal as a free agent with the hopes of being able to play well and cash in next year. He had one of his best offseasons in part because he was not recovering from surgeries. He was able to train for football. He has the tools to be a good corner, but he has yet to put it together. If he can carry over what he did in the spring to the summer, then he could play his way into the starting lineup over Carr, who moved to the right cornerback spot in the offseason.
Medical report: Scandrick missed last season with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. He did not take part in team drills in the organized team activities and minicamp but he is expected to be ready to go. The Cowboys may choose to work him in slowly the first few days but there have been no hiccups in his recovery.
Play it out: Byron Jones is now a full-time safety but the Cowboys will always have the flexibility of having him play some cornerback, which can help them in how they set up their roster. Keeping five corners is a general rule, however, the Cowboys once went into a season with only three. Their top three corners are set, but the final two are open with Brown and Olatoye getting the early edge. McKinnon could sneak into the picture because of his skills, even if he doesn’t run great.
Notable number: Eight. The Cowboys had only eight interceptions last season. Only the Baltimore Ravens (six) had fewer last season. You have to go back to only 2012 to find a season in which the Cowboys had fewer interceptions, when they had seven.
Quote board: “I knew all along when I got hurt this was a 12-month process for the type of injury I had. By the grace of God I’ve been able to be ahead of schedule on everything. You’d hate to get so far then get out there a little too early and suffer any kind of setback that would be a lingering problem. Once I get to the season I expect to be a full participant. I expect to play 16 games. I expect to practice every day. I don’t want it to be one of those things you’ve got to manage to get to the game and then in season you have to skip all the practices because your knee’s tired. I think the plan in place is great.” – Scandrick on his return.
