October, 26, 2012
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas – When the Cowboys opened the season against the New York Giants with a win, they received some breaks.
Giants WR Hakeem Nicks was coming back from a stress fracture in his foot that knocked him out for most of training camp, and Victor Cruz had three drops and two penalties.
Cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne will face a bigger test Sunday at Cowboys Stadium than they did opening night at MetLife Stadium.
Cruz has 50 catches for 627 yards and seven touchdowns. Nicks, who has missed three games, has 22 catches for 346 yards but has yet to reach the end zone.
In the opener Cruz had six catches for 58 yards and Nicks had four catches for 38 yards.
“They have playmakers,” Carr said. “They have guys who can stretch the field. They have a quarterback who can make pretty much any throw on the field. That’s the difference right there. We have to just hone in on our responsibilities and our techniques and make sure we stay on top of these receivers and force them to push the ball in front of us and come make the tackles. Keep the deep ball off our head this week, something we’ve been harping on for many weeks now.”
Claiborne had his first pick last week at Carolina, but also gave up a touchdown. Does he think he will see a different Nicks Sunday than he did in September?
“I’m not sure what they’re going to on that end or what they’re going to do with Nicks, but I know what I’m going to do,” Claiborne said. “I’m just going to go out and play football.”
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas – When the Cowboys opened the season against the New York Giants with a win, they received some breaks.
Giants WR Hakeem Nicks was coming back from a stress fracture in his foot that knocked him out for most of training camp, and Victor Cruz had three drops and two penalties.
Cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne will face a bigger test Sunday at Cowboys Stadium than they did opening night at MetLife Stadium.
Cruz has 50 catches for 627 yards and seven touchdowns. Nicks, who has missed three games, has 22 catches for 346 yards but has yet to reach the end zone.
In the opener Cruz had six catches for 58 yards and Nicks had four catches for 38 yards.
“They have playmakers,” Carr said. “They have guys who can stretch the field. They have a quarterback who can make pretty much any throw on the field. That’s the difference right there. We have to just hone in on our responsibilities and our techniques and make sure we stay on top of these receivers and force them to push the ball in front of us and come make the tackles. Keep the deep ball off our head this week, something we’ve been harping on for many weeks now.”
Claiborne had his first pick last week at Carolina, but also gave up a touchdown. Does he think he will see a different Nicks Sunday than he did in September?
“I’m not sure what they’re going to on that end or what they’re going to do with Nicks, but I know what I’m going to do,” Claiborne said. “I’m just going to go out and play football.”
