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Before the dead zone is over and the Cowboys head out to Oxnard, we ask if they have improved from 2015 to 2016?
[After that disastrous 2015 season, that saw the Cowboys go 4-12 thanks to the injury bug, we are going to examine the entire roster from top to bottom and ask:
Have the Dallas Cowboys improved?
That may seem like a loaded question but in terms of looking inside and out and taking every variable into the equation that question can be answered. Do you believe that the Cowboys improved from one year to the next?]
One of the favorite topics of the offseason has been at cornerback. From looking at every affordable cornerback in free agency to being spurned by one they thought they had. Even looking at possibly Jalen Ramsey, a fan favorite from this year's draft. The Cowboys have looked and looked, but have they improved?
Last Season:
RCB - Morris Claiborne (started 11 games, recorded no interceptions)
LCB -Brandon Carr (started all 16 games, recorded no interceptions)
CB - Deji Olatoye (started two games, recorded 1 INT)
CB - Terrance Mitchell (appeared in three games, 1INT, cut June 8th)
This Season:
SCB - Orlando Scandrick
RCB - Brandon Carr
LCB - Morris Claiborne
CB - Josh Thomas (fifth-round pick for Cowboys in 2011, re-signed in offseason, 1 career INT)
CB - Deji Olatoye
CB - Anthony Brown (sixth-round pick in 2016)
CB - Arjen Colquhoun (UDFA from Michigan State)
CB - Isaiah Frey (three-year NFL veteran, former sixth-round pick for Bears)
CB - Jeremiah McKinnon (UDFA from Florida International)
CB - Dax Swanson (UDFA in 2013, bounced around six practice squads, won SB with Patriots)
Where to begin? Let's start at the bottom where you have four guys that will be hard-pressed to make the roster right out of the gate. These guys will see preseason time but it's hard to see any of the UDFA's making the roster other than a potential practice squad position.
Anthony Brown is intriguing because he fits the size and measurables that the Cowboys look for in a cornerback but as a sixth-rounder, that hardly says he makes the team. He's really going to have to find a role on special teams or it may not work out in Dallas. Brown is fast and strong as he ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and put up 19 reps on the bench.
The Cowboys really like Deji Olatoye and thought that his competitiveness at the end of the season showed that he has the potential to develop into something more. Still, he's got a lot of work ahead of him but could be a backup option. The same goes for Josh Thomas, who was with the Cowboys before. He's likely nothing more than a backup cornerback option.
Morris Claiborne was re-signed on a one-year deal and he's saying and doing all the right things in the offseason. He's got his weight up to 195 and hopes to have a really good year for the Cowboys but it remains to be seen. He still has injury concerns that haven't left him yet though it is a good sign that he's not rehabbing anything this offseason. Everyone would love to see Mo succeed but he's got plenty of skeptics.
Brandon Carr hasn't recorded a single turnover for the team in two seasons. He lowered his cap number this offseason for the Cowboys and plays every single game. There is a difference in playing and playing well. The Cowboys need Carr to be on the right side of the play instead of being posterized by the Odell Beckham's of the world. He's been moved to the right side, where he believes he'll be more successful. We'll see if it makes a difference.
Orlando Scandrick is probably the team's best cornerback when he's healthy and the Cowboys are glad to have him back. Although he's admittedly a grouch, he's a fiery competitor and there is no doubt that the defense is better with him in the fold. However, he's still coming off a torn up knee and though his prognosis is good, it takes some time to get acclimated to playing football again. The Cowboys sure hope that he can do big things for them this season. Lord knows they need something to go right on this defense.
So, did the Dallas Cowboys improve at cornerback?
Other than the fact that they have a lot of middling talent and added a draft pick, there is truly no way you can say yes to improvement. Sure, they will get Scandrick back but how quickly does he make that impact for them. They wanted to sign a veteran cornerback and it didn't work out. They may re-visit that before or after training camp. There are just far too many questions at this position and none of them have clear answers.
Poll
Did the Dallas Cowboys improve at cornerback?
- Yes
- No
2 votes | Results
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