Claiborne benched... Can we finally admit he's a bust?

[NorthwestDallas40]

T

Some people seem quick to jump on this as another Jerry mistake (e.g., Jerry being blinded by "shiny" things, etc.). But I remember hearing at draft time that our scouts had Claiborne rated as the best CB they had rated since Deion. Given that, I wasn't surprised that Jerry wanted Claiborne, thinking he was a sure-fire, no-risk CB starter. Wouldn't it be the scouting department's fault? I know Jerry is the GM and is accountable but if he is acting on the advice of his scouting dept and they are completely wrong, I think re-evaluating our CB scouting may be the first step.

This is a good point, but Jerry was the one who decided to mortgage out draft to get a CB and again ignore the trenches. As you recall, many of us would have been happy with Decastro at 12.

 

[WoodysGirl]

It's really not, bust is of course too strong, but 20 games in and he is what exactly? Not good comes to mind. And why are you # things on the forum?

My thoughts on the guy is that he's not healthy. If he was beasting enough in training camp to the point Dez was hyping him up, then it says to me that that shoulder injury has got him playing timid. Dude has a busted shoulder, but they want him to tackle with it? mmm, yeah, I don't see much success in that.

I'm hashtagging, because I can..

 

[Tabascocat]

Jenkins was so good at coverage his first 2 years that no one would throw at him , those stats are flawed .

I don't know about all of that but Jenkins was better than Mo at that same time-frame in their careers. The stats are flawed but not because Jenkins was so good, heh. There are other factors involved and both were not in the exact same situation.

FWIW, I think this "Wonderlic" test needs re-formatted. There is too much weight put into the results of a test that these athletes are not prepared to answer. Some of the questions are way out there and have nothing to do with football and decision-making skills.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

My thoughts on the guy is that he's not healthy. If he was beasting enough in training camp to the point Dez was hyping him up, then it says to me that that shoulder injury has got him playing timid. Dude has a busted shoulder, but they want him to tackle with it? mmm, yeah, I don't see much success in that.

I'm hashtagging, because I can..

wasn't he out most of camp with a knee issue?

 

[WoodysGirl]

wasn't he out most of camp with a knee issue?

Yep... Started with the knee.. tendinitis or something. And then just as he got healthy from that, he got the busted shoulder. I'd say the most accurate term to call him is fragile. He's yet to play a full season healthy, so while fans can only go by what they see. I question the accuracy of the product we're seeing.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

We got the #1 player on defense (according to our ratings and many other teams' ratings) in a good draft class for essentially a 2nd rounder. The other good news is he was a part of the rookie cap, so we won't get killed cap-wise.

I just don't think corners who can't tackle and don't like tackling are fit for today's NFL.








YR

 

[The Natural]

Mike Jenkins 2008:
1 interception for 23 yards and a TD
4 passes defended
0 fumbles recoveries
19 tackles

Mo Claioborne 2012:
1 interception in the endzone
8 passes defended
1 forced fumble
2 fumble recoveries one for a 50 yard TD
43 tackles
16 assisted tackles

This juncture includes this year pal. Also Jenkins wasn't handed a starting job his rookie season because of his draft spot, unlike Claiborne.

 

[Plankton]

Too early to call him a bust.

It isn't looking good so far, though. What is concerning to me more than anything else is that he has been battling injuries both years. Drafted with a wrist issue, knee issues, now a dislocated shoulder. Guys don't tend to get healthier the longer they play in the NFL, so his health is a concern.

I don't think that a largely zone scheme is a mesh with his talents, but he should be good enough to adapt.

 

[Phoenix]

Maybe OS has just stepped his game up a bit?

Jon Machota ‏@jonmachota
According to @PFF, Orlando Scandrick has allowed only 5.8 yards per reception in his coverage area. That's tops in the NFL.

Retweeted by Clarence Hill

 

[mugsybows]

This juncture includes this year pal. Also Jenkins wasn't handed a starting job because of his draft spot, unlike Claiborne.

you do realize this year is only four games through and hes playing with a separated shoulder. Agree to disagree and like i said i loved Jenkins i was one of the people that wanted him to stay but its unfair to label Mo a bust already, just my opinion.

 

[The Natural]

you do realize this year is only four games through and hes playing with a separated shoulder. Agree to disagree and like i said i loved Jenkins i was one of the people that wanted him to stay but its unfair to label Mo a bust already, just my opinion.

"At some point the injury thing has to leave the scene"

 

[PoetTree]

He had a helluva game against the Rams, and then regressed the next week --just like the rest of the team.
I'm not nearly ready to give up on the guy...

 

[mugsybows]

"At some point the injury thing has to leave the scene"

And it will but when the player is still visibly injured you cant just say that and it automatically vanishes. But Steven believes and says a lot of things i dont agree with. Still waiting for him to open up that bottle of special sauce.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'm curious but what has Mike Jenkins done this year? I haven't heard anything about him. Which could be a good thing from a cornerback position.

 

[Risen Star]

The thing about that pick is I don't believe it ever had a chance to be good. A cornerback simply isn't worth a top 10 overall pick and a 2nd rounder unless he's Deion Sanders and I've only ever seen one of those.

We wasted a lot of resources that offseason. For my money, one of the worst springs in recent memory for the Cowboys.

 

[KB1122]

The trade was the right move. The scouting was poor. Perhaps. It's still early.

 

[ufcrules1]

Why? Scandrick was incredible against Welker the last time they matched up.

He did play Welker pretty good although I do remember him allowing a TD.

 

[arglebargle]

Apparantly, 'real NFL management' favprs CBs drafted over Guards by a 1&1/2-1 to 3-1 ratio in the last six or so drafts. First round corners were much more common than first round guards. Though this last draft was an anomoly.

Interesting enough, DLine (ie pass rushers) are heavily drafted early, despite DT being a position of major bustitude.

Claiborne was drafted after his consensus draft rating, and the trade was considered slanted towards the Cowboys. No telling how much his range of motion is constrained by his shoulder injury/harness. Like a guard with a bad knee, he may not be able to play full strength. I suspect he will be having shoulder surgery as soon as the season ends, and is forgoing it right now.

Injuries play a major role in the NFL. Ask the Giants.....

 

[Zordon]

i've hated it since the moment the trade went down.

 

[Doomsay]

And what would our secondary look like? We're rueing the day of two underachieving 1st round picks?

It would probably look better under any scenario than it looks now and we might have picked up 2 quality starters in the process. I hope that he can can get healthy and produce at a reasonable level, but he just looks like a huge liability given his current condition and demonstrated fragility.