Confidence in Claiborne? 'Well, he's there'

[RS12]

IRVING, Texas -- Cornerback Morris Claiborne played poorly last season, missed the entire preseason due to injuries and has said he will need a pain-killing shot to his right shoulder before playing in Sunday’s season opener.

What gives the Dallas Cowboys confidence in Claiborne?

“Well, he’s there,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “He’s our starting corner. That’s the confidence. He’s gotta go do it.”

Quite a ringing endorsement for the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft, right?

Marinelli isn’t the kind of coach who massages a player’s ego just for the sake of being polite. The fact of the matter is that Claiborne hasn’t done anything to merit much confidence since the Cowboys traded their top two picks for the right to move up eight spots to select him.

A sprained AC joint in his left shoulder impacted Claiborne’s performance all last season, forcing him to wear a harness and undergo offseason surgery. He’s recovering from the same injury to his right shoulder, although this isn’t as serious and won’t require Claiborne to wear a harness.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4733047/confidence-in-claiborne-well-hes-there

 

[ZappaFrank]

Oh dear.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Claiborne and Carter should have been 2 impact defenders for us,,, where did it all go wrong?

 

[brymatt94]

Claiborne and Carter should have been 2 impact defenders for us,,, where did it all go wrong?

With Claiborne, this is his third year, the three year rule applies in my opinion. I don't know what to think about Carter, the scheme change seems to have hurt his progress. Right now for the defense's sake, lets hope he can improve as the Sam backer.

 

[RS12]

“Well, he’s there,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said

So is a speed bump.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Claiborne and Carter should have been 2 impact defenders for us,,, where did it all go wrong?

its mental , carter lacks desire , and claiborne just doesn't seem very smart. Great athletes done equal great football players. Thats something Jerry Jones fails to always see.

 

[revospeed]

its mental , carter lacks desire , and claiborne just doesn't seem very smart. Great athletes done equal great football players. Thats something Jerry Jones fails to always see.

Yet how quickly some downplayed Claiborne's porous Wonderlic score to an extreme level. Yeah, we know that if you score really well on it that you're not guaranteed a spot in Canton and if you do really bad on it you're doomed as a player. However, I think we can all agree that scoring low on it is a definite red flag and shouldn't be brushed off as inconsequential.

 

[kevm3]

carter looked completely different under rob ryan. Changing coordinators and defensive schemes has carter out of his element.

 

[Idgit]

Betcha that quote sounds a lot different in audio.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I am fine with how Marinelli motivates his players. He was hard on Coleman too after that first game. He played well the next.

He talked up Dixon and now he isn't on the team. Go figure.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Yet how quickly some downplayed Claiborne's porous Wonderlic score to an extreme level. Yeah, we know that if you score really well on it that you're not guaranteed a spot in Canton and if you do really bad on it you're doomed as a player. However, I think we can all agree that scoring low on it is a definite red flag and shouldn't be brushed off as inconsequential.

Claiborne has been tissue paper versus the run, hurt regularly with joint problems and he got beat repeatedly by Riley Cooper his rookie season but in actual coverage he has been pretty good when he has been in there most of the time. He didn't take the test from what I understand due to a learning disability. He has issues reading. That doesn't make him incapable of being coached. It does mean that it helps to have a staff like what Calvin Hills has to help young men like Mo.

His body is incapable of handling the rigors of the NFL. No reason to hate him even if it is a very good reason to not seek to resign him.

 

[AKATheRake]

Mo will play well this year if he can play through the pain. I'm surprised we're letting everyone know he needs a shot in his shoulder.

We kept most of our starting defensive players out of practice this season if we saw any ailments.

 

[xvendettax914]

Rods right. So what? You roll with what you got.

 

[Stash]

Claiborne and Carter should have been 2 impact defenders for us,,, where did it all go wrong?

I think the switch to the Tampa 2 defense has had a significant negative impact on both.

 

[chagus]

I think the switch to the Tampa 2 defense has had a significant negative impact on both.

Woodson and Sanders would kill no matter what defense. Players make plays. ... not excuses.

 

[chagus]

The fact that we are worried about Claiborne at this point Is enough to know hes weak. I hope he proves us wrong but right now, its looking crappy.

 

[Cumart21]

Betcha that quote sounds a lot different in audio.

I totally agree. Most people make it "sound" however they want.

 

[Alexander]

Claiborne and Carter should have been 2 impact defenders for us,,, where did it all go wrong?

We looked at the athleticism and overlooked the lack of intelligence.

 

[Bullflop]

Regardless of what's being said by anyone, Morris simply needs to put on his big boy pants and suck it up. Everyone was on his bandwagon when they thought he'd be "the 2nd coming of Deion." Now that reality has set in, everyone's on his case. I doubt he planned it this way, it just happened. Realistically, it's not too late.

This year should be a pivotal one for him and his career. The challenge for him lies ahead -- for his sake and the team's, let's just hope he'll make the best of it. I'll; be pulling for him. And you? Honestly, I believe that was Marinelli's message. It was an honest and truthful one, that;s for sure. Time for Mo to produce like he has in the past at Bama. Good luck with that.

 

[Blackspider214]

Claiborne and Carter should have been 2 impact defenders for us,,, where did it all go wrong?

Both of them were overhyped. Especially Claiborne.