Cowboys cornerback grades: Why this group will surprise people this season

[phildadon86]

I'm not even too worried about growing pains.

The one young guy I can see forcing his way onto the field early is Awuzie in place of Nolan Carroll. And Chidobe is not a guy that I worry about not knowing his assignment.

I agree, dont be surprised to see Lewis make his case too. The kid has a knack for INTS

 

[Hawkeye19]

I don't consider it "75%" myself. Byron Jones is back at free safety and Anthony Brown and Scandrick return as well.

When Brown started 9 games as a rookie, that's obviously more than the 7 games we got before Claiborne pulled up lame again.

Carr, Claiborne, and Church were all starters on the base D- so yes, 75% of the starters were turned over.

Any way you cut it-- we have a ton of new faces in the secondary and we are asking a lot from rookies and expecting Heath to step up and contribute more than ever before.

I hope everything comes up roses-- but I think there will be some bumps along the way honestly.

 

[DogFace]

I really like the guys we have added-- but I am a realist.

You simply don't turnover 75% of your starting secondary in one offseason without there being a few bumps in the road.

The young guys are definitely athletic-- but they will all take their rookie lumps-- together.

I have a feeling there will be some highlight reel plays where we are ecstatic as well as some frustrating moments where we give up more big plays than we did last year.

The old guys took plenty of lumps too.

 

[Seven]

I really like the guys we have added-- but I am a realist.

You simply don't turnover 75% of your starting secondary in one offseason without there being a few bumps in the road.

The young guys are definitely athletic-- but they will all take their rookie lumps-- together.

I have a feeling there will be some highlight reel plays where we are ecstatic as well as some frustrating moments where we give up more big plays than we did last year.

Thurman Thieves.................Dallas has done this before.

Myself, I just wanted a change and I can agree with the just end it approach. Take our lumps and have them come together as a group.

We had a secondary that was maaaaaybe average at best. Should've been embarrassed to pick up their checks.

Now.....Dallas has some kids that are hungry. I'll take that.

 

[Stash]

Carr, Claiborne, and Church were all starters on the base D- so yes, 75% of the starters were turned over.

Claiborne started 7 games , Anthony Brown started 9 games, so no, not 75%. The guy coming back started the majority of the season.

Any way you cut it-- we have a ton of new faces in the secondary and we are asking a lot from rookies and expecting Heath to step up and contribute more than ever before.

I hope everything comes up roses-- but I think there will be some bumps along the way honestly.

"New faces"? Sure, but it's not like they're going to be putting an all-rookie squad out there.

Brown is a starter with a year's worth of experience in the system, Scandrick is a seasoned veteran, and while Carroll may or may not end up starting, he has started in this league.

 

[Stash]

I agree, dont be surprised to see Lewis make his case too. The kid has a knack for INTS

If he beats out Scandrick? Great. That means he's earned it and not been thrown out there because the team had no other options.

That's what I like about this young group, if they get on the field, they will have earned it, because while the starters may not all be superstars, the Cowboys have options and aren't forced to play the young guys out of necessity.

 

[Stash]

The old guys took plenty of lumps too.

With no upside.

They were what they were, average or injured.

 

[Sydla]

Yes, I am beating that dead horse, but BTB trying to put whipped cream on Carroll has me chuckling a bit.

For one, the notion that he played with drek in Philly is not entirely true. Sure, his CB mates were trash but his safeties - McCloud and Jenkins - were pretty good players. So to try to prop up Carroll by suggesting he was hurt by the system and/or players around him is trying too hard to make him more than what he is - a very average CB.

Awuzie is the one that has me fired up. I am really hoping that he can lock down one outside CB spot with Brown at the other spot. Scandrick and Lewis then playing mostly slot, etc.

 

[Stash]

Yes, I am beating that dead horse, but BTB trying to put whipped cream on Carroll has me chuckling a bit.

For one, the notion that he played with drek in Philly is not entirely true. Sure, his CB mates were trash but his safeties - McCloud and Jenkins - were pretty good players. So to try to prop up Carroll by suggesting he was hurt by the system and/or players around him is trying too hard to make him more than what he is - a very average CB.

Awuzie is the one that has me fired up. I am really hoping that he can lock down one outside CB spot with Brown at the other spot. Scandrick and Lewis then playing mostly slot, etc.

That's my ultimate hope as well.

And I think Heath will be a bigger playmaker at safety than Barry Church ever was.

 

[Sydla]

That's my ultimate hope as well.

And I think Heath will be a bigger playmaker at safety than Barry Church ever was.

Heath is an interesting watch for sure. I have no idea what to expect. My guess is he's probably better in coverage than Church and gives Marinelli the flexibility he showed his last few years in Chicago to be able to use safeties interchangeably, but likely not as solid against the run.

I can live with that if that's what turns out to be the truth.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

As much as I thought the unit wasn't bad last year, I have a feeling we will look in back in December laughing about how much consternation we had over the young secondary.

 

[Stash]

Heath is an interesting watch for sure. I have no idea what to expect. My guess is he's probably better in coverage than Church and gives Marinelli the flexibility he showed his last few years in Chicago to be able to use safeties interchangeably, but likely not as solid against the run.

I can live with that if that's what turns out to be the truth.

I'm thinking the same.

 

[Proof]

It's amazing. The guys that everyone wanted gone are now irreplaceable after they're gone.

that's such a simplistic and fairly disingenuous interpretation. we all wanted the secondary improved upon. we all had issues with the guys we had. i don't think anyone would have bat an eye at any of them leaving, or all of them leaving eventually. all at once is a bit problematic simply because some form of continuity is important and rookies and young guys have a steep learning curve. not to mention the influx of receiving threats in our division. ideally we have the same draft we had but still have one or two of the guys who left, to reinforce the group and assist in the turnover of the secondary.

 

[Stash]

that's such a simplistic and fairly disingenuous interpretation.

But accurate.

we all wanted the secondary improved upon. we all had issues with the guys we had. i don't think anyone would have bat an eye at any of them leaving, or all of them leaving eventually. all at once is a bit problematic simply because some form of continuity is important and rookies and young guys have a steep learning curve. not to mention the influx of receiving threats in our division. ideally we have the same draft we had but still have one or two of the guys who left, to reinforce the group and assist in the turnover of the secondary.

So you wanted what they did, but you wanted it the way you wanted it. You wanted to pull the bandaid off slowly rather than all at once.

None of the players who left is a big loss, they were either average or unreliable. Two thirds of the nickel corners who need the season starting are back in Brown and Scandrick and either Carroll or Awuzie can provide the average play they got from Carr.

Last year's group had their best season in Dallas - across the board. Every single one of them had their best season in Dallas. That's not coincidence, that's good coaching. Good coaching that's still in place and coaching up the new talent the team drafted.

And none of the young guys needs to be forced onto the field, so if they get there, it will be a result of earning it, not because the team had to play them.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Claiborne started 7 games , Anthony Brown started 9 games, so no, not 75%. The guy coming back started the majority of the season.



"New faces"? Sure, but it's not like they're going to be putting an all-rookie squad out there.

Brown is a starter with a year's worth of experience in the system, Scandrick is a seasoned veteran, and while Carroll may or may not end up starting, he has started in this league.

Claiborne was having a pro bowl year before he got hurt... Brown is solid-- but while he is more durable than Claiborne-- he is not better than Mo is when Mo is healthy. At least not yet.

Scandrick is a 10 year vet that hasn't looked good in 2 years and is pretty injury prone at this point.

Carroll was toasted quite a bit in Philly and signed for a modest contract here. Is he better than Carr? Maybe a "push" there-- but at least Carr played every game, knew the system, and never got a DUI.

All I'm sayin is that we got a lot of question marks in the secondary this year-- and while I'm excited about who we have added-- I'm not overlooking the fact that we lost some solid (if unspectacular) players and we may feel that down the line as new players adjust.

 

[Hawkeye19]

The old guys took plenty of lumps too.

For sure... BUT-- they played well as a unit last year. Not great at turnovers but really limited the big plays that killed us in the past.

Ended the year in the worst possible way though lol

 

[Hawkeye19]

Thurman Thieves.................Dallas has done this before.

Myself, I just wanted a change and I can agree with the just end it approach. Take our lumps and have them come together as a group.

We had a secondary that was maaaaaybe average at best. Should've been embarrassed to pick up their checks.

Now.....Dallas has some kids that are hungry. I'll take that.

I'm up for the group to grow together 100%... and I think we will see some better playmakers as they come together than we have had in years.

Willing to take the lumps... just not drinking the kool aid that somehow the secondary is not going to miss a beat (or three)

 

[Proof]

But accurate.



So you wanted what they did, but you wanted it the way you wanted it. You wanted to pull the bandaid off slowly rather than all at once.

None of the players who left is a big loss, they were either average or unreliable. Two thirds of the nickel corners who need the season starting are back in Brown and Scandrick and either Carroll or Awuzie can provide the average play they got from Carr.

Last year's group had their best season in Dallas - across the board. Every single one of them had their best season in Dallas. That's not coincidence, that's good coaching. Good coaching that's still in place and coaching up the new talent the team drafted.

And none of the young guys needs to be forced onto the field, so if they get there, it will be a result of earning it, not because the team had to play them.

no. what I want is a far cry from anything that's been done or will be done. Fans have pie in the sky hopes. the only time I have any angst about my wants it's when we're on the clock in a draft. there's no "the way i wanted it" for the roster decisions, it's what is practical and logical. i'm not talking about a bandaid being pulled off slowly, my interest was never in running anyone out of town, just in improving the secondary in general, and i don't see how gaining the guys we got and keeping some of the guys we lost wouldn't accomplish that. *shrug* i also didn't say anything about the young guys being forced onto the field, i'm not sure why you're bringing that up. it's a wierd kind of point though, that somewhat reinforces mine, if we still had church, or carr, or claiborne, the young guys could unseat them as well and we'd be better for it. all good though, just stop trying to spin what people are saying. you can want guys gone or improved on in general and be nervous about a mass exodus in one offseason

 

[Stash]

Claiborne was having a pro bowl year before he got hurt... Brown is solid-- but while he is more durable than Claiborne-- he is not better than Mo is when Mo is healthy. At least not yet.

"When Mo is healthy" is a fantasy. It doesn't exist. It's like chasing a unicorn. The guy has barely played in half of the games since he was drafted.

Scandrick is a 10 year vet that hasn't looked good in 2 years and is pretty injury prone at this point.

He's the same guy who was out there last year, now a full year removed from his knee injury.

Carroll was toasted quite a bit in Philly and signed for a modest contract here. Is he better than Carr? Maybe a "push" there-- but at least Carr played every game, knew the system, and never got a DUI.

I'd settle for a "push" if need be. Best case, Awuzie is better and beats him out for that job. But it's nice to know that the team doesn't have to rely on the rookie and have options.

All I'm sayin is that we got a lot of question marks in the secondary this year-- and while I'm excited about who we have added-- I'm not overlooking the fact that we lost some solid (if unspectacular) players and we may feel that down the line as new players adjust.

We may have new faces, but I don't see "question marks" like I've mentioned, we're not forced to play any of the rookies if we don't want to. And the guys that left town just didn't make plays.

And the faith I have in the same coaches who got the best out of the guys that left, gives me confidence that the rookies will be getting quality coaching too.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I have to chuckle every time I hear someone downgrade the Cowboys because they lost most of their secondary to free agency. While it is true they lost most of their secondary, the truth is, the quality they they lost was minimal.

The quality we lost was success in the redzone. The CBoys were #1 in redzone d on the road, and around middle of the pack at home. That's what those vets brought. Rookies will struggle at times in the redzone without that experience, but hopefully they just keep getting better as season goes on.