Cowboys: Scandrick and Jenkins to split time this season

[Arch Stanton]

Weak non-decision from a weak HC.

 

[Nav22]

Since Jenkins has prototypical size for the position, and Scandrick has prototypical skills for covering the slot, it's not really that hard to figure out what the team's trying to do.

1) Scandrick and Jenkins are both 5'10" and both weigh in the 190-195 range. So if Jenkins has the prototypical size, so does Scandrick.

As for physicality, I was thrilled when I saw Jenkins fly to the ball a few times vs. San Francisco for solo tackles from his CB spot. Didn't know he had it in him. Scandrick made plays like that all last year, though. There's no question Scandrick is up to the challenge physically.

2) Scandrick will be manning the slot no matter who starts in the base defense. That's not the argument. The argument is who should start when they're in base D, opposite Newman.

why would we suddenly care what round a player is drafted when it comes to CB? Especially when both players are playing well?

Money.

If Jenkins is relegated to only playing in sub packages, he's still making 1st round money.

If Scandrick is the starter and shines, his services will demand a wealthy new contract at some point.

Then you'd have 2 young CBs making a ton of money (not to mention Newman).

So financially, it's in the best interest of the Cowboys for Jenkins to shine as a starter, rather than Scandrick.

Of course, they want to play whoever gives them the best chance to win. But if you've been following the 1st team snaps this offseason, it's pretty clear who the Cowboys prefer to be the starter. And it's not that difficult to figure out why.

 

[Hoofbite]

This argument never makes any sense to me whatever. For a team starting a FA QB, a 4th round RB, with a 7th round probowl NT, a 7th round convert at WR, third round all-pro TE, why would we suddenly care what round a player is drafted when it comes to CB? Especially when both players are playing well?

Since Jenkins has prototypical size for the position, and Scandrick has prototypical skills for covering the slot, it's not really that hard to figure out what the team's trying to do. Especially if they think Jenkins is going to get even better with experience, you can see why they'd want to play him.

I'd be shocked if something as silly as draft status has ever been considered by anyone on the staff. Honestly, I don't even understand the logic behind thinking ego enters into the discussion. They're all Cowboy players. I don't thin anyone cares two or three years down the road which player worked harder to improve themselves with the opportunity they received.

For that matter, they may have had Scandrick much higher on their evaluation of his talent but slotted him as a lower round pick because of his size or attitude, knowing it was a safe bet that he'd be on the board longer.

All things being equal, who do you start? The guy with the big paycheck or the guy with the little paycheck?

And this situation is different from all those others in that there was never another play drafted at that position in the same draft. Also, all those players you mentioned have played far and away better than anyone put in front of them. That is why they are starting.

Jenkins hasn't done that in large part because Scandrick is playing well.

So, at the end of the day if these players are truly just neck-and-neck, do you let the big paycheck and higher pick sit on the bench or do you put him on the field?

 

[adzrne7]

Has Scandrick ever gave up a big play?

 

[Idgit]

All things being equal, who do you start? The guy with the big paycheck or the guy with the little paycheck?

And this situation is different from all those others in that there was never another play drafted at that position in the same draft. Also, all those players you mentioned have played far and away better than anyone put in front of them. That is why they are starting.

Jenkins hasn't done that in large part because Scandrick is playing well.

So, at the end of the day if these players are truly just neck-and-neck, do you let the big paycheck and higher pick sit on the bench or do you put him on the field?

All things being equal, you want your cheapest players playing more because it gives you more flexibility in managing contracts down the road. For any single given year, it doesn't matter to you since the player personnel costs are sunk anyway. But in this case, all things are not equal. They're weighing factors of size and skill and experience and trying to get the best combination on the field for the next couple of years. If you can do that by developing Jenkins in the position he's best suited for, great. If not, then they'll sit him. Either way, it doesn't have anything at all to do with Jerry Jones' ego in regards to draft position, of all things.

 

[Hoofbite]

All things being equal, you want your cheapest players playing more because it gives you more flexibility in managing contracts down the road. For any single given year, it doesn't matter to you since the player personnel costs are sunk anyway. But in this case, all things are not equal. They're weighing factors of size and skill and experience and trying to get the best combination on the field for the next couple of years. If you can do that by developing Jenkins in the position he's best suited for, great. If not, then they'll sit him. Either way, it doesn't have anything at all to do with Jerry Jones' ego in regards to draft position, of all things.

No team likes to see a 1st rounder on the bench. If possible, they play him.

 

[Idgit]

No team likes to see a 1st rounder on the bench. If possible, they play him.

Bobby Carpenter thinks that's total BS.

No team likes to see a first round pick not pan out, but that's not what we're talking about with Jenkins at all.

And no team cares about not playing an inferior player when there's a superior player from a lower round to take their place. There is zero reason to weaken your team just because of how your scouts ranked a player coming our of college a couple years prior. That doesn't make any sense at all.

 

[TwentyOne]

http://cbs11tv.com/cowboys/dallas.cowboys.right.2.1163340.html

Cowboys: Jenkins, Scandrick To Split Right Corner

CBS 11 Sports has learned that Cowboys coaches have sat down with cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick Thursday, telling the two players what the plan will be at right corner to start this season.

Jenkins and Scandrick have been battling since May for the starting position.

The plan, as the coaches told the men, is that they will alternate the two each week as the starter. The players will be platooned through the season.

During the 16-game season Jenkins will start for the team in week 1 at Tampa Bay. Scandrick will start against the Giants in the Cowboys home opener week 2.

CBS 11 Sports talked to both after the coaches decision Thursday. Scandrick called it a good solution, Jenkins said "they want to keep the battle going apparently."

Both were told that if one of them gets hot and does particularly well the team will use that player more.

Assistant Secondary coach Brett Maxis says they didn't feel it was fair to name a clear-cut starter.

The Cowboys are in Minneapolis for their final pre-season game, against Brett Farve and the Minnesota Vikings. CBS 11 will carry the game live Friday night at 7 pm.
---------------------------------

Wow.

Just talked about this on DCFanatic Radio the other night with Bryan Broaddus because I remember Brad Sham mentioned it during the 49ers game as a pssibility.

Broaddus said Sham is definitely in the know so it could happen.

I don't know how I feel about this decision just yet.

WoW. Great decission. If this was Wade's then i take my hat.

This will have both being motivated throuout the season. Otherwise the risk of a downer would have been really big.

 

[stilltheguru]

Has Scandrick ever gave up a big play?

Has Jenkins? This whole situation is BS. Jenkins should be starting because they have played equal up to this point and hes the first round pick. If Scandrick wanted to be the starter he shouldve been making plays like that rookie for the Dolphins.

 

[SaltwaterServr]

LOL

So Jenkins gets to face the Buccaneers and Byron Leftwich, but Scandrick faces Eli and the Giants.

I'm kidding. Just thinking X's and O's on this.

yeah, I wonder which of the Giant's stable of #3 WRs trying to be fake their way as a legit #1 has Wade up at night worried.

 

[Hoofbite]

Bobby Carpenter thinks that's total BS.

No team likes to see a first round pick not pan out, but that's not what we're talking about with Jenkins at all.

And no team cares about not playing an inferior player when there's a superior player from a lower round to take their place. There is zero reason to weaken your team just because of how your scouts ranked a player coming our of college a couple years prior. That doesn't make any sense at all.

Bobby Carpenter also sucks.

And I guess we have to agree to disagree. I think paycheck is the only thing keeping Jenkins from being slid down to #3

 

[Nav22]

I think paycheck is the only thing keeping Jenkins from being slid down to #3

I concur, but I'd also like to add in that it's not because Jenkins is doing poorly.

Jenkins is doing well... but Scandrick just had a terrific rookie year.

 

[stilltheguru]

If Mike wants that job he better do something week 1 because they aren't throwing Newmans way, and Roy isn't here anymore to get picked on. They're coming for you Mike!

 

[Idgit]

Bobby Carpenter also sucks.

Spencer, then.

And I guess we have to agree to disagree. I think paycheck is the only thing keeping Jenkins from being slid down to #3

You're probably right: we'll have to agree to disagree. But there's still no logical connection at all between the size of the paycheck and any starting position.

 

[dbair1967]

http://cbs11tv.com/cowboys/dallas.cowboys.right.2.1163340.html

Cowboys: Jenkins, Scandrick To Split Right Corner

CBS 11 Sports has learned that Cowboys coaches have sat down with cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick Thursday, telling the two players what the plan will be at right corner to start this season.

Jenkins and Scandrick have been battling since May for the starting position.

The plan, as the coaches told the men, is that they will alternate the two each week as the starter. The players will be platooned through the season.

During the 16-game season Jenkins will start for the team in week 1 at Tampa Bay. Scandrick will start against the Giants in the Cowboys home opener week 2.

CBS 11 Sports talked to both after the coaches decision Thursday. Scandrick called it a good solution, Jenkins said "they want to keep the battle going apparently."

Both were told that if one of them gets hot and does particularly well the team will use that player more.

Assistant Secondary coach Brett Maxis says they didn't feel it was fair to name a clear-cut starter.

The Cowboys are in Minneapolis for their final pre-season game, against Brett Farve and the Minnesota Vikings. CBS 11 will carry the game live Friday night at 7 pm.
---------------------------------

Wow.

Just talked about this on DCFanatic Radio the other night with Bryan Broaddus because I remember Brad Sham mentioned it during the 49ers game as a pssibility.

Broaddus said Sham is definitely in the know so it could happen.

I don't know how I feel about this decision just yet.

It doesnt matter, they were both going to play alot anyway. With so much nickel and dime defense played, they were going to get close to the same amount of snaps anyway.

 

[dbair1967]

This will probably ruffle some feathers here, but the only thing that has kept Scandrick from the starting lineup is his draft position.

If everything else was the same... but Scandrick was the 1st rounder and Jenkins was the 5th rounder... Scandrick would be the guy, hands down.

This is the "solution" for now because the team wants for Jenkins, the 1st rounder, to be the guy. They were hoping he could wrestle the starting job from Scandrick in camp... he couldn't. So now they're hoping it happens during the season.

Scandrick hasn't seemed too happy with his status here and I can't blame him. He's been the better player than Jenkins thus far. The fact that Jenkins wasn't named the clear-cut starter is a testament to Scandrick's ability.

Not that I dislike Jenkins. I like him too. But I have more confidence in Scandrick than I do in Jenkins, by a considerable amount.

Again, this just isnt true. You can keep saying it till your blue in the face (and not just you, others) but the fact is it isnt true. There are too many other examples of guys with higher draft status sitting on the bench (like Carpenter, or Felix Jones behind Barber) or even outright released (James Marten comes to mind)...

There hasnt been much, if any difference between Jenkins and Scandrick this preseason. The biggest knock on Jenkins was the non effort on the one tackle vs NYG last yr, but he has been very good at tackling in this preseason.

As for your comments about Jenkins not wrestling the job away in camp, remember he did get hurt and they have acknowledged he isnt going to be 100% anytime this yr. Jenkins did open camp as the starter as I recall. If he hadnt gotten hurt, maybe he does win the job FT.

 

[dbair1967]

Has Scandrick ever gave up a big play?

I dont recall any, but I dont recall Jenkins giving up any either.

On the other hand, Scandrick hasnt made many plays either.

 

[dbair1967]

Bobby Carpenter also sucks.

And I guess we have to agree to disagree. I think paycheck is the only thing keeping Jenkins from being slid down to #3

So why did Spencer basically sit for two yrs? Why is Felix Jones not starting ahead of Barber? Why did they cut a high draft pick? (Marten) Why did Crayton earn a starting job? Why is Manual Johnson going to get released instead of Kevin Ogletree (and for that matter, the much higher draft choice Isiah Stanback)

You guys are playing both sides of the fence.

 

[Hoofbite]

So why did Spencer basically sit for two yrs? Why is Felix Jones not starting ahead of Barber? Why did they cut a high draft pick? (Marten) Why did Crayton earn a starting job? Why is Manual Johnson going to get released instead of Kevin Ogletree (and for that matter, the much higher draft choice Isiah Stanback)

You guys are playing both sides of the fence.

Not playing both sides of the fence. Just because I think something is true in one scenario doesn't automatically mean that I have to believe it would be or should be true in another scenario.

Its funny you would mention Felix and Spencer when both of those guys had a higher paid player in front of them. But that isn't the reason they were/are behind at their position. Both were have spent time off with injuries and both had productive players in front of them.

And obviously production would trump salary or pick status. But as I have already said, this isn't such a case because Jenkins has not outplayed Scandrick. Not that Jenkins has played bad but Scandrick has played very well.

I just think naming them co-starters is indicative of the team wanting Jenkins to play up to his draft status. If they truly were equal, why wouldn't they just go with what they had last year? Why change if the backup hasn't beat out the starter?

 

[Vinnie2u]

No big deal for 2 reasons... Teams are putting 3,4, and sometimes 5 wide receivers out there.. So all three guys will be out there at the same time.. Plus I would be surprised if Newman stays healthy all year...