DC.COM Blog: Cornerback Depth Might Still Be A Need

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by jellis at 5/7/2010 2:52 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

With the trade for Alex Barron looking like a done deal, we're wondering what other loose ends the Cowboys need to tie up before training camp gets underway.

Cornerback looks a bit thin, for instance. The Cowboys are blessed to have a couple Pro Bowl starters and a slot guy they like in Orlando Scandrick, but after that, there must be some level of concern.

Sixth-round pick Jamar Wall would figure to be the fourth guy if we cuts were due today. Alan Ball was good in that role, but now it looks like he's a full-time safety. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is going to be focused on the safety position as well.

Wall wasn't overly impressive in the rookie mini-camp, but it's way to early to think he can't do the job. If one of the top three goes down with some kind of injury, though, it might be asking a lot for Wall to step into a pretty big role right away.

The Cowboys do have a couple others at the position. Journeyman Cletis Gordon was on the roster for about half of last season. He hasn't been able to stick anywhere in four years out of Jackson State. Marquis Floyd is in that same category, and he's 30 years old. Undrafted rookie Bryan McCann is as big a question mark as Wall.

Granted, the fourth cornerback is not going to be a star. But if there's an injury between now and the season, the Cowboys might wish they had more help in the secondary. Would you move Owusu-Ansah to corner temporarily if that happened?

 

[theogt]

If a team is completely comfortable with it's 4th cornerback, then it probably has a bunch of other holes that haven't been addressed. I think everyone gets that the defense may be in trouble if we lose two starting cornerbacks.

 

[Number82]

Posted by jellis at 5/7/2010 2:52 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

With the trade for Alex Barron looking like a done deal, we're wondering what other loose ends the Cowboys need to tie up before training camp gets underway.

Cornerback looks a bit thin, for instance. The Cowboys are blessed to have a couple Pro Bowl starters and a slot guy they like in Orlando Scandrick, but after that, there must be some level of concern.

Sixth-round pick Jamar Wall would figure to be the fourth guy if we cuts were due today. Alan Ball was good in that role, but now it looks like he's a full-time safety. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is going to be focused on the safety position as well.

Wall wasn't overly impressive in the rookie mini-camp, but it's way to early to think he can't do the job. If one of the top three goes down with some kind of injury, though, it might be asking a lot for Wall to step into a pretty big role right away.

The Cowboys do have a couple others at the position. Journeyman Cletis Gordon was on the roster for about half of last season. He hasn't been able to stick anywhere in four years out of Jackson State. Marquis Floyd is in that same category, and he's 30 years old. Undrafted rookie Bryan McCann is as big a question mark as Wall.

Granted, the fourth cornerback is not going to be a star. But if there's an injury between now and the season, the Cowboys might wish they had more help in the secondary. Would you move Owusu-Ansah to corner temporarily if that happened?

NO WAY! We're trying to turn him from small college CB/FS to full-time NFL FS. He needs to focus on one position. If they want to leave him at CB and have Alan Ball be THE GUY at FS for the future, I'm fine with have Akwasi as a full-time CB. Otherwise .. NO.

 

[Screw The Hall]

I'd love to see M Hamlin grab the starting nod at safety.

Besides Hamlin having more upside I think Ball is more valuable to the team as a versatile super-reserve at both the 4th corner and 3rd safety than he could ever be as a mediocre starter.

 

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

I'd love to see M Hamlin grab the starting nod at safety.

Besides Hamlin having more upside I think Ball is more valuable to the team as a versatile super-reserve at both the 4th corner and 3rd safety than he could ever be as a mediocre starter.

Unless the Cowboys sign someone to be a fourth CB, I think that is what will happen if there is an injury. Ball will move to slot CB with Hamlin playing safety for those plays.

 

[dallascowboyfanboy]

If a team is completely comfortable with it's 4th cornerback, then it probably has a bunch of other holes that haven't been addressed. I think everyone gets that the defense may be in trouble if we lose two starting cornerbacks.

Not very many teams have 2 good corners. Us and NY Jets are the deepest at CB, but if Antonio Cromartie and All- World Darrelle Revis get injured they are in more trouble than us. They drafted unproven Kyle Davis in the first round but he's not any better than Scandrick.

 

[Cover 2]

It definitely is a hole. However, every single team has the same problem. I wouldn't be shocked at all if we took a corner within the first two rounds next year. I actually hope we do. For now though, we are in better shape than almost every single team at the CB slot.

 

[jobberone]

There is also the possibility of picking up a veteran at CB although I'd say we won't do that.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Let's see what Wall can do first, if he gets himself a good pair of spikes!, The Cowboys seem to like Barry Church a lot, so maybe we will have the depth to move Ball back to CB

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Posted by jellis at 5/7/2010 2:52 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com

With the trade for Alex Barron looking like a done deal, we're wondering what other loose ends the Cowboys need to tie up before training camp gets underway.

Cornerback looks a bit thin, for instance. The Cowboys are blessed to have a couple Pro Bowl starters and a slot guy they like in Orlando Scandrick, but after that, there must be some level of concern.

Sixth-round pick Jamar Wall would figure to be the fourth guy if we cuts were due today. Alan Ball was good in that role, but now it looks like he's a full-time safety. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is going to be focused on the safety position as well.

Wall wasn't overly impressive in the rookie mini-camp, but it's way to early to think he can't do the job. If one of the top three goes down with some kind of injury, though, it might be asking a lot for Wall to step into a pretty big role right away.

The Cowboys do have a couple others at the position. Journeyman Cletis Gordon was on the roster for about half of last season. He hasn't been able to stick anywhere in four years out of Jackson State. Marquis Floyd is in that same category, and he's 30 years old. Undrafted rookie Bryan McCann is as big a question mark as Wall.

Granted, the fourth cornerback is not going to be a star. But if there's an injury between now and the season, the Cowboys might wish they had more help in the secondary. Would you move Owusu-Ansah to corner temporarily if that happened?

Do these writers ever think about proofreading or editing their work?

 

[baj1dallas]

I'd love to see M Hamlin grab the starting nod at safety.

Besides Hamlin having more upside I think Ball is more valuable to the team as a versatile super-reserve at both the 4th corner and 3rd safety than he could ever be as a mediocre starter.

Why do you think Ball can't be better than a mediocre starter? I thought he showed some good flashes last season. What has Hamlin ever shown?

imo 4th CB is somebody that they can pick up after the first cuts after getting an extended look at all their younger guys.

 

[Screw The Hall]

Why do you think Ball can't be better than a mediocre starter? I thought he showed some good flashes last season. What has Hamlin ever shown?

imo 4th CB is somebody that they can pick up after the first cuts after getting an extended look at all their younger guys.

M Hamlin by most accounts is the player with the greater upside although we haven't seen it in games yet so he's still a question mark. Ball right this second is the safe option, you know what you are going to get, which is a good thing.

I just don't see Ball being anything more than adequate as a starter and given his immense value to the team as a reserve and special teams demon I would like to preserve that.

But hey, if he's the better option he's going to start and that's how it should be.

 

[jterrell]

Wade will find enough coverage guys, I am not worried about that.

Having the OL work is the biggest concern then finding a 3rd pass rusher who can spell Spencer and Ware a little.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I'd love to see M Hamlin grab the starting nod at safety.

Besides Hamlin having more upside I think Ball is more valuable to the team as a versatile super-reserve at both the 4th corner and 3rd safety than he could ever be as a mediocre starter.

Not sure about Ball being only mediocre as a starter. But i do believe when it's all said and done late in preseason, the coaching staff will prefer to keep him at that super sub role at both CB and FS while MHamlin gets the starting S spot.

 

[Eddie]

If CB depth is our biggest concern, then man, we're rolling in the dough.

That's like someone worrying about how well their mutual funds are doing, compared to people who can barely pay the rent.

 

[28 Joker]

I see flexibility when I look at the secondary. The Cowboys are in better shape than most teams. They just lack some experience. You can protect or hide a player in the secondary.

You can't hide Cory Proctor.

 

[arglebargle]

The way the Cowboys have played their defense in the past, we are one injury away from the #4 cornerback playing around 40% of the game. The last two years, that #4 guy was Alan Ball. This year it will be someone who's much more of a question mark.

While it's tough to have great depth at every position, you have to look at the percentages and weigh the risks of injury.

 

[Wood]

this is like saying...if your top two QB's get hurt....your in trouble. Why stop there...if Ware and Spencer go down.....if Free and Colombo go down....were in trouble. We get it and so would every other team in football. I mean this is getting ridiculous at how deep the media wants cowboys team to be.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'd love to see M Hamlin grab the starting nod at safety.

Besides Hamlin having more upside I think Ball is more valuable to the team as a versatile super-reserve at both the 4th corner and 3rd safety than he could ever be as a mediocre starter.

I agree, wholeheartedly.

 

[big dog cowboy]

But if there's an injury between now and the season, the Cowboys might wish they had more help in the secondary. Would you move Owusu-Ansah to corner temporarily if that happened?

Nope. I'd move Ball to CB and leave Hamlin and Owusu-Ansah at S.