DC: Rookie Watch: Jones Likely To Start Camp At CB; But Could Move Around

[jobberone]

Rookie Watch: Jones Likely To Start Camp At CB; But Could Move Around
Friday, July 24, 2015 12:30 PM CDT

By Nick Eatman DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer @nickeatman

(Editor’s Note: With the offseason practices now complete, the Cowboys will take some downtime before departing for training camp on July 28. Until then, let’s focus on some of the more unknown rookies on this team, fighting for a roster spot. Today’s featured player is defensive back Byron Jones.)

Name: Byron Jones
Position: Defensive Back
College: UConn
Height/Weight: 6-0 / 199
Acquired: First Round (27th overall)

Jersey Number: 31

Collegiate Career: A four-year starter for the Huskies, Jones played mostly cornerback but showed some flexibility to play safety at times. An injury during his senior season hurt his draft stock momentarily, but that changed at the scouting combine, when he wowed the teams with his athletic ability, including a 12-foot, 3-inch broad jump, which is a 46-year-old world record. And his 44.5 inch vertical jump nearly matched the combine record of 45 inches.

Did You Know? After recording223 tackles during his career with the Huskies, Jones became just the second player in UConn’s history to be drafted in the first round and the first since the Colts took running back Donald Brown in 2009 – also with the 27th overall pick.

2015 Outlook: Morris Claiborne’s progress might go a long way in determining what to do with this ultra-versatile rookie. Jones was touted as being able to play both cornerback and safety, and he displayed that during OTAs and minicamp. The question is, where do the Cowboys need him more? It’s possible he could push J.J. Wilcox for playing time at free safety, or he could ease into the No. 3 cornerback spot. Given his talent, trust the coaching staff to get him on the field somehow, perhaps in nickel and dime situations, at least.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2...-jones-likely-start-camp-cb-could-move-around

 

[Corso]

I like this guy a lot and all I want is for him to be on the field. I don't care where: CB, S- whatever.
Just put this man on the field.

 

[xwalker]

I like this guy a lot and all I want is for him to be on the field. I don't care where: CB, S- whatever.
Just put this man on the field.

The 3rd CB spot just seems like a much bigger need than Safety at this point. Sterling Moore got torched in the Green Bay game. Replace Moore with Jones and the Cowboys win that game, IMO.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Rookie Watch: Jones Likely To Start Camp At CB; But Could Move Around

Didn't we know this 3 months ago about 5 minutes after he was drafted?

 

[ShiningStar]

Didn't we know this 3 months ago about 5 minutes after he was drafted?

ok, let me explain something dead, you are not legally or technically dead until a coroner pronounces you dead. So even tho we knew he might, possibly, kind, sort be moved around, its not real until its in print, ok, thats a PSA from me to you.

 

[conner01]

We need him to be a cb. Don't know if he will be the 3rd or 4th. But he will certainly be the 3rd if not 2nd next year. To be the 3rd he will need to beat out Mo
But I don't expect mo back next year and the jury is out on Carr
That's why I think we need him to be a cb, and I personally would like to see him beat out Mo and Mo to be playing his best football. Not beat him out because of injury or bad play. But just outplay Mo playing his best football

 

[stilltheguru88]

The 3rd CB spot just seems like a much bigger need than Safety at this point. Sterling Moore got torched in the Green Bay game. Replace Moore with Jones and the Cowboys win that game, IMO.

3rd corner spot is Patmons.

 

[jday]

Just get the best 11 on the field...I really don't care how that shakes out; even if it turns out Jones isn't one of them.

 

[Bullflop]

Between Jones replacing both Claiborne and Wilcox at times, he could likely see plenty of action.

I can easily picture him replacing either or both and being a marked improvement in the process.

 

[Typhus]

3rd corner spot is Patmons.

Dont think Scandrick would agree with you, although Scan might be our best corner by the time camp breaks.
What if Scan and Jones broke camp as our two starting corners.

 

[conner01]

Dont think Scandrick would agree with you, although Scan might be our best corner by the time camp breaks.
What if Scan and Jones broke camp as our two starting corners.

Although starting rookies is common when they are taken early, that's usually because of a big while on the roster. We have scan, Carr, Mo all with experience
I suspect scan and Carr are going to be 1 and 2, with jones and Mo fighting for that 3rd spot. I suspect you may see both play that role early on unless one really outplays the other
Mo is really set up to have a good year if he can stay healthy. Nothing gets the best out of a player like a contract year

 

[dmq]

i've never seen a draft where our 1st Rd pick got so little attention from fans and media alike.

 

[xwalker]

3rd corner spot is Patmons.

He is small. They like to move Scandrick to the slot in the Nickel (3 CBs) but Patmon is really small to play outside.

Size was a big issue when Sterling Moore got torched by Green Bay's #3WR.

It would help Patmon if Scandrick was bigger, but with both Scandrick and Patmon on the field the Cowboys are at a size disadvantage to most WR groups.

 

[stilltheguru88]

He is small. They like to move Scandrick to the slot in the Nickel (3 CBs) but Patmon is really small to play outside.

Size was a big issue when Sterling Moore got torched by Green Bay's #3WR.

It would help Patmon if Scandrick was bigger, but with both Scandrick and Patmon on the field the Cowboys are at a size disadvantage to most WR groups.

Hes no smaller than Joe Haden. I have faith that skills/game will prevail over height.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I like Scandrick in the slot. So either Mo or Jones will start on the outside opposite Carr imo.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Hes no smaller than Joe Haden. I have faith that skills/game will prevail over height.

You just compared Tyler Patmon to Joe Haden. Joe Haden was a first round pick and an exception to the rule. Skills/game doesn't matter

 

[xwalker]

Hes no smaller than Joe Haden. I have faith that skills/game will prevail over height.

It's not just height. He was visibly smaller than Scandrick who is also listed at 5-10.

Haden is much "thicker" and more muscular.

 

[Nightman]

Just leave BJones at CB. That is where he is needed the most and in the future. Get as many reps as possible at CB.

 

[dasander]

i've never seen a draft where our 1st Rd pick got so little attention from fans and media alike.

Agreed! I'm actually more excited about Byron than any other rookie we've had since Tyron Smith in 2011. If he turns out to be a good NFL safety that's fine, but I like his potential at cornerback. With his length, athleticism, smarts, and intangibles I'm sharing Jerry's vision of "sugar plums" and think he can not only be the eventual #1 CB on our team, but potentially a P. Peterson/ R. Sherman level of player!