DMN Blog: Anthony Henry adding versatility

[Mr Cowboy]

Annthony Henry adding versatility
4:20 PM Wed, Jun 04, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Over the last two years, Anthony Henry has heard talk about him moving to safety. He said that talk has died down some this year, but he that doesn't mean he's playing only outside at cornerback.

He has spent the last few days working inside in the dime package, defending Jason Witten.

With NFC East rivals New York (Jeremy Shockey), Washington (Chris Cooley) and Philadelphia (L.J. Smith) having productive tight ends, the Cowboys want to bolster their coverage.

"They said what they want me to do is when we play like Washington or the Giants to go against their Pro Bowl tight ends," Henry said "I can do a better job covering those guys. It's like a package."

Henry said he would be OK with a move to safety, but hopes a decision can be made sooner rather than later so he can spend time learning the spot before getting to Oxnard, Calif., for training camp.

 

[Hostile]

He's physical enough to tackle TEs as a Safety, but is he sturdy enough to stay healthy at it? Therein lies the dilemma.

He's a UFA after 2009, wouldn't surprise me if given the depth at CB once Jones is reinstated if he's not shopped. No way they'll re-sign him given the money tied up there and the youth with Jones, Jenkins, and Scandrick.

 

[Chief]

Who used to cover the opposing team's tight ends?

~ ducks ~

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I have always felt that Henry would do a great job at Saftey and cover the TE.

 

[Nav22]

Who used to cover the opposing team's tight ends?

~ ducks ~

Whoever it was must've done a great job... after all, we were 13-3.

 

[RainMan]

Who used to cover the opposing team's tight ends?

~ ducks ~

Roy Williams when the outcome was good. Someone else when it wasn't.

~ also ducks ~

 

[tunahelper]

What a defense we are gonna field.

Not many options for opposing QB's, once Roy Williams is blitzing with Ware and Ellis and Henry covering the TE's. WOW!

 

[theogt]

Interesting that he's taking Nate Jones' spot in the dime corner package instead of staying outside. That's more of a slot corner spot than a safety-like spot there. I doubt we'd use that package against an offense with a TE on the field.

 

[YosemiteSam]

He's physical enough to tackle TEs as a Safety, but is he sturdy enough to stay healthy at it? Therein lies the dilemma.

He's a UFA after 2009, wouldn't surprise me if given the depth at CB once Jones is reinstated if he's not shopped. No way they'll re-sign him given the money tied up there and the youth with Jones, Jenkins, and Scandrick.

If he stays healthy and performs well, he could get resigned at safety over Hamlin. I appears Hamlin is bent on more money than the Cowboys want to part with. If the Cowboys don't resign him soon, he is gone next year for a bigger payday elsewhere. Maybe the Raiders will cut Huff and sign Hamlin as his replacement.

 

[RainMan]

Interesting that he's taking Nate Jones' spot in the dime corner package instead of staying outside. That's more of a slot corner spot than a safety-like spot there. I doubt we'd use that package against an offense with a TE on the field.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but doesn't Henry say that package is designed specifically for him to face opposing TEs of All-Star caliber?

 

[EMMITTnROY]

is anybody else more excited to see our defense play than our offense?

i'm excited to hear news like this- the Cowboys coaches are being creative and using the talent they have to the best of their ability.. thinking outside the box..

with that in mind, i have a feeling Roy is gonna finally get to do what we've been wanting to do for so long- stay in the box and cause trouble for QB's, RB's, and WR's going across the middle.. i think all this negative talk over the offseason is gonna motivate him.. i really do expect to see the old Roy out there this season..

man, training camp can't come soon enough!!

 

[theogt]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but doesn't Henry say that package is designed specifically for him to face opposing TEs of All-Star caliber?

That's what the blog post says, but it's probably just the "dime corner" package that we used last year. We used that package against 4 receiver sets.

 

[dogberry]

What will this year's nickle and dime look like?

 

[Hostile]

If he stays healthy and performs well, he could get resigned at safety over Hamlin. I appears Hamlin is bent on more money than the Cowboys want to part with. If the Cowboys don't resign him soon, he is gone next year for a bigger payday elsewhere. Maybe the Raiders will cut Huff and sign Hamlin as his replacement.

Naw, the Cowboys would promote Watkins if it came to that.

 

[theogt]

What will this year's nickle and dime look like?

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1804836&postcount=1

There's a list of all the defensive packages we used last year. Not much else you can do other than substituting players (and playing an actual nickel defense, which didn't do a single time that I'm aware of).

 

[50cent]

This is nothing new to our defense. I remember when BP was here, he used to use TNew in this role sometimes. I never understood why we would put Tnew on Shockey and Gonzalez (those are the games that I remembe Tnew doing this), and not use Henry in this role. He bigger than TNew plus TEs are usually slower than WRs. That would still leave TNew on the outside matched up against a better receiver. Killing 2 options most of the time. We would still help Henry over the top when Tnew went inside to cover the TEs during those games. By switching their roles, we wouldn't have to help for either (i would think), thus helping over the top for the 3rd corner. I guess it made too much sense, but I'm not a football coach.

 

[Doomsdayblitz]

At 6-1, 205, Henry would have 3 months to pack on another 5-10 lbs. of muscle. At 215, Henry would be big enough to take on TEs and also stuff the run. He's always been one of the most physical corner on the team, so that doesn't worry me.

Man, if the Cowboys get really creative, this defense just might take over 1st place overall. They had one of the top run stuffing "Ds" in the league last year, but the pass defense suffered down the stretch-a common dilemma lately for this team.

However, with Tank Johnson looking tough enough to replace Jason Ferguson, and Jay Ratliff right behind him, the run defense should be just as, if not tougher than, last season's.

What's exciting is the pass defense. If Pacman Jones can get through the investigation of the strip club shootings, I firmly believe he will stay out of any further trouble. That would give us Jones, TNew, Henry, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Quincy Butler, and Alan Ball as our top CBs. This is a major upgrade over the CBs we went into camp with last season. It also gives our defensive coaches much more flexibility in moving players around.

Jenkins is the type of rookie that could come in on nickel & dime packages from the first game of the season on. Just think, Tnew on one end, Pacman on the other, and Henry covering either the slot receiver or the TE. Whoever he doesn't cover, Jenkins will. With Henry taking over many of the tasks that RW has been asigned to in the past, Roy Boy will be free to do what he does best--create havoc. I have a good nickname for him--Special Forces. Because all he does is get behind enemy lines & cause headaches...lol.

 

[CoCo]

Who used to cover the opposing team's tight ends?

~ ducks ~

I'll bet they are trying to free him so he can match up with the opponents #1 WR and then "hope" the ball isn't thrown there.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

What's exciting is the pass defense. If Pacman Jones can get through the investigation of the strip club shootings, I firmly believe he will stay out of any further trouble.

Are you daft? As has been explained to you before, there is no investigation. you sound like Skip Bayless.

The authorities have the shooter and the shooter claims that Jones framed him and he has no involvement. The guy is an idiot because the better lie wouldv'e been your dream come true and that is to say that Jones put him up to it and use his testimony against Jones as leverage.

In other words it should be clear that Jones wasn't involved in the shooting. They have multiple eyewitnesses that finger the suspect they have.

i realize for whatever reason that you want Jones to be guilty but hes not nor will he be found guilty. In order for that to happen there would have to be an investigation. There is not.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Roy Boy will be free to do what he does best--sit on the bench

fixed it for you.