DMN Blog: Training camp position previews: Cornerbacks

[WoodysGirl]

8:00 AM Thu, Jul 23, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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The ninth in a 10-part series.

Roster locks: Terence Newman, Orlando Scandrick, Mike Jenkins

Safe bets: Mike Mickens

On the bubble: Courtney Brown

Long shots: Michael Hawkins

NOTE: Alan Ball and DeAngelo Smith will be included with safeties tomorrow.

What's worth watching: Jenkins vs. Scandrick should be the camp's best position battle.

Jenkins claims that he's the starter heading into camp, but the first-rounder acknowledges that if he doesn't perform well, the coaches wouldn't hesitate to go with Scandrick. Jenkins has the higher draft pedigree, but Scandrick had a more productive rookie season. In fact, according to Football Outsiders' metrics, Scandrick had the 11th best success rate and 17th lowest yards per attempt total among the league's cornerbacks while working primarily out of the slot last season.

The competition should bring out the best in the talented second-year cornerbacks, who will both see a lot of playing time this season.

Mickens and Brown will also be competing for playing time in the dime defense. The Cowboys could opt to go with Ball or Smith, who played primarily free safety during the off-season practices but have significant cornerback experience, in that role.

Brown didn't pan out as a safety the last two seasons, because he wasn't physical enough, but he had an outstanding spring after being moved back to his college position. He's still young and has intriguing potential at corner because of his size (6-1, 204) and athleticism (4.32 40, 41.5-inch vertical in pre-draft workout).

 

[DCBoysfan]

I can't wait to see the new pups on the field!

 

[TheCount]

We could possibly go into the season with just 4 corner then? I gues Ball will flex if needed?

Can I just say how happy I am to see competition between young, talented players for a change? As much fun as it is watching 7th round picks and UDFA's duel for the 6th WR slot or whatever, I'd much rather have what we've got going on right now. Seems like just about every other position on our roster has highly paid, veterans facing zero pressure for their jobs.

 

[yentl911]

We have potentially one of the best young conerback tandems in the NFL in Scandrick and Jenkins. I think their ability, along with hopefully having a healthy Newman for a full season, will get this defense to a dominant level.

It seemed like we always had someone that we had to cover up and it adversely effected our defensive approach - whether it was covering Henry's lack of speed, or Roy's coverage issues, lack of a quality 3rd corner to come in on passing downs, etc....

I think some of these young kids are really going to suprise some people as well. Our draft was very under-rated IMO. It wasn't a beautiful draft but it was solid and several of the players are going to have a positive impact this year.

Keep an eye on the Mickens kid. He may be have been another CB steal.

Come on season.....I can't wait!

 

[peppersquad]

Single biggest question on the team. Way to thin, Cant count on Newman for 16 games, Jenkins is still unproven and plays with a purse. On top if that only low rd rookies behind the 3 starters.

The single biggest and concerning part of the team IMO.

 

[THUMPER]

We could possibly go into the season with just 4 corner then? I gues Ball will flex if needed?

Can I just say how happy I am to see competition between young, talented players for a change? As much fun as it is watching 7th round picks and UDFA's duel for the 6th WR slot or whatever, I'd much rather have what we've got going on right now. Seems like just about every other position on our roster has highly paid, veterans facing zero pressure for their jobs.

I agree, I like seeing positions open to competition and this one should be good.

Personally, I'd like to see EVERY starting position up for whoever wins it in TC. Let's give the veterans some motivation to bust their humps for a change. This dang salary cap limits open competition among veterans because they aren't likely to sit a guy making $7mil a year.

 

[zrinkill]

Unless Mickens is still injured ...... he should be a lock.

 

[tomson75]

Single biggest question on the team. Way to thin, Cant count on Newman for 16 games, Jenkins is still unproven and plays with a purse. On top if that only low rd rookies behind the 3 starters.

The single biggest and concerning part of the team IMO.

Couldn't disagree more.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Jenkins, Scandrick, and Mickens should give us quality CB play for a long, long time. If Courtney Brown's production can catch up with his physical tools then he can be added to that mix.

Mike Jenkins - Age 24 5'11"/197
Orlando Scandrick - Age 22 5'10"/187
Mike Mickens - Age 21 6'0"/186
Courtney Brown - Age 25 6'1"/200

Our lone veteran, Terrence Newman's base salary shoots up from $895,000 in 2009 all the way to $9 million in 2010, putting his 2010 Cap Hit at around $11 million. This could be a very big year for him.

 

[Smith22]

Single biggest question on the team. Way to thin, Cant count on Newman for 16 games, Jenkins is still unproven and plays with a purse. On top if that only low rd rookies behind the 3 starters.

The single biggest and concerning part of the team IMO.

Not me. My concern would be LB, WR and OL. We have no depth at all at tackle on the OL, our WR core is suspect and we have no proven pass rusher opposite of Ware and we have to count on Barbie as well.

 

[AdamJT13]

Our lone veteran, Terrence Newman's base salary shoots up from $895,000 in 2009 all the way to $9 million in 2010, putting his 2010 Cap Hit at around $11 million. This could be a very big year for him.

I've mentioned it with other players, but you can't really look at our 2010 cap hits like you would've looked at them in previous seasons. The 2010 season currently is uncapped, so a lot of our players' contracts are structured with intentionally high cap numbers in 2010, just in case that season remains uncapped. And if it is capped, the contracts are structured to reduce the cap numbers to more normal levels with an easy restructure. Newman's cap number, for example, can easily be reduced to less than $4.5 million.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Unless Mickens is still injured ...... he should be a lock.

If you jinx him...it's on like donkey kong.