Mo Claiborne Bucky Brooks' most improved DB in 2013

[fatboygixxer]

Didn't see this posted:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...r-2013-morris-claiborne-heads-defensive-backs

It happens every fall. A player bursts onto the scene, makes a big play or helps his team win a pivotal game, and the collective football world celebrates his arrival as a true difference maker in the NFL. Let's get ahead of the curve! In advance of the 2013 season, NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks identifies candidates for significant improvement, concentrating on defensive backs below. Click here for other positions.

Most Improved Defensive Back for 2013: Morris Claiborne
Claiborne's backstory: In 2012, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pulled out all of the stops in an attempt to solidify a secondary that had been a problem area for the team for years, signing Brandon Carr to a lucrative free-agent contract and investing the sixth overall draft pick in Morris Claiborne. While Carr lived up to his reputation with a strong season, Claiborne struggled to match up against some of the NFL's better receivers on the perimeter. He appeared to lack the strength to wrestle with big-bodied receivers in some isolated matchups, and he failed to display the awareness to make plays based on route recognition.




Such woes are certainly common for first-year starters, but they were magnified in former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's blitz-heavy scheme. Claiborne frequently was assigned to receivers in man coverage without getting safety help over the top, leaving him vulnerable to vertical routes and double moves by crafty receivers. Although Claiborne fiercely competed on the edges, the overexposure to isolated coverage put the young defender at a disadvantage for most of his rookie season.

 

[GroundUp]

I think with a full offseason, battling Dez no less, and the scheme change that this is a very safe pick. I expect Mo to thrive.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Mo will be successful this year, proving alot of critics of the pick wrong in the process. The only thing Mo doesn't possess that I like to see in top CBs is top end speed, but other than that he just has everything else you would want in a CB.

The jump should be rather easy to see come game day after an offseason of going against a top 5 WR in Dez. Should be fun to watch, and while some question the reason for spending resources on the position, it is still a premium position and our investments in a premium position shouldn't be questioned as much as it is by some couch experts.

 

[Hardline]

How do they know these two will be most improved? The season has not been played out.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Very easy to see Mo getting much better this year. We already know he will be stronger. He should be smarter. I expect a significant upgrade in his game.

 

[Echo9]

How do they know these two will be most improved? The season has not been played out.

If they waited until the season played out, they could hardly call it a prediction now could they?

 

[Hardline]

If they waited until the season played out, they could hardly call it a prediction now could they?

I took that article as is was written as a fact. Not a prediction

 

[CoCo]

Mo will be successful this year, proving alot of critics of the pick wrong in the process. The only thing Mo doesn't possess that I like to see in top CBs is top end speed, but other than that he just has everything else you would want in a CB.

The jump should be rather easy to see come game day after an offseason of going against a top 5 WR in Dez. Should be fun to watch, and while some question the reason for spending resources on the position, it is still a premium position and our investments in a premium position shouldn't be questioned as much as it is by some couch experts.

I've heard very few criticize the pick itself. Rather what it cost us to acquire the pick. Top play from Claiborne doesn't change that. That said, I think everyone would love to see this guy become a playmaker.

 

[SportsGuru80]

I expect him to be improved how much who knows honestly... I think the offseason has helped Claiborne out tremendously.

 

[Idgit]

I took that article as is was written as a fact. Not a prediction

But then how do they know these two will be most improved? The season has not been played out.

 

[5Stars]

CB's are irrelevant...it had to be said.

 

[arglebargle]

CB's are irrelevant...it had to be said.

Yep! That adage, 'You can never have too many good cornerbacks' is just a trick to fool the ignorant fan!

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I've heard very few criticize the pick itself. Rather what it cost us to acquire the pick. Top play from Claiborne doesn't change that. That said, I think everyone would love to see this guy become a playmaker.

Top play from Claiborne does change that, if he turns out to be a true difference maker on this team and Brockers turns out to be a very average pro then all the criticism is unfounded.

 

[Crown Royal]

I was very happy with Claiborne's 2012 campaign. I disagree that he struggled because of no
safety help. On the contrary, I felt that we were at our worst when the safeties were supposed to provide help and failed.

 

[Idgit]

I was very happy with Claiborne's 2012 campaign. I disagree that he struggled because of no
safety help. On the contrary, I felt that we were at our worst when the safeties were supposed to provide help and failed.

Claiborne really struggled during the first PHI game. Other than that, he played fairly well all year. Especially for a rookie with a limited training camp. Not sure why a narrative that he struggled is getting any play, honestly. It was definitely our Safeties who were the problem last seaason

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I took that article as is was written as a fact. Not a prediction

If an article is discussing something that hasn't occurred yet and the writer doesn't claim to have a flux capacitor, you can be reasonably certain he or she is making a prediction.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Claiborne really struggled during the first PHI game. Other than that, he played fairly well all year. Especially for a rookie with a limited training camp. Not sure why a narrative that he struggled is getting any play, honestly. It was definitely our Safeties who were the problem last seaason

Yeah I'm just hoping that our safeties can improve to actually give our CBs some help for a change.

I don't understand how anyone can be hard on our CBs with seeing the absolute absence of talent we had for support of them at safety.