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ARLINGTON – Coach Jason Garrett said he doesn’t anticipate
second-year cornerback Morris Claiborne playing in Thursday night’s preseason finale against Houston.
Claiborne has played sparingly in the preseason because of sore knees and only returned to practice this week, so there was some discussion about him playing against the Texans in an effort to get some much-needed reps and knock off some rust.
One Cowboys great indicated he wouldn’t mind seeing Garrett re-think his decision to sit Claiborne.
“If there is anybody who needs these reps right now it’s Claiborne,” said Darren Woodson, the franchise’s career tackles leader after a 12-year career that ended in 2003 and included five trips to the Pro Bowl.
Now an analyst for ESPN, Woodson doesn’t mind veterans sitting in the preseason finale.
“Brandon Carr is a guy who is more of a veteran player,” Woodson said of the team’s other starting cornerback. “He understands the game mentally and physically. As talented as Claiborne is, he needs these types of reps to take that next step. I am a little concerned about the start of the season. He may need to knock off a little rust.
Claiborne, the sixth overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, underwhelmed as a rookie last season after injuries and a rehab stint from wrist surgery forced him to miss all of the offseason leading into his rookie year and much of last season’s training camp. He also missed one game last season because of a concussion.
“Durability is one of the concerns,” Woodson said. “You know athletically what this kid can do. He is one of those guys that is so gifted at the cornerback position. You can always determine if it’s a great cornerback or an average cornerback when the ball is in the air. If the ball is in the air and there is fear in his eyes, that’s an average cornerback. Claiborne is not afraid when the ball is in the air. He will make a play on that football. He doesn’t care at all if he has to take a risk and go up and get it.
“I see that athletic side of him. I just need to see more of the toughness side of him, especially in this Cover 2 scheme, when it’s the corners and the linebackers who have to come up and make plays, come up and make tackles. So, we are going to see if he is one of those guys that can make tackles.”
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second-year cornerback Morris Claiborne playing in Thursday night’s preseason finale against Houston.
Claiborne has played sparingly in the preseason because of sore knees and only returned to practice this week, so there was some discussion about him playing against the Texans in an effort to get some much-needed reps and knock off some rust.
One Cowboys great indicated he wouldn’t mind seeing Garrett re-think his decision to sit Claiborne.
“If there is anybody who needs these reps right now it’s Claiborne,” said Darren Woodson, the franchise’s career tackles leader after a 12-year career that ended in 2003 and included five trips to the Pro Bowl.
Now an analyst for ESPN, Woodson doesn’t mind veterans sitting in the preseason finale.
“Brandon Carr is a guy who is more of a veteran player,” Woodson said of the team’s other starting cornerback. “He understands the game mentally and physically. As talented as Claiborne is, he needs these types of reps to take that next step. I am a little concerned about the start of the season. He may need to knock off a little rust.
Claiborne, the sixth overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, underwhelmed as a rookie last season after injuries and a rehab stint from wrist surgery forced him to miss all of the offseason leading into his rookie year and much of last season’s training camp. He also missed one game last season because of a concussion.
“Durability is one of the concerns,” Woodson said. “You know athletically what this kid can do. He is one of those guys that is so gifted at the cornerback position. You can always determine if it’s a great cornerback or an average cornerback when the ball is in the air. If the ball is in the air and there is fear in his eyes, that’s an average cornerback. Claiborne is not afraid when the ball is in the air. He will make a play on that football. He doesn’t care at all if he has to take a risk and go up and get it.
“I see that athletic side of him. I just need to see more of the toughness side of him, especially in this Cover 2 scheme, when it’s the corners and the linebackers who have to come up and make plays, come up and make tackles. So, we are going to see if he is one of those guys that can make tackles.”
Continue reading...