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IRVING – Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick doesn’t want to hear any talk about how tough it is to cover slot receivers in today’s pass-happy NFL.
“I don’t think anybody cares,” he said Tuesday. “I think they just want the end result. And the end result is, you give up a first down, you suck. Replace you.
“I live by the saying, 90 percent of the people don’t care about your problems and the other 10 percent is happy you got them.”
Those comments pretty much sum up Scandrick. He’s blunt, unflinching and always sports what coach Jason Garrett describes as a boulder-like chip on his shoulder.
“That’s the way I live my life,” said Scandrick, a 2008 fifth-round pick for the Cowboys who replaced struggling, injury-hampered 2012 first-round pick Mo Claiborne as a starter this season.
“I always have something to prove. I always have a goal. I’m never content and I’m always striving for the best, for excellence.”
Many times this season, he’s achieved that goal. In stating his case for his first Pro Bowl berth, Scandrick has career highs in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (12). And, according to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed just 0.75 yards per cover snap, which ranks fifth among corners.
“Ever since he’s walked on campus, he’s played above expectations,” Jerry Jones told Dallas’ KRLD-FM. “He’s indispensable back there for us.”
Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin also heaped praise on Scandrick, comparing him to former Tampa Bay star Ronde Barber, who could also play both the slot and outside, and suggesting he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level.
“Orlando is really having an outstanding year,” Kiffin said. “I had heard he was supposed to be a good player. I know somebody made a statement that slot corners, nickel corners, don’t make the Pro Bowl. Well, he’s not just a nickel corner. He plays outside, too. He’s a starter outside. He has been all year. He moves in to play the nickel.
“Now, that’s even harder than just being a corner outside all day long and starting every game and never coming off the field. He’s great.”
Said coach Jason Garrett, “He’s had some really big, important games for us.”
That was definitely true last week in the 24-21 win over the New York Giants. After begging the coaches to let him cover Victor Cruz, Scandrick held the Pro Bowl receiver to just two catches for 47 yards and stripped the ball from him in the first quarter, a tone-setting takeaway that resulted in safety Jeff Heath scoring on a 50-yard return.
A few days later, Cruz blamed his meager production on Scandrick cheating.
“He always holds on every play,” Cruz told NJ.com. “…He grabs and holds on everyone.”
Told Cruz’s comments, Scandrick responded in a manner that reflects his high level of self-confidence.
“I know it might have felt like it was two guys on him, or a double team,” Scandrick said. “But what I say to that is, I didn’t have one penalty.”
Scandrick said his stellar play this season is a result of hours spent studying opponents.
But the biggest contributing factor to Scandrick’s rise just may be his attitude.
“I mean, he’ll have a little edge at practice today,” Garrett said. “That’s part of what makes him a really good football player.”
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“I don’t think anybody cares,” he said Tuesday. “I think they just want the end result. And the end result is, you give up a first down, you suck. Replace you.
“I live by the saying, 90 percent of the people don’t care about your problems and the other 10 percent is happy you got them.”
Those comments pretty much sum up Scandrick. He’s blunt, unflinching and always sports what coach Jason Garrett describes as a boulder-like chip on his shoulder.
“That’s the way I live my life,” said Scandrick, a 2008 fifth-round pick for the Cowboys who replaced struggling, injury-hampered 2012 first-round pick Mo Claiborne as a starter this season.
“I always have something to prove. I always have a goal. I’m never content and I’m always striving for the best, for excellence.”
Many times this season, he’s achieved that goal. In stating his case for his first Pro Bowl berth, Scandrick has career highs in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (12). And, according to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed just 0.75 yards per cover snap, which ranks fifth among corners.
“Ever since he’s walked on campus, he’s played above expectations,” Jerry Jones told Dallas’ KRLD-FM. “He’s indispensable back there for us.”
Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin also heaped praise on Scandrick, comparing him to former Tampa Bay star Ronde Barber, who could also play both the slot and outside, and suggesting he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level.
“Orlando is really having an outstanding year,” Kiffin said. “I had heard he was supposed to be a good player. I know somebody made a statement that slot corners, nickel corners, don’t make the Pro Bowl. Well, he’s not just a nickel corner. He plays outside, too. He’s a starter outside. He has been all year. He moves in to play the nickel.
“Now, that’s even harder than just being a corner outside all day long and starting every game and never coming off the field. He’s great.”
Said coach Jason Garrett, “He’s had some really big, important games for us.”
That was definitely true last week in the 24-21 win over the New York Giants. After begging the coaches to let him cover Victor Cruz, Scandrick held the Pro Bowl receiver to just two catches for 47 yards and stripped the ball from him in the first quarter, a tone-setting takeaway that resulted in safety Jeff Heath scoring on a 50-yard return.
A few days later, Cruz blamed his meager production on Scandrick cheating.
“He always holds on every play,” Cruz told NJ.com. “…He grabs and holds on everyone.”
Told Cruz’s comments, Scandrick responded in a manner that reflects his high level of self-confidence.
“I know it might have felt like it was two guys on him, or a double team,” Scandrick said. “But what I say to that is, I didn’t have one penalty.”
Scandrick said his stellar play this season is a result of hours spent studying opponents.
But the biggest contributing factor to Scandrick’s rise just may be his attitude.
“I mean, he’ll have a little edge at practice today,” Garrett said. “That’s part of what makes him a really good football player.”
Continue reading...