News: ST: Jerry Jones disappointed in the play of former high draft picks Morris Claiborne and...

NewsBot

New Member
Messages
111,281
Reaction score
2,947
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is admittedly disappointed in performances so far of cornerback Morris Claiborne and linebacker Bruce Carter.

Both were expected to be key members of the defense not only for this year but cornerstone players for the future and both have lost their starter jobs just four games into the season.

Claiborne has been replaced by Orlando Scandrick and Carter by Ernie Sims.

"I am disappointed," Jones said Thursday night. "They aren't playing better. I don’t think I'm as disappointed as they are individually."

Jones said both are young players and he believes they will bounce back from their struggles _ though he’s doesn’t deny that he expected more because of what was invested in them.

The Cowboys moved from No. 14 to No. 6 in the first round and gave up a second-round pick, to select Claiborne in the 2012 draft. Carter was a second round pick in 2011.

"I think the real way for me to say it is we would have (done the trade again for Claiborne) because of what we think of him and what we know of him," Jones said. "And those first, second and third-round picks that are good athletes, we think they would have played at a higher level. We don’t have anymore (excuses). But the big thing that I would want to say and I think they will step up their game and correct the kinds of things that are (wrong). There's one thing that you can't correct; a lack of speed or lack of athletic ability."

Claiborne has one interception and nine pass breakups in two seasons.

Carter in second on the team in tackles with 31 and has two sacks this season. But he struggled so bad in pass coverage against the Broncos last week that he lost confidence and was benched in favor of Sims.

"I actually thought Sims played pretty good when he came in the other day and he actually played better than Carter played," Jones said. "I look for Carter to rebound and play better and so I think that will happen. Probably in a game like were playing, where these linebackers are going to not only run but pass defend, we’re going to need both of those guys all day."

Clarence Hill

Continue reading...
 
Top