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Dallas Cowboys need to keep eye on Senior Bowl corners
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
jhubbard@star-telegram.com
MOBILE, Ala. -- Perhaps it was a misdirection play, designed to discourage teams with the 10th picks or later in the NFL Draft to not attempt to trade up.
When Jerry Jones made the statement earlier in the week at the Senior Bowl practices here, there was no protrusion on either cheek. His tongue appeared to be in place and he appeared to be sincere.
But it is true that with tape recorders running, the Dallas Cowboys owner said, "Frankly our corners -- if you compare us to other teams across the league -- we're in good shape at corner."
That was a rather startling statement about the cornerbacks. Terence Newman had his good moments during the 2010 season -- particularly in the last three games when he had three interceptions.
But Mike Jenkins struggled with key penalties. After intercepting five passes and making the Pro Bowl in 2009, Jenkins had one interception and had an off year.
Orlando Scandrick was effective off the bench, but he is a good fit in the role of third cornerback.
On a national conference call Wednesday, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. pulled no punches when asked what he thought Dallas might do with the No. 9 picks in the April draft.
"They have got to hope that Prince Amukamara is there," Kiper said. "That's a critical need for the Cowboys."
Amukamara, a 6-foot-1, 205-pounder from Nebraska, is the second-rated cornerback in the draft behind Patrick Peterson of LSU. Several teams picking ahead of the Cowboys also need cornerbacks, but also have other needs. Some early projections have Amukamara available at No. 9.
After saying he was OK with his cornerbacks, however, Jones did say: "That doesn't mean we wouldn't look at a corner."
It's safe to say that if the Cowboys look back at tape of some of their cornerback play, they will be looking hard to improve the cornerback position.
Money matters
Jeremy Kerley has continued chasing his dream here this week and he's thrilled to be getting close to a nice paycheck. The TCU wide receiver-returner and TCU sprinter Krystal Juarez have a 2-year-old son named Dae'Shone. Going to school, competing in college athletics and raising a child has not been easy, but the money Kerley should get as a projected third- or fourth-round pick will be put to good use.
"It's great anticipation," Kerley said. "I don't put in enough time with my son during football, so anytime I can get with him it's a great time. Hopefully this experience will be great not only for me, but for them too."
South coach Chan Gailey, the former Cowboys coach now in Buffalo, has been impressed by Kerley's savvy.
"He's got a pretty good understanding of the game," Gailey said. "He catches on quickly."
But Gailey noted at 5-10, 190, Kerley will face tremendous competition for a long-term job.
"He's got some quickness and some speed that makes him a little unique," Gailey said. "I'll be interested to see how he does. There are a lot of guys like him. He's going to have to be fairly unique to make it. But a couple of the intangibles I've seen so far have been positives."
Kerley is not intimidated by the task.
"You've got to take it and run with it," he said. "Being that there are a lot of guys like you, you've got to find something about you that's a little different, that separates you from other guys. Every time I come out here I try to find something and capitalize on it. I'm excited about this, and I come out here every day to work."
Miller time
One of the most impressive players in practice is Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. Miller has been projected most of the time as a late first-rounder, but there is a lot of time between now and April for him to rise in the first round.
"Von Miller would fit in any defense," Chan Gailey said. "He looks like he's a very explosive player. He's one of the few guys I happened to see and watch on TV a little bit during the season. He's an explosive football player. I think he's going to be good for whoever gets him. He'd help us just like he'd help a lot of teams."
The Bills have the No. 3 pick in the draft.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/01/26/2800474/dallas-cowboys-need-to-keep-eye.html##ixzz1CEhquGTH
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011
jhubbard@star-telegram.com
MOBILE, Ala. -- Perhaps it was a misdirection play, designed to discourage teams with the 10th picks or later in the NFL Draft to not attempt to trade up.
When Jerry Jones made the statement earlier in the week at the Senior Bowl practices here, there was no protrusion on either cheek. His tongue appeared to be in place and he appeared to be sincere.
But it is true that with tape recorders running, the Dallas Cowboys owner said, "Frankly our corners -- if you compare us to other teams across the league -- we're in good shape at corner."
That was a rather startling statement about the cornerbacks. Terence Newman had his good moments during the 2010 season -- particularly in the last three games when he had three interceptions.
But Mike Jenkins struggled with key penalties. After intercepting five passes and making the Pro Bowl in 2009, Jenkins had one interception and had an off year.
Orlando Scandrick was effective off the bench, but he is a good fit in the role of third cornerback.
On a national conference call Wednesday, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. pulled no punches when asked what he thought Dallas might do with the No. 9 picks in the April draft.
"They have got to hope that Prince Amukamara is there," Kiper said. "That's a critical need for the Cowboys."
Amukamara, a 6-foot-1, 205-pounder from Nebraska, is the second-rated cornerback in the draft behind Patrick Peterson of LSU. Several teams picking ahead of the Cowboys also need cornerbacks, but also have other needs. Some early projections have Amukamara available at No. 9.
After saying he was OK with his cornerbacks, however, Jones did say: "That doesn't mean we wouldn't look at a corner."
It's safe to say that if the Cowboys look back at tape of some of their cornerback play, they will be looking hard to improve the cornerback position.
Money matters
Jeremy Kerley has continued chasing his dream here this week and he's thrilled to be getting close to a nice paycheck. The TCU wide receiver-returner and TCU sprinter Krystal Juarez have a 2-year-old son named Dae'Shone. Going to school, competing in college athletics and raising a child has not been easy, but the money Kerley should get as a projected third- or fourth-round pick will be put to good use.
"It's great anticipation," Kerley said. "I don't put in enough time with my son during football, so anytime I can get with him it's a great time. Hopefully this experience will be great not only for me, but for them too."
South coach Chan Gailey, the former Cowboys coach now in Buffalo, has been impressed by Kerley's savvy.
"He's got a pretty good understanding of the game," Gailey said. "He catches on quickly."
But Gailey noted at 5-10, 190, Kerley will face tremendous competition for a long-term job.
"He's got some quickness and some speed that makes him a little unique," Gailey said. "I'll be interested to see how he does. There are a lot of guys like him. He's going to have to be fairly unique to make it. But a couple of the intangibles I've seen so far have been positives."
Kerley is not intimidated by the task.
"You've got to take it and run with it," he said. "Being that there are a lot of guys like you, you've got to find something about you that's a little different, that separates you from other guys. Every time I come out here I try to find something and capitalize on it. I'm excited about this, and I come out here every day to work."
Miller time
One of the most impressive players in practice is Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. Miller has been projected most of the time as a late first-rounder, but there is a lot of time between now and April for him to rise in the first round.
"Von Miller would fit in any defense," Chan Gailey said. "He looks like he's a very explosive player. He's one of the few guys I happened to see and watch on TV a little bit during the season. He's an explosive football player. I think he's going to be good for whoever gets him. He'd help us just like he'd help a lot of teams."
The Bills have the No. 3 pick in the draft.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/01/26/2800474/dallas-cowboys-need-to-keep-eye.html##ixzz1CEhquGTH