Scandrick Looks to Capitalize This Time
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO - Orlando Scandrick had this chance before: Sept. 20, 2009, in the Cowboys Stadium inaugural regular-season game against the New York Giants. Mike Jenkins had started the previous game, and head coach Wade Phillips gave Scandrick his turn in the right cornerback competition.
Didn't go so well. Giants receivers Steve Smith and Mario Manningham combined for 284 receiving yards in a 33-31 comeback victory over the Cowboys. Scandrick put much of the blame on himself, and Jenkins took the job for good the following week.
"I always told myself I'm not going to let it slip away again," Scandrick said.
He's got that opportunity now. Typically the team's slot cornerback, a job for 40-50 percent of the plays each game, Scandrick is the Cowboys' second corner on the depth chart now that Terence Newman (groin) is expected to miss the entire preseason and possibly more.
Entering the final year of his contract, Scandrick wants to prove to the Cowboys and the rest of the league that he can juggle two jobs: playing outside on standard downs and moving into slot on nickel downs.
Although it was tough to see his teammate and friend get hurt, Scandrick said he has prepared himself mentally for this moment ever since that forgettable night against the Giants.
"You know, you get into the NFL and you feel, "I'm here, I'll be pretty good,' and you kind of get ahead of yourself," he said. "Things are going to happen and you've got to shake them off. You can't get down. You can't get wide-eyed. I can say I was prepared two years ago, but I'm much more prepared now."
The NFL is full of labels for players. Scandrick doesn't want to be labeled a "nickel corner." He believes he's more than that. Like the entire defense, he had a slow start to last season and felt he didn't show his true ability. He played much better in the final five games, recording 12 tackles, four pass breakups, two sacks, two tackles for loss and one interception.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan likes what he sees from the fourth-year veteran.
"People want to say, 'He's a sub guy.' But this guy is really a special player," Ryan said. "That role is very difficult. He has to be one of the smartest guys on the team and also one of the most talented. We're real fortunate. I think he should be excellent in our system."
If Scandrick is indeed excellent this season, there's a good chance the defense will improve on last year's 23rd ranking. Personally, he'll stand to earn a big contract from someone next year.
"That's my inspiration right now," he said. "I'm playing to win games, but I'm playing for my family. I'm playing for my mom. And I'm playing for this team.
"We win, I play well, good things happen."
Rob Phillips
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO - Orlando Scandrick had this chance before: Sept. 20, 2009, in the Cowboys Stadium inaugural regular-season game against the New York Giants. Mike Jenkins had started the previous game, and head coach Wade Phillips gave Scandrick his turn in the right cornerback competition.
Didn't go so well. Giants receivers Steve Smith and Mario Manningham combined for 284 receiving yards in a 33-31 comeback victory over the Cowboys. Scandrick put much of the blame on himself, and Jenkins took the job for good the following week.
"I always told myself I'm not going to let it slip away again," Scandrick said.
He's got that opportunity now. Typically the team's slot cornerback, a job for 40-50 percent of the plays each game, Scandrick is the Cowboys' second corner on the depth chart now that Terence Newman (groin) is expected to miss the entire preseason and possibly more.
Entering the final year of his contract, Scandrick wants to prove to the Cowboys and the rest of the league that he can juggle two jobs: playing outside on standard downs and moving into slot on nickel downs.
Although it was tough to see his teammate and friend get hurt, Scandrick said he has prepared himself mentally for this moment ever since that forgettable night against the Giants.
"You know, you get into the NFL and you feel, "I'm here, I'll be pretty good,' and you kind of get ahead of yourself," he said. "Things are going to happen and you've got to shake them off. You can't get down. You can't get wide-eyed. I can say I was prepared two years ago, but I'm much more prepared now."
The NFL is full of labels for players. Scandrick doesn't want to be labeled a "nickel corner." He believes he's more than that. Like the entire defense, he had a slow start to last season and felt he didn't show his true ability. He played much better in the final five games, recording 12 tackles, four pass breakups, two sacks, two tackles for loss and one interception.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan likes what he sees from the fourth-year veteran.
"People want to say, 'He's a sub guy.' But this guy is really a special player," Ryan said. "That role is very difficult. He has to be one of the smartest guys on the team and also one of the most talented. We're real fortunate. I think he should be excellent in our system."
If Scandrick is indeed excellent this season, there's a good chance the defense will improve on last year's 23rd ranking. Personally, he'll stand to earn a big contract from someone next year.
"That's my inspiration right now," he said. "I'm playing to win games, but I'm playing for my family. I'm playing for my mom. And I'm playing for this team.
"We win, I play well, good things happen."
