Wade Phillips willing to gamble by going with just three cornerbacks

[Cr122]

Wade Phillips willing to gamble by going with just three cornerbacks

11:40 PM CDT on Monday, September 6, 2010

By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
dmoore@dallasnews.com

IRVING – Give-and-take is required to put together the 53-man roster every season.

On this roster, cornerback is one of the positions that had to give. Terence Newman , Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick are the only corners on the roster. That's the bare minimum.

"How much is the fourth corner going to play?" coach Wade Phillips asked Monday when explaining his rationale. "Probably none, we hope.

"If a fourth corner who isn't going to play is not as good as whatever number offensive lineman or another position, then you take those guys. I think that's the way to develop the best players."

The potential of rookie free-agent safeties Barry Church and Danny McCray, and their ability to impact special teams, played a factor in the club's decision to go with only three corners.

Starting free safety Alan Ball will be the emergency fourth corner. Phillips pointed out that Ball will play the position only if the team loses two corners in a game.

"I hang my hat on being the type of player that gets out and plays whatever when I'm needed," said Ball, who was drafted as a corner and shifted to safety last season. "That's what I've done since I got here."

Rookie Akwasi Owusu-Ansah worked at the slot corner in the team's nickel and dime packages in Oxnard. He will stay at safety, but Phillips said he will get some work at corner.

"I think I can do it," said Owusu-Ansah, a corner in college. "I don't think it's that big of a deal. Nickel and corner are kind of similar, a little minor technique changes between the two, but since California it's been kind of an easy transition."

Still, it's like every year. Phillips and the coaching staff will have to hold their breath and hope for the best at some positions.

Cornerback is at the top of that list this season.

• • •

 

[Cr122]

Well, technically we have five corners with AOA and Alan Ball.

I know we are using them at safety, but if an injury occured they could easily play corner.

 

[cowboys2194]

Well, technically we have five corners with AOA and Alan Ball.

I know we are using them at safety, but if an injury occured they could easily play corner.

Akwasi Owusu-Ansah is the fourth corner
September, 6, 2010 Sep 61:07PM CT By Calvin Watkins

IRVING -- After the Cowboys released Cletis Gordonon Saturday, it left the club with just three cornerbacks, Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick.

The Cowboys rectified this by moving rookie Akwasi Owusu-Ansahfrom safety to corner. In college, Owusu-Ansah lined up in the slot and played corner.

Starting free safety Alan Ball, who played corner in college, will also see some time at the position. During training camp, Ball got some scout team reps at corner. But his main job will play centerfield in the base defense.

The release of Gordon stunned many.

"We thought he did fine, but I don't make the final decision," secondary coach Dave Campo said of Gordon. "We felt it was best for the team."

In three receiver sets, Scandrick will become the slot corner but in other packages, Owusu-Ansah will be on the field.

The Cowboys are not afraid to use young players at corner. Newman started 16 games his rookie year in 2003, and Jenkins reached the Pro Bowl in just his second year. Scandrick has received significant playing time in his first two-years as a pro.

"Whatever the coaches want me to do I'm going to do it," Owusu-Ansah said. "It's good to know yo ucan help the team and make some kind of impact."Share

 

[Cr122]

Well, maybe they think AOA could do whatever Gordon or McCann could do.

I'm just so used to this team hanging on to at least 5 to 6 corners.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I'm more uneasy with this position than any other on the team... by far.

 

[Midswat]

As the article points out . . . AOA and Ball offer great flexibility.

Our reserves at safety were just better than the reserves at corner.

I think Hamlin will do well at safety when Ball has to play corner. And even Church has shown he's serviceable.

In any event . . . I think our pass rush will be strong enough to where our secondary as a whole won't get exposed too often.

 

[sbk92]

I'm more uneasy with this position than any other on the team... by far.

Figures.

I'm losing sleep over it, myself.

 

[Cr122]

Figures.

I'm losing sleep over it, myself.

lol

 

[sbk92]

I don't get the teeth gnashing. Even from the corner whores.

We don't have three cornerbacks. We have five. Two are just listed at S.

Unless you believe the corners we released were better depth, I don't get the concern. Are we playing the 'what if all three top guys go missing, then what huh' cornerback game again?

 

[sbk92]

Our offensive line is in crisis mode and Mikey's beside himself about cornerback depth.

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

I'm more uneasy with this position than any other on the team... by far.

ahum forgetting about the OL

 

[MichaelWinicki]

ahum forgetting about the OL

We have some young guys there that have shown something. Plus you have Barron and Holland who have combined started what? 123 games in the NFL. How many games has Scandrick started? 1. And the Safeties/Cornerbacks/Guards/QBs/Kickers? 0.

 

[sbk92]

ahum forgetting about the OL

Nope.

The turnstile starting offensive line is a mild concern. What really gives him night terrors is that 4th and 5th CB spots.

That's Stephen King-like horror right there.

 

[sbk92]

We have some young guys there that have shown something. Plus you have Barron and Holland who have combined started what? 123 games in the NFL. How many games has Scandrick started? 1. And the Safeties/Cornerbacks/Guards/QBs/Kickers? 0.

Ah. So we have some good looking young offensive lineman as backups. Promising studs like Robert Brewster, Sam Young and Phil Costa.

But Orlando Scandrick, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Alan Ball? Well we're scraping the bottom of the barrel there. Where's the talent?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Nope.

The turnstile starting offensive line is a mild concern. What really gives him night terrors is that 4th and 5th CB spots.

That's Stephen King-like horror right there.

More like George Romero. lol

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Ah. So we have some good looking young offensive lineman as backups. Promising studs like Robert Brewster, Sam Young and Phil Costa.

But Orlando Scandrick, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah and Alan Ball? Well we're scraping the bottom of the barrel there. Where's the talent?

You forgot to mention Holland and Barron as OL depth.

 

[sbk92]

You forgot to mention Holland and Barron as OL depth.

You said we had some promising young players. I didn't think they factored in.

Barron failed in St. Louis. To the tune of Bobby Carpenter looking like a good alternative. Holland has been a career long bum. Where ya been?

There isn't a single backup on that depth chart that I value in the slightest. Scary, when you consider how bad the starting line is.

Correction. We have one good backup. He just happens to be starting at LT now.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You said we had some promising young players. I didn't think they factored in.

Barron failed in St. Louis. To the tune of Bobby Carpenter looking like a good alternative. Holland has been a career long bum. Where ya been?

There isn't a single backup on that depth chart that I value in the slightest. Scary, when you consider how bad the starting line is.

Correction. We have one good backup. He just happens to be starting at LT now.

Experience counts for something. Holland and Barron at least have it.

I'm not saying that the starters on the offensive line are better than the starters at corner.