Cowboys Free Agency blog Part 3 of 5: Cornerback

It’s time for part three of this five-part series on possible Free Agents for the Dallas Cowboys. In the previous installments we’ve looked at Defensive End and Offensive Tackle. The Cowboys defense was much improved under Rod Marinelli but it still lacked production that was expected of Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. Claiborne hasn’t played much because of a shoulder injury in 2013 and a torn patellar tendon in 2014. Brandon Carr hasn’t produced up to his salary. Orlando Scandrick was their best corner, but often covers the slot in Nickel packages. Sterling Moore and Tyler Patmon weren’t bad, but definitely a weakness on this team. Cornerback is high on the list for the ‘Boys, either in the draft or free agency. Brandon Carr may be released to clear cap room, maybe for one of these players.

Kareem Jackson 5-10 188

57 tackles, 3 Int

Kareem is a physical corner despite his size. Has averaged 56 tackles, 10 pass breakups and 2 interceptions per season in his five-year career. Has existing Jason Garrett connections having played for Wade Phillips in Houston and for Nick Saban at Alabama

Kyle Wilson 5-10 190

26 tackles, 0 Int 

The former 1^st round pick (29^th) has played Nickel for the Jets for the past two years after two years as a starter.  Would be an upgrade over Sterling Moore and Tyler Patmon as Nickel and Dime corner. Playing under a more simplified system under Marinelli could get maximum potential out of Wilson.

Brandon Flowers 5-9 187

52 tackles, 3 Int 

Flowers is the most decorated of the three corners. The former Pro Bowler has a lack for finding the football having amassed 20 interceptions and 101 passes defended in his seven-year NFL career. Played for the San Diego Chargers in 2014 after six seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

I’m a big fan of both Jackson and Flowers as possible replacements for Brandon Carr. Kyle Wilson would be a good fit at Nickel and would allow Scandrick to matchup with the offenses best receiver. We shall see how committed the Cowboys are to both Claiborne and Carr.

@geoffrey_craig

Garrett's Process is Running Out of Time

Trust the process. This is what Jason Garrett preaches every week in press conferences whatever the result – win by 20 or lose by 20. Get better each day.  Don’t get caught up in results. The Cowboys need a new process to trust in. This one has only led to mediocrity. 

After a surprising Eagles loss to the lowly Vikings, and Dallas jumping out to a 26-3 halftime lead over a Packers team without Aaron Rodgers, Dallas was in prime position to retake the lead in the NFC East. However, the team collapsed in the second half and lost 37-36. This loss had everything America’s team has become known for: an injury riddled defense that has made Josh McCown and Matt Flynn look like Dan Marino and John Elway, in consecutive weeks, gave up 5 touchdowns on 5 possessions. The coaching staff made the questionable decision to throw the football while they were leading 36-31 late in the fourth quarter in one of the few games this season where Demarco Muarry and the offensive line had established the run game. Muarry piled up 134 yards on 18 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. Tony Romo threw two late fourth quarter interceptions.  There were even off the field distractions with Dez Bryant walking to the locker room before the Packers took a knee to end the game. The usually predictable Garrett called out his quarterback in the post-game press conference saying Tony changed the play to a throw on the critical interception that led to the Packers go-ahead touchdown.  Both of these issues will be talked about at length on ESPN this week with the headline “Trouble in Big D?”. The national media will question the maturity of Dez Bryant, and the leadership of Tony Romo all week. Those are the least of the Cowboy’s worries though.

Maybe it’s a Thanksgiving hangover, or the spirit of giving during the holidays that makes Dallas so generous to their opponents late in the year. The Cowboys are 7-10 in the months of December and January under Jason Garrett. Even with all the turmoil of the past two weeks the Cowboys still control their own destiny in the playoff race. If they win their last two games they would get to host a wild-card playoff game in Jerry World.  They travel to Washington next week to face another backup quarterback in Kirk Cousins, and a coach in Mike Shanahan who seems to be doing everything in his power to get fired at the end of the year. The season will probably come down to another winner-take-all division game this time against the Eagles at home. Based on what’s happened the last few weeks, and the last few years, there isn’t much reason to have confidence in this team making the playoffs. Garett calling out Romo is uncharacteristic of him, and it’s indicative of a coach who is worried about his job. Jerry Jones said Garett was safe next year, but that doesn’t mean anything. If he really wanted to give him a sense of security, he would have given him a contract extension. There is a lot on the line for Dallas in their last two games, and for the sake of Garrett’s job, they better trust the process extra hard these next two weeks.

Stephen Simcox

@SimcoxStephen

@RiffRamSports