Tenth in a series breaking down the Cowboys by position (previous entries):
Roster locks: Terence Newman, Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick
Good bets: None
On the bubble: Jamar Wall, Cletis Gordon, Bryan McCann
Long shots: None
This is a good group.
I absolutely love Mike Jenkins. This should be the year he gets voted into the Pro Bowl, not as an alternate. There’s not much he can’t do. He can play press. He can play off. He drives well on the ball. He’s physical. He plays the ball well in the air. He plays with instinct. And he’s a good enough tackler.
Terence Newman has really been up and down in recent years. He still can run, knows how to play tight man and has the ability to play the ball in the air. Tackling is not his strength. At his age, you have to worry about his durability.
Orlando Scandrick is a gritty, gutsy type of cover guy. He plays in the slot, which is the most difficult position to cover. He has to carry a man all over the field. He went through a rough stretch after his Week 2 start against the Giants but rallied to finish the season strong. He can play slot or outside and has been used at safety some, too. He’s fearless as a tackler and has good instincts to read routes. He can probably take Newman’s spot in the not-too-distant future.
Depth isn’t a significant concern, because safeties Alan Ball and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah can play corner. Ball would be the third corner if a member of the established trio gets injured.
Cletis Gordon has an edge over the other bubble guys because of his familiarity with the coaches and the system. Jamar Wall was a draft pick, but he struggled in minicamp. Practice squad is the likely destination for Wall and Bryan McCann.