Backed In A Corner
Cowboys Count On Newman But Getting Reeves Ready
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IRVING, Texas - It's a rollercoaster ride here at Valley Ranch, and it seems like the entire cornerback position is on it.
One day the position looks a certain way, and it's rather different the next.
Here we are, less than a week before Sunday's season opener against the Giants, and the Cowboys appear to have a big problem at the cornerback position.
Or do they?
The question is hard to answer considering the unknown status of Terence Newman, the team's starting left cornerback the last four seasons who not only missed the last three preseason games with a partial tear in his plantar fascia, but Monday's practice as well. Newman joined his teammates on the field about 20 minutes into practice wearing workout clothes, though he did have on cleats. But he only stood near the defensive backs during the portion of practice open to the media.
While Newman wasn't in the locker room Monday and didn't talk to reporters, his head coach did. And Phillips' tune hasn't changed from last week, when he sounded unsure if he'd have his best cornerback on the field.
"He's walking better, feeling better (but) we hadn't put him on the field yet," Phillips said of Newman. "So we're like all the guys that are not practicing - we're working like they are not going to be there but they are working mentally like they are. That's our approach."
But the simple fact that Newman is not 100 percent ready makes it hard to understand just why the Cowboys parted ways with veteran cornerback Aaron Glenn over the weekend as part of the 21 roster cuts that brought them to the 53-player limit.
That leaves the Cowboys counting on fourth-year veteran Jacques Reeves to start in Newman's place if he can't go.
And any thoughts of bringing back Glenn were lost Monday when the 13-year veteran signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"It's not to knock Aaron Glenn, because he's got value to a team certainly, (but) we felt the guys we kept are value to our team," Phillips said of Glenn. "We gained a lot from him being here certainly. Because (his teammates) were around him in the meeting. They saw how a real pro acts and how a real pro gets ready to play.
"But all of those decisions are tough. It's a situation with players certainly and coaches. Everybody's going to get cut at some time."
Phillips said Glenn simply didn't meet the overall criteria of making the squad. The coach listed several areas, such as the ability to start now, the chances of being a future starter and the player's special teams value. Glenn, who turned 35 in July, didn't play special teams and obviously wasn't a long-term answer at cornerback. And when it came down to it, the Cowboys just felt more comfortable with Reeves as the third corner.
Phillips said Reeves, a former seventh-round draft pick in 2004, will start in place of Newman if he can't go Sunday. Even if Newman plays, Reeves will be the next cornerback in line on the nickel and dime packages.
But Phillips is still hoping for a starting duo that features Newman on the left side and Anthony Henry on the right. Behind them will be Reeves and Jones, along with newly-acquired Evan Oglesby, a two-year vet who was claimed off waivers from the Ravens after getting released at final cuts on Saturday.
Phillips said he expects Oglesby to contribute early on special teams while he learns the new defensive system.
Oglesby played in all 16 games for the Ravens last year, mostly as the nickel corner. He had 16 tackles and two pass breakups.
"It's not easy to come to another team and try to step right in," said Oglesby, who originally signed with the Bills in 2005 as an undrafted rookie free agent, but joined the Ravens later that season. "But I'm looking forward to come in here and helping in anyway I can. Hopefully I can come in and make this team better somehow."
And Oglesby should know a thing or two about good defenses, having been a part of Baltimore's stingy unit that ranked No. 1 in the league in both yards and points allowed. Oglesby said he learned a lot just by being a part of a defense that featured two of the best defensive players in the NFL in linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed.
"Hopefully, I can bring what I learned from Ray and Ed and bring it here to the Cowboys," Oglesby said. "It looks like we've got a good group of guys here, good leaders. So I'm just hoping I can get in here and pick it up quickly."
But certainly the Cowboys won't be relying solely on Oglesby here in the early going. That means Jones, who has played mostly on special teams his first three years, will likely be asked to contribute in the dime package, too.
Jones was considered a surprise to make the final roster, considering he didn't play much on defense in the last two preseason games. And when he did get extensive time in the second game against Denver, he allowed a 90-yard touchdown pass in the second half.
But while Glenn and recently-released Joey Thomas might have made a few more plays in the preseason, Jones makes up for it on special teams. And assuming Newman and Henry are healthy, and Reeves is ready to contribute in the extra packages, Jones' main role will consist of covering punts and kickoffs, something he's excelled at the last few years.
"Nate and Jacques are really, really good at that," punter Mat McBriar said of his two key cover guys. "They are two of our best guys. You can see that on the film."
But apparently, Reeves has been effective on more than just special teams.
Earlier in the preseason, Phillips said he noticed Reeves taking a more conservative approach at the position, making sure receivers didn't get past him to allow a big play. But as a result, he was giving too much cushion and giving up too many catches underneath.
"He's been a solid player in that he's been safe - you're not going to make a big play on him but he wasn't making the big play," Phillips said of Reeves. "I thought when we challenged him to start doing that I thought he did better and better. Of course he's got great speed and we know that. But he's learning to utilize that speed."
Reeves, a usually quiet person in the locker room, was virtually no different on Monday, despite a rare hoard of reporters at his locker.
"This is a chance to show what I can do," said Reeves, who has only started one game in his career and none since his rookie year in 2004. "Everyone wants to be a starter. Everybody wants to get on the field and I have a good opportunity this week."
While Phillips has commended Reeves for his improved play, he also is a realist. He knows the Cowboys will lose some versatility, not to mention overall talent, if Newman can't play and the team is forced to start Reeves.
In that scenario, Phillips said the Cowboys would have to adjust their defensive strategy, which usually calls for Newman to play in man coverage, often against the team's top receiver. But if Reeves has to play instead, Phillips said they will make changes.
"If (a cornerback) can't play man to man, we won't," Phillips said. "If his strength isn't man-to-man, then we'll help him.
"(Jacques) can play both. But he's not Terence Newman or he'd be starting. We'll try to utilize what he can. If we don't have a guy (like that), we'll play more zone or man with some help. Or sometimes we'll say, 'Hey, you've got to cover him on this play.' But it really just depends on the player."
And the Cowboys can only hope when it's time to play Sunday night, they'll have their best player available at the cornerback position.
Zero ,Zilch, Notta he was just on Jim Rome and said he wants to see his daughter graduate from high school .She's a Sophomore and he is not going to miss that part of her life . her sports and prom stuff and whatever.