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Pain isn't going away for Morris Claiborne, who says he's just got to deal with it - Charean Williams, Star-Telegram
Looks like Claiborne's dislocated shoulder won't get any better this season, and it likely will require surgery after the season.
"I don’t know about the surgery stuff just yet, but I know it’s going to be here throughout the season," Claiborne said. "I’ll probably be in the brace the whole season. ...I’ve just got to do it. I don’t think it’s going to be difficult. Just put it behind you and deal with the pain factor later on."
Orlando Scandrick is making his mark as a starting corner and a special teams ace - Charean Williams, Star-Telegram
With Claiborne hampered by his dislocated shoulder, Scandrick is stepping up as the starting right corner for the Cowboys, and isn't "just" the nickel corner anymore.
"Scandrick did some good things," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "Orlando’s a good football player. He’s one of those guys that sometimes you pigeon hole guys and say, ‘Hey, he’s an inside guy. He’s a nickel.' He’s got a little something to him. He always has. A little bit of a chip on his shoulder, kind of like a bolder [sic] or a mountain. We think that’s good. He brings that with every opportunity we give him, whether it’s a as teams guy or an inside cover guy, as a nickel or as an outside guy. I thought he competed well with some good receivers."
Dez Bryant sees focused Cortland Finnegan - Calvin Watkins, ESPN Dallas
If there's one player Finnegan is likely to target with his trash-talking and taunting antics, it's going to be Dez Bryant. But Bryant seems to think Finnegan will keep more to himself than he's done in the past.
"He's a great player," Bryant said. "He’s got great instincts. He’s very quick. Great player. I think he’s kind of different now. I don’t really see him talk that much. You can tell if somebody is talking. You can see it on the film. It doesn’t look like he does it that much. He seems more focused on his business."
Better be ready for it, Dez.
Spotlight on Dallas Cowboys rookie center Travis Frederick - Rainer Sabin, DMN
Frederick said he learned a lesson in the Kansas City game after getting beat twice for a sack.
"Things like that happen," Frederick said. "Obviously you don’t want it to happen. But if it does happen, you have to be able to play the rest of the game. If you mess up early on in the game and don’t play later in the game it’s going to hurt everybody worse. I’m better than I was when I got here, but you just need to continue working on it. This is going to be the third game."
Cowboys pose big challenge for struggling Rams pass defense - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The Rams pass defense is near the bottom of the league rankings in almost every major statistical category.
- They rank 27th in passing yards allowed per game and 24th in yards allowed per attempt (8.4).
- Their defensive passer rating of 107.5 ranks 28th in the league.
- The Rams' defense is tied for 31st in third-down efficiency (51.9%)
Slowing the Cowboys' passing game will be a huge challenge for a Rams' team that has struggled with just about every aspect of pass defense so far, whether it be defending the deep ball, providing safety help for the corners, or reacting quickly enough to underneath throws.
St. Louis Rams' Defensive Troubles: Putting Them Into Perspective - Turf Show Times
The St. Louis Rams' defense is currently ranked 25th in points allowed, heading into Week 3 of the NFL season. The Rams gave up 661 passing yards in the first two games. The guys over at TST put these numbers into perspective.
Chip Kelly needs a new sales pitch after losses - Phil Sheridan, ESPN
Sheridan is subtly suggesting that Chip Kelly may be losing the locker room in Philly.
Can the Skins slow down Calvin Johnson? - Comcast SportsNet Washington
Yeah, probably not. That would be a tall order for a pass defense that ranks last in the league with a staggering 135.3 defensive passer rating after two games.
For winless Giants, game against Panthers is crucial - New York Post
Paul Schwartz writes that the Giants like to think of themselves as keeping elite company. Yet their record indicates that they're anything but: a minus eight turnover ratio and only two sacks are part of the reason they are now one of the eight worst teams in the NFL.
Time for some of that special Carolina humble pie. Go get 'em, Cam!