Cowboys set to go with three rookies in secondary against Giants
10:36 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas -- With Orlando Scandrick out for Sunday's game against the New York Giants because of two transverse process fractures, the Dallas Cowboys are looking at going with three rookies at cornerback.
Chidobe Awuzie, the team's second-round pick, made his first start of the season at outside cornerback in the win over the Washington Redskins, with sixth-rounder Xavier Woods handling nickel spot. Jourdan Lewis, a third-round pick, is looking to replace Scandrick.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said he has never had rookies as his top three cornerbacks.
Rookies Jourdan Lewis, Chidobe Awuzie and Xavier Woods -- all drafted to remake the Cowboys' secondary -- are set to be the top three cornerbacks Sunday against Eli Manning. AP Photo/Ron Jenkins, File
"The key is you just keep peeling your defense back," Marinelli said. "Make sure you don't make mistakes, keep everything in front of us. They're the ceiling to the whole house, keep it in front of us and make them earn it down the road. Got a lot of confidence. They've got a lot of energy right now. They're excited. And so that's fun. Ears are open. They're ready to play so it's our job to help them."
Awuzie had three pass breakups against Washington after being limited for most of the season with a hamstring strain. Woods had four tackles and a season-high two quarterback pressures. Lewis had three tackles playing in the dime package before Scandrick left the game.
The Cowboys drafted all three with the idea of remaking the secondary after letting Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Barry Church walk in free agency. They signed Nolan Carroll in free agency, but he was released earlier in the season after Lewis showed he was ready for a larger role. Anthony Brown's role was reduced after his struggles, which led to Awuzie playing more. Now Scandrick is hurt.
"We said this before even rookie minicamp we want to be one of the best DB groups as a whole, not just rookies but as a whole coming into this league," Woods said. "We haven't been but that definitely takes time. But we have the athletes and the ability to do so."
Eli Manning is returning to the Giants' starting lineup Sunday, and the veteran quarterback will be staring at a young secondary.
Lewis isn't worried about being targeted.
"I just go out there and execute my game plan regardless of whatever goes on," he said. "I'm just looking at the receivers, what they like to do in certain situations and formations and those things like that."
Marinelli wants the youngsters to be patient.
"You can't bite the cheese, man," Marinelli said. "You can't go up and start biting. You've got to stay back, stay back. That's hard because you're in zone and you see some guy there and as soon as you take a step up it's over your head. It's all drill work and understanding what we've got to do and just have fun coaching these guys."
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This is actually something to get a little excited about. We have 3 legit rookie DBs and they have all earned the opportunity for this playing time. It's also a little interesting that Woods is being used as a nickle corner. From what I have seen he does a pretty good job at it. He is one of our few DBs who understands zone concepts. Plus he adds some run defense so you can basically run the nickle as your base defense.