Morris Claiborne Ready To Be Challenged
By Mike Dyce
Overall it was a quiet preseason game from Dallas Cowboy’s cornerback Morris Claiborne. He had 2 tackles, 1 on a bubble scree and one on a curl. Opposite the field though Brandon Carr had a little more exciting of a day. He had two interceptions against the San Diego Chargers in the Cowboys’ second preseason game.
Morris Claiborne though said with Carr playing the way he is that he expects more balls to come his way and challenge him. Claiborne also said not only is he ready for it, he’s dealt with it before.
“I told (Carr) that I’ve already been in this situation before where if he keeps going, what he’s doing, people aren’t going to come to him no more. They’re going to start at me,” Claiborne said. “I felt that same situation a couple of years ago with Patrick (Peterson at LSU).”
Not to mention playing with Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu last season. But what I like about this comment is the foresight on Claiborne’s part. He is anticipating the ball and anticipating to be challenged. Claiborne is preparing for it, and with a cool quiet confidence as well.
“I was looking for them to come after me every snap,” Claiborne said. “I just tried to play as honest and as square as I could.”
That kind of “swagger” and confidence is something the Cowboys have needed from that position. And if Carr keeps playing at this level throughout the season the Cowboys should be much better against the pass. The Cowboys last year were 23rd against the pass and allowed 244.1 yards per game last season.
“It was the first time playing in a game since the national championship,” he said, “but just being out there with my teammates, running around with those guys, it was fun.”
Morris Claiborne also isn’t worried about his injury plagued offseason so far.
“That’s behind me now,” Claiborne said. “I missed a lot of time, but I can’t sit back and dwell and wish I could get those snaps back. I wish I could but I know I can’t, so it’s time to move on from there and continue to battle with my teammates every day.”
Nevertheless he is ready for whatever will come his way.