Cowboys: Orlando Scandrick is Good but Replaceable

Aug 23, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback

(32) against the Miami Dolphins during their game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys suffered their first major injury of camp Tuesday, losing cornerback Orlando Scandrick for the 2015 season.

It seems to happen every year, to every team – a major season-ending injury to a top player. Last year for the Cowboys it was Sean Lee, the year before it was Tyrone Crawford, and this year it’s Orlando Scandrick.

Scandrick, affectionately known as “Scandy” by his teammates, planted and fell awkwardly, tearing both his ACL and MCL, injuries that will require season-ending surgery. The seven year vet out of Boise State has developed into one the Cowboys’ most reliable defensive backs since being drafted in the 5^th round of the 2008 draft.

Orlando Scandrick, rated by multiple scouting and advanced statistic sites as the highest-rated Cowboys CB over the past three seasons, will truly be missed this season, but that doesn’t mean he’s irreplaceable. The “next man up” transition will obviously not be seamless, but the Cowboys have the talent to deal with it.

Orlando has always been unique in that he starts as a top-2 outside CB, and moves inside to cover the slot in nickel situations. Not many of the top-rated CBs in the NFL do that move on a regular basis. The Cowboys won’t be able to replace Scandrick with one do-it-all player, but they appear to have the personnel to be able cover his loss with a group effort.

Here is how the Cowboys will replace Orlando Scandrick…