Dallas Cowboys: Is Orlando Scandrick helping or hurting?

Throughout training camp it was made abundantly clear Orlando Scandrick was the Dallas Cowboys top cornerback, but now he may now be just a liability.

The Dallas Cowboys courageously revamped their secondary in the offseason. Among those moves was the dispatch of starting cornerbacks, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne. Despite a troubling recent injury history, Orlando Scandrick, the nine year veteran and “OG” of the secondary, was wisely retained.

His fiery personality has endeared him to coaches, fans, and teammates alike. Long considered a resilient overachiever, the 30-year –old Scandrick is the perfect competitor to rebuild around. While Carr and Claiborne boasted considerably more natural skills, they possessed the killer instinct reminiscent of the Bubble Guppies (yeah, I’m a dad).

Scandrick, on the other hand, was born abrasive and has never stood down to a challenge. At least not since joining the Cowboys. As I mentioned a few months ago, Scandrick’s attitude is exactly what this secondary needs – especially when grooming rookies. Theoretically he’s the perfect bridge from the old guard to the next generation.

But his recent hand injury may have just spend up that transition…

Scandrick, the Playmaker

For as much as I’ve sung Scandy’s praises over the years, I’ve been extremely critical of his playmaking ability. With only eight interceptions in nine seasons, he’s not exactly Deion Sanders out there. Heck, a bean bag chair sitting on the 50-yard line could probably pull in more interceptions than Scandrick has.

And THAT is the problem.

Interceptions may seem like an overrated statistic to some, but it’s not to offensive coordinators nor is it to opposing quarterbacks. On any given offensive play, a turnover represents the worst case scenario. Avoiding the worst case scenario is essentially what’s made Dak Prescott so darn successful. Turnovers end careers and when offensive coordinators and quarterbacks don’t have to fear it from you, you quickly become a consequence-free target.

As stated earlier, Orlando Scandrick has never been a turnover machine. In fact, he’s defied odds with his lack of success. But with the current hand fracture inhibiting him even further, he’s become nothing short of a liability.

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State of the Secondary

The current state of the Dallas Cowboys secondary is not well. Battered and bruised, they are desperate for bodies, and frankly, lucky to have a guy like Scanrick in the ranks. But if the Cowboys coaching staff is wise, his days should be numbered.

Currently, the Cowboys have three cornerbacks ranked in Pro Football Focus’ top-50 (technically four players but Chidobe Awuzie doesn’t qualify for ranking since he only has 43 snaps under his belt).

Rookie Jourdan Lewis is ranked No. 11, with second year man Anthony Brown at No. 48. Sandwiched between them is our old buddy Orlando Scandrick at No. 36. And rightfully so. Scandy is always in tight coverage and this offseason he won honorable mention as the best CB against double moves.

Whether it’s inside in the slot or outside on the edge, Scandrick seems to always provide tight coverage. The problem is he just doesn’t get the job done. Close is great in horseshoes and hand grenades, but as a cornerback, it’s just not enough.

Once you develop a reputation as a guy who can’t catch, the tight coverage becomes a nonfactor. Add on a hand injury and you have a consequence-free target. And that is worse than even an unknown rookie because an unknown rookie at least has the threat of making a play.

Next: Can this free agent CB save the Cowboys secondary?

Next Step

I’m going to watch one more game of film before I start calling for the young guys, but it’s clear that Orlando Scandrick (and to an even greater extent, Nolan Carroll) has become a liability. If the Dallas Cowboys can get healthy in the ranks, they’d be wise to start the transition sooner rather than later.