Henry quietly proves he's real deal
by Todd Archer
IRVING – Attention does not come easy in the Cowboys' secondary.
There is a Pro Bowler at safety in Roy Williams, who is perhaps the biggest hitter in the NFL. There is a Pro Bowler to be at cornerback in Terence Newman, who did not allow a touchdown pass a year ago. There is an ex-Pro Bowler in Aaron Glenn, whose experience helps everybody. Even rookie safety Pat Watkins has even had his moments.
But not much has been said about the Cowboys other starting cornerback, Anthony Henry. Quietly, Henry just does his job.
Through five games, Henry has 28 unassisted tackles, a team-high 11 pass deflections and an interception, which came Sunday vs. Houston and led to a Marion Barber touchdown that iced the game.
"He's a ballhawk kind of kid," coach Bill Parcells said. "He gets his hands on balls. That's what I like about him. He studies pretty well. He was on it [Sunday]."
When the Cowboys signed Henry to a five-year, $25.2 million deal that including a $10 million signing bonus last year, it was met with a general, "Who?"
He spent his first four years in Cleveland but after he intercepted 10 passes as a rookie, which tied him for the NFL lead, he picked off seven passes in the next three seasons.
But the Cowboys had product knowledge, as Jerry Jones called it.
Todd Bowles was Henry's position coach in Cleveland and joined the Cowboys' coaching staff before free agency began.
Although Ken Lucas, Fred Smooth and Gary Baxter may have been bigger names, Jones wanted as close to a sure thing as he could get when giving out $10 million on the spot, so they went with Henry.
In 17 games with the Cowboys, he has 78 tackles, four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 20 pass deflections and a forced fumble. Only Lucas, who signed with Carolina, has more picks (nine) than Henry of that group, and Lucas has played in four more games.
Henry missed four games and six starts last season because of groin injury suffered not long after his 58-yard interception return for a score against Arizona. Although he returned to the field, he was not the same player. He had eight tackles in his final four games and twice he went without a tackle.
This season, however, Henry has looked like he did before the injury. He has had at least one pass deflection in four of five games. In his last three games he has 18 tackles and eight pass deflections.
"Once he gets that confidence going, he's pretty tough to deal with because he's so physical," Parcells said.
The Cowboys signed the 6-1, 208-pound Henry partly to deal with Terrell Owens, who was in Philadelphia at the time. Owens is now a Cowboy, but bigger receivers remain such as the Giants' Plaxico Burress this week, and Carolina's Keyshawn Johnson in two weeks.
"He is very smart," Newman said. "And he has very good footwork. His size allows him to match up against the bigger receivers and make his presence felt."
IRVING – Attention does not come easy in the Cowboys' secondary.
There is a Pro Bowler at safety in Roy Williams, who is perhaps the biggest hitter in the NFL. There is a Pro Bowler to be at cornerback in Terence Newman, who did not allow a touchdown pass a year ago. There is an ex-Pro Bowler in Aaron Glenn, whose experience helps everybody. Even rookie safety Pat Watkins has even had his moments.
But not much has been said about the Cowboys other starting cornerback, Anthony Henry. Quietly, Henry just does his job.
Through five games, Henry has 28 unassisted tackles, a team-high 11 pass deflections and an interception, which came Sunday vs. Houston and led to a Marion Barber touchdown that iced the game.
"He's a ballhawk kind of kid," coach Bill Parcells said. "He gets his hands on balls. That's what I like about him. He studies pretty well. He was on it [Sunday]."
When the Cowboys signed Henry to a five-year, $25.2 million deal that including a $10 million signing bonus last year, it was met with a general, "Who?"
He spent his first four years in Cleveland but after he intercepted 10 passes as a rookie, which tied him for the NFL lead, he picked off seven passes in the next three seasons.
But the Cowboys had product knowledge, as Jerry Jones called it.
Todd Bowles was Henry's position coach in Cleveland and joined the Cowboys' coaching staff before free agency began.
Although Ken Lucas, Fred Smooth and Gary Baxter may have been bigger names, Jones wanted as close to a sure thing as he could get when giving out $10 million on the spot, so they went with Henry.
In 17 games with the Cowboys, he has 78 tackles, four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 20 pass deflections and a forced fumble. Only Lucas, who signed with Carolina, has more picks (nine) than Henry of that group, and Lucas has played in four more games.
Henry missed four games and six starts last season because of groin injury suffered not long after his 58-yard interception return for a score against Arizona. Although he returned to the field, he was not the same player. He had eight tackles in his final four games and twice he went without a tackle.
This season, however, Henry has looked like he did before the injury. He has had at least one pass deflection in four of five games. In his last three games he has 18 tackles and eight pass deflections.
"Once he gets that confidence going, he's pretty tough to deal with because he's so physical," Parcells said.
The Cowboys signed the 6-1, 208-pound Henry partly to deal with Terrell Owens, who was in Philadelphia at the time. Owens is now a Cowboy, but bigger receivers remain such as the Giants' Plaxico Burress this week, and Carolina's Keyshawn Johnson in two weeks.
"He is very smart," Newman said. "And he has very good footwork. His size allows him to match up against the bigger receivers and make his presence felt."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:16 PM
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