Dallas' Henry loading up on interceptions
By Jaime Aron / Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/27/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT
IRVING, Texas -- Anthony Henry gave up so many big plays last season that the Dallas Cowboys considered moving him from cornerback to safety.
Coaches didn't make the change, then might've questioned that decision just three plays into this season.
Already nervous about the absence of injured top cornerback Terence Newman, the Cowboys only coul cringe when New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress beat Henry for a 60-yard touchdown with the season less than 2 minutes old. A few more shrieks followed that night, plus a groan when Henry swatted a dead ball, drawing a 5-yard penalty for delay of game.
It's hard to believe that's the same Anthony Henry who has been playing cornerback for the Cowboys the past two weeks.
Henry bounced back from his ugly opener by intercepting two passes and snagging an onside kick against Miami the next week. He then picked off two more passes against Chicago,returning one 23 yards for a touchdown.
Just like that, Henry is the NFL leader in interceptions, and he's already matched his best season total since snagging a league-best 10 as a rookie for Cleveland in 2001. Henry also leads the team with eight passes deflected, after not posting any in the opener.
"He's been the MVP so far," said Bradie James, Dallas' defensive captain.
Henry has a long way to go to earn that hardware, but he'salready picked up some nice honors. He was named the NFC defensive player of the week Tuesday, and he's received game balls two weeks in a row from coach Wade Phillips.
"He went all week (after the opener) saying, 'I'm going to improve, I am going to play better, I owe it to the rest of the guys to play my game well,' " Phillips said. "He let everybody know he was going to hold up his end, so to speak, and come out and play well and he did. I think that says a lot."
Henry came to Dallas in March 2005. The past two years have been slowed by injuries. There were some good moments, but enough bad ones for coaches to consider moving him to free safety, the position he played in college.
"I understood," Henry said. "If that's what it took to make us a better team, then I was willing to do that. I'm not saying I was glad it didn't happen or it was bad it didn't. Whatever situation I would've been faced with, I would've been willing to do."
At 6-foot-2, Henry is taller than most cornerbacks. Quieter, too.
"You really don't get him saying many statements, talking that much," Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin said. "But you get him out on the field, and he's a competitor. He can stay quiet all he wants to, as long as he keeps making plays. He's making a lot of noise on the field."
Article Launched: 09/27/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT
IRVING, Texas -- Anthony Henry gave up so many big plays last season that the Dallas Cowboys considered moving him from cornerback to safety.
Coaches didn't make the change, then might've questioned that decision just three plays into this season.
Already nervous about the absence of injured top cornerback Terence Newman, the Cowboys only coul cringe when New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress beat Henry for a 60-yard touchdown with the season less than 2 minutes old. A few more shrieks followed that night, plus a groan when Henry swatted a dead ball, drawing a 5-yard penalty for delay of game.
It's hard to believe that's the same Anthony Henry who has been playing cornerback for the Cowboys the past two weeks.
Henry bounced back from his ugly opener by intercepting two passes and snagging an onside kick against Miami the next week. He then picked off two more passes against Chicago,returning one 23 yards for a touchdown.
Just like that, Henry is the NFL leader in interceptions, and he's already matched his best season total since snagging a league-best 10 as a rookie for Cleveland in 2001. Henry also leads the team with eight passes deflected, after not posting any in the opener.
"He's been the MVP so far," said Bradie James, Dallas' defensive captain.
Henry has a long way to go to earn that hardware, but he'salready picked up some nice honors. He was named the NFC defensive player of the week Tuesday, and he's received game balls two weeks in a row from coach Wade Phillips.
"He went all week (after the opener) saying, 'I'm going to improve, I am going to play better, I owe it to the rest of the guys to play my game well,' " Phillips said. "He let everybody know he was going to hold up his end, so to speak, and come out and play well and he did. I think that says a lot."
Henry came to Dallas in March 2005. The past two years have been slowed by injuries. There were some good moments, but enough bad ones for coaches to consider moving him to free safety, the position he played in college.
"I understood," Henry said. "If that's what it took to make us a better team, then I was willing to do that. I'm not saying I was glad it didn't happen or it was bad it didn't. Whatever situation I would've been faced with, I would've been willing to do."
At 6-foot-2, Henry is taller than most cornerbacks. Quieter, too.
"You really don't get him saying many statements, talking that much," Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin said. "But you get him out on the field, and he's a competitor. He can stay quiet all he wants to, as long as he keeps making plays. He's making a lot of noise on the field."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:58 AM
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