Cowboys Insider: 'Anti-Pacman' would offer immediate secondary help
by Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
Even if the proposed Pacman Jones trade between Dallas and Tennessee is consummated, the Cowboys will need more than just the troubled cornerback to shore up their secondary.
That’s why Dallas should seriously consider selecting the anti-Pacman, Arizona’s Antoine Cason, with the 28th overall pick.
The Cowboys are thin at the back end after losing backup corners Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones to free agency. It also doesn’t help that starting right corner Anthony Henry is on the wrong side of 30 and prone to injury.
While adding Jones would certainly bolster the defensive backfield, there’s no guarantee his personal demons wouldn’t resurface while he’s wearing the star.
With Cason, that would never be a worry for Dallas.
Unlike Jones, the 21-year-old Cason is a straight arrow, the kind of guy who would immediately be embraced by fans and the team’s marketing department.
“That’s one of Antoine’s strongest attributes – his character,” Arizona defensive coordinator/secondary coach Mark Stoops said Friday in a phone interview. “He’s a remarkable young man. He works extremely hard and lives right and does the right things.
“Really, we can’t say enough good things about him. He’s unselfish and highly coachable and he came into our program that way, because his parents are remarkable people.”
Cason’s father, Wendell, was a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons during the 1980s.
“That’s benefited me greatly,” Cason said at the combine of having a father with NFL experience. “That’s a thing a lot of people don’t realize, that I’ve had coaching since high school from someone who’s played at the highest level of football. He taught me a lot of things from high school to college to now. It’s been a blessing for me to have him.”
Mature beyond his years, the 6-foot, 185-pound Cason was a four-year starter at corner for the Wildcats and won the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back after finishing with five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
Cason, a first-team All-America choice, also returned two punts for TDs last season en route to becoming the first Arizona player to earn All-Pac-10 honors on defense and specials teams in the same season.
Before the combine, there were questions about Cason’s speed. But he answered those by running the 40 in a respectable 4.45 seconds and recording a position-best 4.08 in the short shuttle.
Cason was also one of the top performers in the bench press, vertical jump and broad jump.
It should also be pointed out that scouts say Cason doesn’t lose speed when he adjusts to the receiver’s route, a problem for many young defensive backs. In other words, he probably should be able to help the team that drafts him right away.
“He has a lot of confidence and he plays very confidently,” Stoops said. “Remember, he played in every game since he came into our program and was here four years. That’s a lot of snaps and a lot of plays. Plus, he played against good competition in this league and really held his own.”
Asked at the combine to describe himself, Cason said, “A good cover guy who can play (either) man or zone. A good tackler, good awareness on the field and knows what’s going on in the backfield, knows where his help is on the field. And just pretty much knows the defense overall and makes plays.”
He also could have added “is a good character guy,” but that wouldn’t be Cason’s style.
The cousin of two former Cowboys, running back Aveion Cason and receiver Ken-Yon Rambo, Antoine Cason started a foundation called Cason Cares while he was at Arizona in honor of his late grandfather.
“My grandfather (Royce Rambo) died of leukemia in February ’07,” said Cason, a native of Long Beach, Calif. “He was a role model to me, so I wanted to do something to honor him for what he’s done for me and my family.”
Along with a friend, Cason raised $7,000 in 60 days for the American Cancer Society by selling wristbands.
“Everything is not about me, me, me, all the time,” Cason said. “I wanted to give back and do something positive.”
Bottom line: Cason is the kind of guy you want on your team. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out this YouTube video of the July 2007 news conference in which he announced he would return to Arizona for his senior season.
Express-News Staff Writer
Even if the proposed Pacman Jones trade between Dallas and Tennessee is consummated, the Cowboys will need more than just the troubled cornerback to shore up their secondary.
That’s why Dallas should seriously consider selecting the anti-Pacman, Arizona’s Antoine Cason, with the 28th overall pick.
The Cowboys are thin at the back end after losing backup corners Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones to free agency. It also doesn’t help that starting right corner Anthony Henry is on the wrong side of 30 and prone to injury.
While adding Jones would certainly bolster the defensive backfield, there’s no guarantee his personal demons wouldn’t resurface while he’s wearing the star.
With Cason, that would never be a worry for Dallas.
Unlike Jones, the 21-year-old Cason is a straight arrow, the kind of guy who would immediately be embraced by fans and the team’s marketing department.
“That’s one of Antoine’s strongest attributes – his character,” Arizona defensive coordinator/secondary coach Mark Stoops said Friday in a phone interview. “He’s a remarkable young man. He works extremely hard and lives right and does the right things.
“Really, we can’t say enough good things about him. He’s unselfish and highly coachable and he came into our program that way, because his parents are remarkable people.”
Cason’s father, Wendell, was a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons during the 1980s.
“That’s benefited me greatly,” Cason said at the combine of having a father with NFL experience. “That’s a thing a lot of people don’t realize, that I’ve had coaching since high school from someone who’s played at the highest level of football. He taught me a lot of things from high school to college to now. It’s been a blessing for me to have him.”
Mature beyond his years, the 6-foot, 185-pound Cason was a four-year starter at corner for the Wildcats and won the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back after finishing with five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
Cason, a first-team All-America choice, also returned two punts for TDs last season en route to becoming the first Arizona player to earn All-Pac-10 honors on defense and specials teams in the same season.
Before the combine, there were questions about Cason’s speed. But he answered those by running the 40 in a respectable 4.45 seconds and recording a position-best 4.08 in the short shuttle.
Cason was also one of the top performers in the bench press, vertical jump and broad jump.
It should also be pointed out that scouts say Cason doesn’t lose speed when he adjusts to the receiver’s route, a problem for many young defensive backs. In other words, he probably should be able to help the team that drafts him right away.
“He has a lot of confidence and he plays very confidently,” Stoops said. “Remember, he played in every game since he came into our program and was here four years. That’s a lot of snaps and a lot of plays. Plus, he played against good competition in this league and really held his own.”
Asked at the combine to describe himself, Cason said, “A good cover guy who can play (either) man or zone. A good tackler, good awareness on the field and knows what’s going on in the backfield, knows where his help is on the field. And just pretty much knows the defense overall and makes plays.”
He also could have added “is a good character guy,” but that wouldn’t be Cason’s style.
The cousin of two former Cowboys, running back Aveion Cason and receiver Ken-Yon Rambo, Antoine Cason started a foundation called Cason Cares while he was at Arizona in honor of his late grandfather.
“My grandfather (Royce Rambo) died of leukemia in February ’07,” said Cason, a native of Long Beach, Calif. “He was a role model to me, so I wanted to do something to honor him for what he’s done for me and my family.”
Along with a friend, Cason raised $7,000 in 60 days for the American Cancer Society by selling wristbands.
“Everything is not about me, me, me, all the time,” Cason said. “I wanted to give back and do something positive.”
Bottom line: Cason is the kind of guy you want on your team. But don’t just take my word for it. Check out this YouTube video of the July 2007 news conference in which he announced he would return to Arizona for his senior season.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:48 AM
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