College mates look to create opportunity with Dallas Cowboys
BY JEFF CAPLAN
jcaplan@star-telegram.com
IRVING — DeAngelo Smith can still see his fellow University of Cincinnati cornerback and friend, Mike Mickens, crumple to the ground during a practice in preparation for a late-season showdown with Pittsburgh.
Mickens, Cincinnati’s all-time interceptions leader with 14 and a 2008 semifinalist for the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, tore the meniscus in his left knee while covering a deep route.
"I try not to remember it," said Smith, who’s second in school history with 12 interceptions. "It’s a tough injury, but I just remember him trying to give it a go, fighting and wanting to play in the Pitt game, but he just couldn’t."
Mickens underwent surgery, missed the final three games of the season, rehabbed hard to get back for the Orange Bowl, but then swelling at Senior Bowl practices forced him out of the all-star contest and the NFL Scouting Combine, dropping his draft stock through the floor.
"I would have probably been in the first three rounds," Mickens said during last week’s Dallas Cowboys rookie minicamp. "But things happen for a reason. I’m not worried about it now. I’m here with the Cowboys, and I’m ready to go."
Mickens watched as the Cowboys selected Smith in the fifth round. When Mickens was still around in the seventh round, he realized that maybe the injury happened so he and Smith, two college pals who grabbed dollar burgers every Wednesday night at hangout Bar Louie, could remain teammates.
"He texted me as soon as I got drafted and told me, 'Let’s go,’ " Mickens said. "I called him up and I was like, 'It’s time to go.’ We’re going, and I’m just glad to have him with me."
The Cowboys selected Mickens with the 227th overall pick, and now he’s eager to repay the team for giving him a shot to fulfill an NFL dream that flashed before his eyes that November day on the Bearcats’ practice field.
Mickens is battling for a spot as a backup cornerback and in substitution packages, while the Cowboys are looking at Smith at free safety, where he started three games for the Bearcats last season.
Another rookie cornerback, Mike Hamlin out of Clemson, had 14 interceptions in his college career. The Cowboys produced just eight interceptions last season, six by cornerbacks and four of those by Terence Newman. It’s an area of deep concern for Cowboys coaches.
"Absolutely, because I’ve never been in that situation," Cowboys secondary coach Dave Campo said. "Everywhere I’ve ever been we’ve improved in interceptions from year to year. These guys all have very good hands and can catch the football. Now, how much they play for us this year and how much they’re going to be involved; they’re going to be involved, but we want to get guys that make plays."
With young players Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins in competition to start opposite Newman, who’s missed games because of injury the past couple seasons, the newcomers know opportunity exists and it’s up to them to take advantage.
For Mickens, that means regaining his old form. He’s declared his left knee to be 100 percent, but Campo said Mickens still has a ways to go to refine his technique and return to full football condition.
During the minicamp, reduced from three days to two because of the May 2 collapse of the indoor training facility, Mickens tended to get winded during drills.
He’ll have to work on that on his own back in Cincinnati. While the Cowboys will convene to begin organized team activities Tuesday, Mickens will return to school.
He’ll get back to Valley Ranch in June.
"I haven’t really practiced a full, 100 percent practice in a long time," Mickens said. "So now I need to get in football shape, go home and get my wind back up and be able to compete throughout the whole practice without getting tired."
jcaplan@star-telegram.com
IRVING — DeAngelo Smith can still see his fellow University of Cincinnati cornerback and friend, Mike Mickens, crumple to the ground during a practice in preparation for a late-season showdown with Pittsburgh.
Mickens, Cincinnati’s all-time interceptions leader with 14 and a 2008 semifinalist for the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back, tore the meniscus in his left knee while covering a deep route.
"I try not to remember it," said Smith, who’s second in school history with 12 interceptions. "It’s a tough injury, but I just remember him trying to give it a go, fighting and wanting to play in the Pitt game, but he just couldn’t."
Mickens underwent surgery, missed the final three games of the season, rehabbed hard to get back for the Orange Bowl, but then swelling at Senior Bowl practices forced him out of the all-star contest and the NFL Scouting Combine, dropping his draft stock through the floor.
"I would have probably been in the first three rounds," Mickens said during last week’s Dallas Cowboys rookie minicamp. "But things happen for a reason. I’m not worried about it now. I’m here with the Cowboys, and I’m ready to go."
Mickens watched as the Cowboys selected Smith in the fifth round. When Mickens was still around in the seventh round, he realized that maybe the injury happened so he and Smith, two college pals who grabbed dollar burgers every Wednesday night at hangout Bar Louie, could remain teammates.
"He texted me as soon as I got drafted and told me, 'Let’s go,’ " Mickens said. "I called him up and I was like, 'It’s time to go.’ We’re going, and I’m just glad to have him with me."
The Cowboys selected Mickens with the 227th overall pick, and now he’s eager to repay the team for giving him a shot to fulfill an NFL dream that flashed before his eyes that November day on the Bearcats’ practice field.
Mickens is battling for a spot as a backup cornerback and in substitution packages, while the Cowboys are looking at Smith at free safety, where he started three games for the Bearcats last season.
Another rookie cornerback, Mike Hamlin out of Clemson, had 14 interceptions in his college career. The Cowboys produced just eight interceptions last season, six by cornerbacks and four of those by Terence Newman. It’s an area of deep concern for Cowboys coaches.
"Absolutely, because I’ve never been in that situation," Cowboys secondary coach Dave Campo said. "Everywhere I’ve ever been we’ve improved in interceptions from year to year. These guys all have very good hands and can catch the football. Now, how much they play for us this year and how much they’re going to be involved; they’re going to be involved, but we want to get guys that make plays."
With young players Orlando Scandrick and Mike Jenkins in competition to start opposite Newman, who’s missed games because of injury the past couple seasons, the newcomers know opportunity exists and it’s up to them to take advantage.
For Mickens, that means regaining his old form. He’s declared his left knee to be 100 percent, but Campo said Mickens still has a ways to go to refine his technique and return to full football condition.
During the minicamp, reduced from three days to two because of the May 2 collapse of the indoor training facility, Mickens tended to get winded during drills.
He’ll have to work on that on his own back in Cincinnati. While the Cowboys will convene to begin organized team activities Tuesday, Mickens will return to school.
He’ll get back to Valley Ranch in June.
"I haven’t really practiced a full, 100 percent practice in a long time," Mickens said. "So now I need to get in football shape, go home and get my wind back up and be able to compete throughout the whole practice without getting tired."
posted by The Gryphon at 6:20 PM
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