Mike Jenkins and Tashard Choice, both rookies in 2008, will have opportunities to break out in 2009.
The South Florida product Jenkins had a decent rookie season, by his own standards. He rated the year as "a 6 or 7 from 1-10" on his blog, saying "I went in and thought I knew all the rules, but I learned the hard way."
In 14 games, Jenkins posted 22 tackles, 6 pass breakups and 1 interception, which he subsequently took 23 yards to the house, becoming the first Dallas rookie with a pick-six since Roy Williams did it twice in 2002.
With the departure of Anthony Henry though, Dallas will in all likelihood count on the former 25th overall pick to start opposite Terence Newman, leaving Orlando Scandrick to fill the role of nickel corner.
Choice rose from third on the depth chart, due to injuries to Felix Jones, and then Marion Barber, to break out with an 88 yard performance against the league-best Pittsburgh defense. This revelation of sorts has manifested itself in the three-pronged running attack of Barber (Smash), Choice (Tash), and Jones (Dash) which will be featured by the team in 2009.
Both seem eager to prove that they are there to stay.
Jenkins had an interception on day one, and should have had one again on day two, the first full-pads practice of the year on Thursday. He has also shown flashes of the lockdown corner Dallas was gunning for when they traded up to the 25th overall spot in the 2008 draft.
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Choice has used the first two days to remind everyone of his remarkable field-vision, a facet of his game that has been praised widely by coaches and analysts. He has been moving up field consistently and hitting holes with seeming ease.
Of course, this is training camp and, as such, pinning your hopes on anything that happens on the turf of the Alamodome would be as illogical as believing that a palatial stadium could elevate the play of a given team. (Oh... Sorry Jerry.)
But it's good to see the two looking sharp, even at such an early juncture.
