CARROLLTON — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones has no shame asking younger players for advice and tips when it comes to playing on the outside.
The Cowboys first-round draft pick from 2015 spent his first three seasons at safety. Now, entering his fourth year, Jones is reversing roles and asking younger defensive backs, such as second-year corners Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie, questions.
"From a learning standpoint, I'm new," Jones said at Newman Smith High School where he gave a talk for the 14th annual Gatorade Beat the Heat program. "I'm asking Jourdan and Cheeto some corner questions and I get it right. I have no shame in going to a younger guy who has played corner longer than I have and asking some questions. That's one of the things that I've learned is ask people some questions and you get a good answer."
Jones played 48 games at safety and started in all but five of them. The former UConn Husky picked off two passes, forced two fumbles, and recorded 217 tackles according to Pro Football Reference. He plans to use his experience at safety to be a better cornerback for the Cowboys.
Said Jones: "I've been what it feels like when the corner doesn't give a good jam. My responsibility as a corner now is make sure I get a good jam for the safety. I've been in that position where you have to spread out to the sideline and make a play, and it ain't easy."
Jones' 6-0, 205-pound athletic frame was used to guard tight ends. Now, Jones will need to use that length on the outside as part of new defensive back coach Kris Richard's philosophy.
Said Jones: "The idea for him is to use your athleticism, use your length. So that starts at the line of scrimmage and getting hands on a receivers and not bailing out of there too early. Challenge the receivers. They want to shake and bake at the beginning of the route, well, let's challenge them."
The Cowboys picked up Jones' fifth-year option in April. Theoretically, he would have two seasons to get it right at corner for the Cowboys. However, the 25-year-old has a much different time frame for the transition.
"I'm not looking at a two-year time frame," said Jones. "I'm looking at this year, this training camp and this season. So, for me, it's just going out there and being the best that I can and starting now. It's not starting the first day of camp. For me, I'm training with different trainers, working on different footwork, technique patterns, and stuff like that. For me, it's getting as much knowledge as I can."
Do you feel like Byron Jones will make more of an impact as a corner back rather than the role as a safety he performed the last few years? Share your thoughts with Mark on Twitter @therealmarklane.
