Perrish Cox can thank the man sitting next to him in the meeting room for his early season production.
Champ Bailey has served as the rookie cornerback’s sounding board as he acclimates himself to the NFL, but the nine-time Pro Bowler’s field presence could be the biggest reason why he and Cox are tied for the team lead with 7 passes defensed.
When a quarterback scans the field and sees a receiver covered by a veteran with 47 career interceptions, he’s more likely to avoid Cox’s neighbor in the film room and test the rookie’s mettle.
“Coach tells me every day, ‘Look beside you. That’s the reason you’re going to get every pass every game,’” Cox said.
In Week 2 against Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck trusted his receiver to outplay Cox in coverage, but the quarterback watched his pass fly into the rookie’s hands for his first career interception. A week later against the Colts, Cox entered the game for Andre’ Goodman, and Peyton Manning immediately completed a pass in front of him.
The Oklahoma State product welcomes the extra attention he gets because of his youth, but he hopes his play will eventually teach opposing quarterbacks that throwing to his side of the field isn’t their best option.
“It’s big-time motivation,” he said. “It also gives me more chances to make plays and to change the mindframe of those quarterbacks. Soon that will change, but right now I’ve just got to keep playing ball.”
Every pass thrown in his direction gives Cox an opportunity to make a play and analyze his successes or shortcomings on the sideline and in the film room. He said the more action he sees, the faster he can progress.
“You learn quicker,” Cox said. “Getting game experience is really all you can ask for in order to get better.”
The cornerback gives up years of knowledge to the veteran pass catchers he lines up against, so he picks up tidbits from teammates Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney on how they would play him. Cox doesn’t surrender his confidence to older opponents.
“I just have to play ball like I know I can play,” Cox said. “That’s how I go into games.”
HOMETOWN HEROES
At some point, both Cox and LaDainian Tomlinson have donned football jerseys for University High School in Waco, Texas.
“I knew him from there — never played against him,” Cox said. “I always watched him play and I just talked to my head coach from back in high school — we went to the same high school. I talked to my head coach yesterday and he just thinks it’ll be a great game. This is my first time playing him, so I’ve just got to say poised, just like I do on the outside.”
Cox said he’s talked with Tomlinson when the running back would return to Waco to run football camps. The rookie looks up to Tomlinson, but he won’t take it easy on the running back once the whistle blows.
“This is all competition,” Cox said. “Whatever happens on the field stays on the field, but off the field he’s one of the greatest backs that I’ve ever known.”
Robert Ayers (foot), Andre Brown (illness), Brian Dawkins (knee), Andre’ Goodman (quadricep), Darcel McBath (ankle), Knowshon Moreno (hamstring), Demaryius Thomas (concussion) and Wesley Woodyard (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. Mario Haggan (neck) and Spencer Larsen (ankle) were limited in practice.
For the Jets, LB Calvin Pace (foot) and CB Darelle Revis (hamstring) did not practice, while S Jim Leonhard (biceps), C Nick Mangold (shoulder), G Brandon Moore (hamstring) and LB Jamaal Westerman (ankle) fully particpated in practice.
-Gabe Hiatt, DenverBroncos.com
Below are photos from today’s practice:
Tags: 2010, Champ Bailey, Denver Broncos, LaDainian Tomlinson, Perrish Cox
Its just torture to me to watch them get there butts kicked all over the field but I always bleed orange and blue. If I didn’t then I would give a crap if they played terrible.
TEBOW…… TEBOWTEBOWTEBOWTEBOWTEBOW!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT TO WEAR MY JERSEY AND CHEER FOR THE DENVER TEBOWS!!!!!!!!
ILMSDTB!!!!!
BRING ON TEBOW COUNTRY!!!!!
TIMTANIUM TEBOW AND THE MILE HIGH HORSEMEN!!!!!
TTTTTTTTTTTTT….. GIMMIE SOME TEBOW ALREADY!!!!
I’LL BE THERE FOR THE RAIDER GAME NEXT WEEK AND I HAD TO PAY DEARLY FOR MY SEATS! I PAID TO SEE TEBOW AND I AM BEGGING JOSH TO PLAY MY BOY TT!!!!!!!
COME ON JOSH…… PLEASE!!!!!!
baylin as usual right on the money, I always start to sweat at this time of the week: injury report comes out and I am wondering who the frack do we have left? I keep thinking they need to start using TT….to run the ball gotta have someone on the ground. Jets are looking pretty good this year, but traditionally choke as they head out west so I am hopeful, you would think McD would be a bit nervous, right now a graph of team performance since he took over is looking pretty bleak and at some point the people paying his salary are going to want something for their money… just sayin!
. They get a kick out of it, one thing for sure I watch every game, win or lose I am there till the last second. Could sure use some wins tho, see ya on sunday
as for watching the games at home, my family usually finds it more interesting to watch me watch the game: leaning, pushing, yelling at players, coaches, refs, putting my weight behind the center to push that line, and badmouthing opponents at every turn
GO BRONCOS
Big D my good friend Andrew is like that. You guys aren’t fair weather fans. It just hurts too bad to watch. Personally I torture myself and watch every second but there’s really no point to doing that. Just hoping for a miracle like you said.
OC: hahahahahahahahahahaha
BBR
I dont think anyone is saying that the power O doesnt work. Many teams run em successfully. We just dont, and neither do the Patriots because I believe like someone once said, running in the Patriots way is just something to do in between passes. The power O works very well. It just not as effective in the run game as the zone blocking especially around these parts.
Also, no one says they must have trick plays thats not it…but when u almost always have big sets on the field when u are going to run… its pretty lame. I call RUN 90% of the time, its a run, and if I can, I gaurantee D cords can too. The only trickeration anyone is asking to see is wild horses, 1 because its effective on short yardage, 2 because with the double threat of Tebow it could be a run, a pass, or a pass turned scramble, and 3 because for goodness sakes nothing else is working and we have been feeling running woes since last year. Dont care what It is just try something new … anything… dont get me wrong, oline gets dominated alot but with all the swtiching we do we should have found a productive recipe. Its the coaching and the scheme in my book…but thats just my take as well.
I watch everygame to the end…I think the only games I sometimes dont watch to the end is when we are blowing out the other team…. how backwards is that lol. But I watch it till the end and now a days when we lose, my week isnt ruined till the next sunday and thats how it used to be for a long time…now it just is what it is lol
Agree with 1nOnly about using the Wild Horse or using Tebow IN LIMITED situations (NOT to replace Orton). I know Brad Smith with the Jets has greater speed than Tebow, but he does come in and take the ball from under center, and can pass it also (was a qb in college). So, the Broncos better be ready for the Jets when they bring in Smith for his package plays. Would like McD to consider making the Jets think about the same thing if Tebow comes in — how about using the spread when he does!!
My heart says Broncos, but reality is that the Jets are totally superior to the Broncos.
Jets 38 -20
Very well said TRB, and I can respect. I agree that Belichik never has been a run heavy coach and McDaniels won’t be either. But if he can eventually make it work than I’m all for it. The Patriots have made to and one the big dance when averaging right around 100 yds/game. I truly believe that is kind of games we’ll be having by by the end of the season, but only time will tell. And another thing I agree with you 100% on is that Moreno is the man. The proof is in the pudding. We went from having 89 yard and 79 yard games with him to having like 17 yard and 34 yard games without him. I think we will continue to improve as a unit and by the time he’s fully healthy and ready to take the field we’ll finally be ready to break 100 yards rushing in a game. That’s all I’m asking of the staff. And honestly I wouldn’t mind seeing Tebow out there. I believe he’s the kind of guy who can make things happen and like a lot of you I want to see him get some real game experience this year. The formula seemed to work for him in Florida and I think it’s necessary to get the man some game experience if we expect him to take up the mantle as soon as we’d like.
BTW, is anyone watching the next installment of the NFL Top 100 tonight? Watching it gives me goosebumps it’s so good. GO BRONCOS!
My entire week used to be ruined by a loss as well. In the last couple of years I’ve been able to minimize it to my entire day being ruined. But hey if the losses didn’t feel so bad the wins wouldn’t feel so good I imagine, and a Broncos win still makes my week. Hopefully we have some Mile High Magic left come Sunday. GO BRONCOS!
At 5:00pm I meant to say *the Patriots have made it to and won the big dance. That is all. B&R out.
I can dig it B&R. They did make it to the big dance but yea if we could get 100 yards on the ground that would be a miracle. Most recetn superbowl champions spread the ball like we do, difference is they have more running yards like we do, so that patriot formula is still effective. Altho other things have to fall into place like special teams and defense scoring (saints def scored the most TDs last year, 15 or something like that) but I hear ya.
@redmanj4ever: No disrespect, It took Mike Shannahan exactly 3 seasons to win the 1st SB and 4 to win two. Please understand, the comparison is made by what we see as little or no improvement, that is a lot of fans beef. A few individual players have made measurable improvement. Unfortunately a Few is not good enough. Sorry dude, Mike Shannahan had quicker results faster and only faded in his later years. McDaniels has not done enough to yet in his career to justify keeping him. Playoffs and he stays, no playoffs, no need to waste more time, find a new HC. GO Broncos!!!!!
27-21 Broncos
I just have a feeling
how can you not be optimistic if you’re a broncos fan?!! Predicting the jets or any opposition to win is pathetic, i dont care if some people are “realists” please don’t post anymore predictions with us losing. It is embarrassing and painful to read. 31-14 broncos, step up D and have a great day O!
I predict 24-10 Jets.
41-14 jets