"Undraftable" Cornerback Derek Cox proves himself

by River City Rage on Sep 7, 2009 9:41 AM EDT in Meta-Jacksonville Jaguars

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Lost in the excitement of the final roster and the practice squad was something remarkable. The undraftable, unrated, 106th best cornerback in the draft according to Mel Kiper, pushed Brian Williams off the roster and will be the likely compliment to Rashean Mathis. Chew that over for a minute. We all worried when Gene Smith made the move to draft Cox by giving up our 2010 2nd round pick to the New England Patriots, it felt like a move that was counter to his philosophy of stocking up draft picks and using them wisely. Drafting a player that nobody had ever heard of and giving up the most sacred of Jaguars draft picks (the 2nd rounder) was stunning.

Of course, nobody knew a thing about him or what he could do. From the Sports-Pundits all the way down to me, we all assumed that if we hadn't heard of a player somewhere, then they weren't worth hearing about. With Derek Cox, we have hard evidence that the Jaguars front office is working harder to find the folks that might have gone under the radar on Saturdays but can perform on Sundays.

It's shocking, almost, to look back at what we (and by we I mean everyone from this site to ESPN) thought about Cox and now that he's a likely starter, how sensible and smart the move seems. When it comes down to it, the Jaguars used their 2010 2nd round pick for a starting cornerback with size and speed. That he's a few days away from lining up across from Anthony Gonzalez in the opening game deserves recognition.

I was wrong, Mel was wrong, we were all pretty far off on this one. Here's to the Jaguars being one step ahead of the rest of us.

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by TheTealDeal on Sep 7, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions

I certainly hope he's ready

But we won’t really know how good the pick was until the end of the season.

by pksiv on Sep 7, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

I agree - wait a minute here RCR

we like what we little (very little) we’ve seen so far – but he has not yet played a single down of “real” football yet. I want to agree with you – but I can’t just yet based on lack of evidence. I have every expectation that Cox will be awesome – but I’m not ready to say that just yet.

Wait and watch closely.

by OGN on Sep 7, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Lets see how he does against Gonzo next sunday.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Sep 7, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I thin Chris's point is that

No one expected the 106th best cornerback to be in any starting position his rookie year or ever. Just by doing that, he’s already succeeding. Also, Mel Kiper is a hack.

by MoveThoseChains on Sep 7, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Mel is hit and miss - no doubt - he's as full of bull mess as anybody else is

by OGN on Sep 7, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

you aint kiddin’… how do they keep Mel Kiper around for every draft… he is mostly complete and utter nonsense… and no one, on air, calls him out for his horrible mistakes… aaarrgh!

Sean Jax Beach Bum

by cuffs007 on Sep 7, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Beacause...

He gets the viewers cuffs. There are many more competant draft analysts out there, but those are the guys in the front office and they don’t scream at the camera, have crazy body language, or have Christopher Walken (a la Suicide Kings)-esque freakshow hair.

Ratings mi amigo. Ratings is King.

by aibtureman on Sep 7, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah. his hair is on par with donald trump. scary.

Sean Jax Beach Bum

by cuffs007 on Sep 7, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

but can he dance as well a Mr. Walken?

by mattarne on Sep 7, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

did walken dance on Saturday Night Live? he.. talks.. so.. precise.. (?)

Sean Jax Beach Bum

by cuffs007 on Sep 7, 2009 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

“Weapon of Choice” by Fatboy Slim.

by Kbot on Sep 8, 2009 5:01 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

by Blair72 on Sep 8, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope that ne can prove it

that he is a starting CB, and will play like Rashean.
If so then Gene Smith will turn this franchise into Patriots/Steelers/Giants kind of powerhouse very soon…

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Sep 7, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions

IF he ends up being a solid player for us this year, then I see us fans becoming a little bit more comfortable on draft day when the Jags pull another player out of air that we’ve not heard of. Make sense? (it makes sense in my mind, but that ain’t saying much)

Sean Jax Beach Bum

by cuffs007 on Sep 7, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

I know you're talking about pulling another player out of the air...

in future drafts, but Terrance Knighton might already be that player. If I remember right, no one had Knighton going as high as the Jags picked him.

by Jaggernaut on Sep 7, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

very true… “And with the so-and-so pick of the draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Terrance Knighton…” and most of us went “wtf, over?”…

Sean Jax Beach Bum

by cuffs007 on Sep 7, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

When I saw him

play in college I thought he was third round talent good. Looks like was wrong though…. He’s worth at least a 2nd. And I believe he’s only going to get better.

by Ewdtrey on Sep 7, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Merriman

Check out NFL take on Shawne Merriman Arrest: Merriman Nowitzki and Me!!! http://bit.ly/2Fc1aL

http://www.tightend.blogspot.com

by curiousg87 on Sep 7, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

nice take George!

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Sep 7, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Mel Kiper

that guy gets paid a ton of money to juice up players by their agents so fan bases start to clamor for them think of Ricky williams in 99 and how mcnabb went b4 him and got booed becuz of all the hype that kiper was laying on the public that guy is a fixture cuz he has all the power to make or break u on draft day hes got name recognition so people think hes got credibilty

"The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else."

by TheAutumnWind on Sep 7, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions

Lets play the occupation guess game

English Teacher?

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Sep 7, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

no engineering student u?

"The only yardstick for success our society has is being a champion. No one remembers anything else."

by TheAutumnWind on Sep 7, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

High School Student.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Sep 7, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Worst paying job in the world

by TheTealDeal on Sep 8, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I see what you did there.

Heh.

by Kbot on Sep 8, 2009 5:02 AM EDT up reply actions

When I saw Derek Cox play

I can see why Gene was after him. Chris is right in calling out the moment. I was on the phone to him during the draft and said at the time “what kind of stupid move was that”. To his credit, he defended Gene and said wait and see.

I was wrong. Chris’s article is right on target.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Sep 7, 2009 9:35 PM EDT reply actions

Bold article RCR, I like it

Give credit where credit is due. Stevie Wonder could see that Cox is a better player than B-Dub. Everyone doubted Gene not only for drafting him but giving up a 2nd rounder for him.

It’s clear that he can hold his own opposite Rashean, it was the right decision. Anyone can admit it was a good move after the season when they see if Cox was productive. It takes boldness to give Gene credit now for making a good move.

BTW, I never doubted the pick. Just because little ole’ me had never heard of Cox doesn’t make him any better or worse than Malcolm Jenkins or anyone else I had heard of. BLESTO!!!

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.

by JagGameFace on Sep 8, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

Also props to Whazaaap for his prediction that B. Williams & Pashos would get the axe

Gene is the man.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.

by JagGameFace on Sep 8, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions

Could we have waited a round before drafting him though

and given up a lesser draft pick?

by Blair72 on Sep 8, 2009 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

I hought the same

But Gene didn’t want to risk him and Terrance Knighton. He had round 1 and round two in the bank and both his round three guys were hanging there. He saw it as a wealth of opportunity to take advantage of.

Just my opinion.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Sep 8, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I just think Cox may have lasted another round. He’s the one guy I’m going to be watching the most in game one.

by Blair72 on Sep 8, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

i remmber hearing the pats and one other team were very interested

in DC but we knew that, and so we traded w/ the pats, who did not know we were all over DC as well. But hold your horses guys, I think he has all the tools but we should expect him to get toasted on sunday as well as throughout the season. he a ROOKIE!

by harveyismyboy on Sep 8, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Torry Holt can toast him

So I expect it. But his reflexes are so good i expect a couple of amazing plays as well. Nice post harvey.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Sep 8, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Let me take this time to apologize for recent idiotic posts from me

So, I apologize. The last month has not been a great time in my household so sometimes i’d take it out on fellow BCC’ers and it was the wrong thing to do. sorry to everyone who i verbally raped. Go Jags!

by harveyismyboy on Sep 8, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions