Al Harris on Cowboys CB depth, Diggs’ return
OXNARD, Calif. — There’s no shortage of rightful buzz surrounding the return of Trevon Diggs to the field in 2024, having now been removed from the PUP (physically unable to perform) list and in full pads as he goes through some 7-on-7 drills in training camp.
It has one of the most popular and talented assistant coaches smiling from ear to ear.
“You know what? There’s a guy I coached, Marcus Peters, who was very similar to running routes,” said defensive backs and assistant head coach Al Harris of the genius-level IQ of the Cowboys’ franchise cornerback. “Charles Woodson was a guy to see it and just go run the route for [the receiver]. There are some guys.
“They don’t come around a lot, but there are some guys.”
Those are Hall of Fame-level comparisons, yes, but Diggs’ career is also off to a Hall of Fame-level start.
The other great news for the Dallas Cowboys involves the depth chart behind the First-Team All-Pro, though. And while Harris had plenty of praise for what he’s seeing in the return of Diggs, that also extends to the continued grind of DaRon Bland, but also in young talent like Josh DeBerry, Kemon Hall and Josh Butler (who all have interceptions in Oxnard); and rookie fifth-round pick Caelen Carson.
Carson, having taken full advantage of the absence of Diggs to this point, has been turning heads in his first-ever camp as a boundary cornerback, while Jourdan Lewis continues to dominate in the slot on a daily basis.
“He’s doing a really good job,” said Harris of the former Demon Deacon. “He’s doing a little bit of both [meeting and exceeding expectations]. Once again, I’ve gotta tip my hat to Will McClay and the scouting department. I knew coming in this kid was gonna be raw but extremely talented, and he’s doing a great job picking up on the coaching points and competing.”
The fact Carson is a sponge is yet another reason the one aptly nicknamed “Seat Belt” is strapping receivers in camp far more often than not.
“I like the blank canvas,” Harris said. “A lot of times, when you get older guys, you have to break them out of bad habits or tolerate bad habits. When you get the younger guys, the newer guys, and not to throw stones or anything at their coaches, but they haven’t been taught the types of things that they’re being taught here.
“He listens, does what you ask him to do and goes from there.”
And the same applies for Eric Scott, a former sixth-round pick (2023) who is fighting tooth and nail to make his presence felt when given the chance — a challenging task considering Lewis is making a play on every other rep.
Scott is turning up the heat heading into the joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams, having had his best days at camp to start the week.
“I think Eric Scott is doing a good job of competing,” Harris added. “He comes out to work every single day.”
The biggest test thus far is coming for Carson and DeBerry, two rookies who will lean heavily on the preseason to make a name for themselves in August, but also for Scott as he fights to get onto the field in his second season.