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DeSean Jackson is fast. Real fast.
The Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver will be a major concern for the Dallas Cowboys cornerbacks, the veteran Terrence Newman and the up-and-comer Mike Jenkins.So how does coach Wade Phillips expect his cornerbacks to keep up?"Help, help, got to get some help on him," coach Wade Phillips said. "They know that. We know what. You got a guy like that who makes a lot of big plays, you got to get some help, you’ve got to have somebody else looking for him, too, not just the corners."Because we’ve seen corners get beat."Jackson has 24 catches for 501 yards, an average of more than 20 yards a catch, and a team-high four receiving touchdowns.In Sunday’s big win over the New York Giants, the speedster broke free to catch a 54-yard bomb for a touchdown. A week earlier he scored on a 57-yard pass play and a 67-yard run.On the ground, Jackson has 117 yards on seven carries.It’s the deep ball that’s of most concern to the improving Cowboys’ defense that still ranks just 22nd in the league in pass defense, giving up 237.1 yards a game.No love in PhillyThe Cowboys have lost eight of their past 10 games at Philadelphia, site of last season’s 44-6 ender.However, after the Eagles ran off six in a row at home against the Cowboys from 1999-2004, Dallas interrupted the streak with wins in 2005 and 2007. Williams tryingReceiver Roy Williams said he can’t put a finger on why he and quarterback Tony Romo aren’t connecting. Williams is trying a little bit of everything to turn their fortunes around."I’ve tried bringing my Texas [wrist] bands back out, I’m growing my goatee back out," he said. "I’m trying anything to find my groove to make it work."Cincy D-backs goneThe Cowboys thought they had a nifty draft combination when they selected Cincinnati defensive backs DeAngelo Smith and Mike Mickens.Both are gone as the 2009 draft class takes another hit.On Monday, Tampa Bay snatched Mickens, a seventh-round pick who had first-round potential before suffering a knee injury his senior season, off the Cowboys’ practice squad.Mickens holds the Cincinnati record for most interceptions with 14. Second on that list is Smith, a fifth-round pick by the Cowboys. Smith never made it to Dallas’ practice squad. He was cut on the final day.Cleveland signed him off waivers, then cut him. Smith is now on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad.It has been tough going for the rookie class with two players gone and three on injured reserve. Plus, linebacker Jason Williams has been inactive the past two weeks and linebacker Victor Butler is relegated mostly to special teams.The lone success story is kicker David Buehler, who has 17 touchbacks in seven games to lead the NFL. The Cowboys went all of last season without a single touchback. Big and fast, Buehler is also getting time on the punt coverage and punt return units.Hamlin promotes fitnessCowboys safety Ken Hamlin hosted a FitSchools event at the H.S. Thompson Learning Center on Tuesday in order to improve the schools’ P.E. equipment and motivate students to be active.Hamlin is donating more than his time. He’ll donate $100 to the Men’s Health FitSchools Foundation for every tackle he makes this season. Hamlin has been in on 34 tackles through seven games.Air it outQuarterbacks Tony Romo of Dallas, Brett Favre of Minnesota and Donovan McNabb of Philadelphia are finalists for the FedEx Air NFL player of the week honors. Fans can vote for one player on NFL.com/FedEx through 11 a.m. Friday.Jeff Caplan, 817-390-7760
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