Claiborne getting more comfortable

Published Aug. 26, 2012 5:19 a.m. ET

foxsports

ARLINGTON, Texas — Cowboys rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne wasn't challenged much in his preseason debut Aug. 18 against the San Diego Chargers.

But he got his share of action Saturday against the St. Louis Rams at Cowboys Stadium.

The sixth overall pick in this year's draft was targeted on the Rams' first play, a slant that went for 14 yards.

"I didn't like my position on that one there," Claiborne said. "We came down and made the tackle and got off the field that drive. I can't complain. I feel like I did pretty good."

Claiborne recovered from that mistake and played well for the remainder of his time on the field, which was the entire first half. He also turned in arguably his best play as a Cowboy, deflecting a pass in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line.

"It felt pretty good," Claiborne said of the pass-breakup. "I haven't gotten my hands on a ball in a while. Just to get us off the field, it was great."

With Claiborne on one side and Brandon Carr, who had two interceptions against the Chargers, at the other cornerback spot, the Cowboys' secondary appears to be much improved from the unit that finished 23rd against the pass in 2011.

"We've been playing good so far," Claiborne said. "Are we great? No. We got a long way to go."

Claiborne said he feels like he's getting comfortable but wouldn't mind getting some playing time in the Cowboys' final preseason game on Wednesday.

"I know there's a lot of guys here that probably need that game more than I do," he said. "But whatever the coaches say, I'm going with it."

Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota