I think Dez is the same guy he was in 2014

[ConceptCoop]

They save 12.5M by cutting him. The "savings" is spread out over 2 years.

They save 8.5M in 2018 and 4M in 2019.

They can restructure another players contact to push 4M into 2019. Then they "save" 12.5M in 2018 and 2019 is break-even because the 4M from Dez offsets the 4M from the other contract.

If I'm understanding you--and perhaps I'm not--I do think Dez is worth that, personally. I wouldn't cut him at the end of this season.

 

[Nightman]

They save 12.5M by cutting him. The "savings" is spread out over 2 years.

They save 8.5M in 2018 and 4M in 2019.

They can restructure another players contact to push 4M into 2019. Then they "save" 12.5M in 2018 and 2019 is break-even because the 4M from Dez offsets the 4M from the other contract.

We make our team much worse by cutting Dez and we don't need the cap savings

We will be 30m under the cap next year before we cut or restructure anyone

 

[reddyuta]

I dont know man.This is the same Dez who completely manhandled Jenkins when he played for the Rams,now he cant shake him to save his life.

 

[Nightman]

I certainly agree that the production doesn't justify the investment. We haven't gotten our monies worth, for a number of reasons.

Dez has 2yrs/25m left on his deal........ that is easily kept but a good time for a re-do

I agree that no one complained when Dez was on his rookie deal getting 80/1300/12TD every year

 

[rynochop]

Julio Jones has 1 meaningless TD catch this year with last years mvp throwing it to him.

 

[percyhoward]

The only change I see is at the QB spot. Dak--as much as I love him and think he's a stud--is more cautious and less accurate than Romo. His deep ball is more sporadic--he's missed Dez on deep balls that would have connected, coming from Tony. Dak's fade isn't all that great--and the fade route is a major strength of Dez's (and Tony's). Put more simply, the quality of target has dropped.

It's all about the shorter throws.

On Dez's targets beyond 15 yards, Dak has about the same numbers that Romo had in his last two full seasons. You can see that it's not just a Dak issue, as both QB had considerably more success with other receivers than with Bryant on deeper throws. Especially Prescott, whose passer rating on 15+yard throws leads the NFL by a wide margin since he entered the league.

15+ yard targets
(2016-17) Prescott to...
Bryant 19 of 51 (37%) 515 yd 5 td 1 int 99.7
others 35 of 60 (58%) 928 yd 9 td 0 int 142.3

(2013-14) Romo to...
Bryant 30 of 75 (40%) 982 yd 7 td 3 int 101.9
others 52 of 108 (48%) 1415 yd 14 td 2 int 126.1

The reason Dak-to-Dez isn't nearly as good as Romo-to-Dez used to be is that Dak and Dez have problems connecting on the shorter routes. Note that the passer rating to other receivers is identical.

target less than 15 yards
(2016-17) Prescott to...
Bryant 68 of 115 (59%) 740 yd 9 td 3 int 93.4
others 341 of 466 (73%) 3,194 yd 17 td 5 int 99.3

target less than 15 yards
(2013-14) Romo to...
Bryant 149 of 204 (73%) 1,524 yd 20 td 3 int 120.6
others 451 of 628 (72%) 4,185 yd 28 td 8 int 99.3

 

[xwalker]

We make our team much worse by cutting Dez and we don't need the cap savings

We will be 30m under the cap next year before we cut or restructure anyone

You don't pay 100K for a Kia just because you have 100K in the bank.

They could get a better player for the money.

 

[ConceptCoop]

You don't pay 100K for a Kia just because you have 100K in the bank.

They could get a better player for the money.

Who are you getting that's better for the money? Look at what Pierre Garcon and Alshon Jeffrey got last year.

 

[ConceptCoop]

It's all about the shorter throws...

Awesome information. Thank you for this.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I know that's not a popular opinion and am open to being wrong. But please help me understand what has changed and where he has fallen off? He was never fast; he never ran great routes; he always had concentration drops; he was never great at creating separation. Dez is only 28 YO and doesn't rely on speed. It would be odd for him to be past his prime at this age.

The only change I see is at the QB spot. Dak--as much as I love him and think he's a stud--is more cautious and less accurate than Romo. His deep ball is more sporadic--he's missed Dez on deep balls that would have connected, coming from Tony. Dak's fade isn't all that great--and the fade route is a major strength of Dez's (and Tony's). Put more simply, the quality of target has dropped.

I've seen some argue that defenses have figured him out - but that's silly. It didn't take the NFL 5 years to realize who Dez Bryant was. They've known since day 1, they just haven't been able to stop him.

Help me understand what I'm missing. Please tell me specifically what has changed with Dez Bryant. I think he's the same guy. What makes him great is his ability to win 50/50 balls. He hasn't had as many chances with Dak, and when does get the opportunity, the balls aren't the same quality. Despite that, he's still one of the top TD scorers at the WR position.

Edit: The same reason T. Williams' production has fallen off. Remember, the guy scored 8 TDs in 2014. He was a big play machine. Last season was by far his worst.

Intelligent thread. Dak and Dez have shown good flashes but hard to argue with points being made here.

 

[Nightman]

You don't pay 100K for a Kia just because you have 100K in the bank.

They could get a better player for the money.

Dez is our best WR by a long shot..... if you can find someone better than Dez you cut TWill or Switzer

 

[goshan]

I think Dez is the same and will stay the same for 10 more years

He is a 50-50 ball winner....... first down getter and redzone freak

His strength, heart and intensity will age well........... he won't be a 10m+ WR but at 7-8m a year he can stay forever...... we just don't throw as much and have other viable weapons

Actually don't think his skill set ages well.

 

[ConceptCoop]

Actually don't think his skill set ages well.

Why so?

 

[goshan]

Why so?

Think his explosion and leaping will continue to erode as he ages, and his separation will go from virtually nothing to nothing.
His tackle breaking will continue to decline.
I also worry that his hand/eye coordination will drop slightly and he will drop more balls. That really is an issue with him, and it isn't getting better.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

Dez is our best WR by a long shot..... if you can find someone better than Dez you cut TWill or Switzer

This is the issue to me. I agree with some of the points made here, Dak and Dez aren't on the same page, especially on short yardage situations. Dez seems to have more issues creating the separation necessary to get those catches. I also don't think Dak's deep ball is as good as Romo's was, so it's a bit harder to get him for big plays.

But you can't cut Dez, and not have a semi-adequate replacement. T-Will is hardly a top-option receiver. You have no playmaker at WR.

 

[ConceptCoop]

Think his explosion and leaping will continue to erode as he ages, and his separation will go from virtually nothing to nothing.
His tackle breaking will continue to decline.
I also worry that his hand/eye coordination will drop slightly and he will drop more balls. That really is an issue with him, and it isn't getting better.

Hand-eye coordination?! Dude.

What comps are you using to deduce that his "play style" won't age well?

 

[Verdict]

I'm certainly open to this being the case. I haven't noticed it, but my memory isn't what it used to be (and I'm not even 40 yet). I'll take a look at some older clips and pay attention to the leaping ability. Do you have any specific games that stick out? I can't really think of many times he's been given a chance to win jump balls recently, honestly.

But I do think he still makes difficult catches look routine. Yesterday's touchdown grab, for example.

Dez also has some piss poor drops.

 

[Verdict]

Man the Skins have pissed off a great chance to stop the Eagles.

 

[crashintonickdm]

When Romo was improvising it was Dez who was the guy that benefited the most from that.

Dak for the most part just runs the system and the system isn't that great. There isn't a lot of improvisation even though he has shown he can do it pretty well.

Also, Romo was just a better passer then Dak is at this point and probably ever will be.



Julio Jones just scored his first TD of the season yesterday... What if that was Dez?

julio was just in the super bowl.

 

[xwalker]

Dez is our best WR by a long shot..... if you can find someone better than Dez you cut TWill or Switzer

15+ yard targets
(2016-17)
Bryant 19 of 51 (37%) 515 yd 5 td 1 int 99.7
others 35 of 60 (58%) 928 yd 9 td 0 int 142.3


target less than 15 yards
(2016-17)
Bryant 68 of 115 (59%) 740 yd 9 td 3 int 93.4
others 341 of 466 (73%) 3,194 yd 17 td 5 int 99.3