Will McClay: Dez Bryant was inconsistent, couldn’t win one-on-one

[GMO415]

Dez, you should have signed with Bal

 

[Ranching]

Tell us something we didn't know Will...

What he didn't say was that they overpaid him and now go back on their deal because no one had the balls to tell Jerry that at the time.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Just stating what many on this board already know

 

[tyke1doe]

I'm sure we'll get the "Dak isn't accurate" or the "Tony Romo says Dez is always open" line soon.

Everyone but homers could see Dez wasn't a great route runner. I mean player after player after player told us this. But the response was, "What do they know. They're not in the Cowboys locker room."

The problem with players like Dez is if they're not fast, have limited route running skills and are "malcontents" then after their first few years, they're no good anymore.

Look at Ed McCaffrey or Ricky Proel or even Larry Fitzgerald. Neither of those guys were blazers. But they were masters at running routes and finding open spaces, and they played longer than their talent would have suggested they'd play. Ocho Cinco and Dez Bryant are limited route runners. Ocho couldn't master the Patriot's playbook, which is why he was dumped after one season.

Someone will take a flyer on Dez. But if he doesn't improve his route running, he'll be on the street again.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Fact: The offense did not score a passing TD after Week 9 to Week 13.

3 games without a passing score. Dez is part of that but he’s not the sole reason for it. Will McClay did not give you an honest assessment.

The whole team under-performed last year.

 

[RamziD]

Looks like the Dezonistas are going to fight 'til their last breath...

 

[tyke1doe]

I mean it's true. Will and staff can be guilty of cognitive dissonance.

Dak was bad most of last year and that wasn't because of Dez. Did beasely lose the ability to beat one on one coverage also? Did Dez stop drawing double coverages?

I'm fine saying we cut Dez because his production didn't match his salary (though looking at the wr market you wonder if that's true....). But if we're just going to ignore mitigating circumstances...what's the point?

It's irrefutable that Tony can/could get more out of Dez than Dak. That isn't necessarily a bad thing but it's A thing that ignoring makes no sense.

True. I'm a Dak fan, but even I can admit that Dak was woefully inaccurate last year. I think he and Dez lacked chemistry, and I think Dak got frustrated that Dez wasn't in the right position moreso than Romo would. Tony was an improviser, so I don't think it bothered him as much. Dak is young and wants a receiver to be open before he throw to him or wants him to be where he's supposed to be and show 100 percent effort. Dez probably got pissed with Dak, thinking he was open when he wasn't or when he was open, Dak didn't get him the ball. I think that seeped into Dez's attitude. But the team is always going to favor the quarterback (especially he has promise and he's young) over the receiver (unless he's Jerry Rice).

 

[Hawkeye0202]

What I saw and heard Romo comment about today is that he's a good teammate and that he thought he'd catch on with another team soon. That was about the gist of it, though. I don't think there's any question but what Dez isn't nearly the player Dallas had at the outset of his career. There's a good reason why teams haven't responded up 'til now if he's the same guy he was back then.

I think he's at least close to being finished if he's not. Will McClay said on the report that I heard is that he's "no longer able to get open on the outside any more." Sounds pretty accurate to me. Whether he's able to catch on with another team or not remains to be seen. Players simply get old, beat up and lose their oomph. It happens.

Honestly, I don't Dez talent or ??? talent as some put it, is what's holding him back. I think it what's between his ears, such as attitude, cockiness and the bad interview he did the day he was released. Revenge can be tricky, especially if it's used the wrong way. Think about his attitude when he was released about staying in NFCE. It showed a player arrogant, cocky and completely misguided to come across as if all he had to do was dial any NFCE team's number and he gets a contract. He had every right to be upset but at the end of the day there's a certain norm people look for and it's not pointing fingers and throwing teammates and coaches under the bus........even if what he says it sure, most people don't wanna hear it. They wanna see humility, taking responsibility.........

I hate to say this ( he'll always be a favorite ) but IMO as of now, he's seen around the league as high maintenance. Add what his former team is saying about declining skills, most teams/coaches probably don't think he's worth trouble.

 

[percyhoward]

Fact: The offense did not score a passing TD after Week 9 to Week 13.

3 games without a passing score. Dez is part of that but he’s not the sole reason for it. Will McClay did not give you an honest assessment.

Certainly not a complete one. Nobody with the team has mentioned the way Dak reacted when a backup OL was playing more than half the snaps.

Prescott's attempts when kept clean, 2017
w/o Smith or Martin
72 of 99 536 yd 0 td 4 int 68.4

in other 11 games
164 of 239 1725 yards 17 td 4 int 106.1

All from a clean pocket. That's a drop of almost 40 rating points, which is basically saying he was a different QB.

 

[Reality]

I’m a fan of the cowboys not a singular player...

I’m ready to move on from this issue

This is why I don't really get caught up in the emotions after a player is released, traded, etc. The players wanted free agency to make more money and they got it, but it also means you will see a lot more team hopping by veteran players who are released or traded by those teams.

As a fan though, I only care about the Cowboys. Once they leave, I wish them well when they are not playing the Cowboys, but beyond that they are just another player to me. Now, once they retire, if they were a great or important player for the Cowboys, I will once again be a fan of theirs.

 

[cowboy_ron]

Will speak truth........Jerry, you may retire.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Certainly not a complete one. Nobody with the team has mentioned the way Dak reacted when a backup OL was playing more than half the snaps.

Prescott's attempts when kept clean, 2017
w/o Smith or Martin
72 of 99 536 yd 0 td 4 int 68.4

in other 11 games
164 of 239 1725 yards 17 td 4 int 106.1

All from a clean pocket. That's a drop of almost 40 rating points, which is basically saying he was a different QB.

For all the talk of his leadership....Dak showed himself to be mentally weak last year if you hit him.

I don't know what that doesn't worry more people....

 

[Section446]

Where are all the Homer's that kept fighting the FACT that he wasn't that good?

 

[Zekeats]

Have to say odb has got more 100 yard games in 6 less seasons then dez.

 

[Aven8]

This is why I don't really get caught up in the emotions after a player is released, traded, etc. The players wanted free agency to make more money and they got it, but it also means you will see a lot more team hopping by veteran players who are released or traded by those teams.

As a fan though, I only care about the Cowboys. Once they leave, I wish them well when they are not playing the Cowboys, but beyond that they are just another player to me. Now, once they retire, if they were a great or important player for the Cowboys, I will once again be a fan of theirs.

That's why I don't get emotionally invested either. It helps that Ware, Dez, Witt, Emmitt etc are not the same players over the years and you witness the fall. That makes it easier to let them go. Demarco however was the OPOY and rushed for more yards in a season than anyone. That one IMO was a much tougher pill to swallow than any of the above names.

 

[zekecowboy]

I'm sure we'll get the "Dak isn't accurate" or the "Tony Romo says Dez is always open" line soon.

Throw in the Cowboys inability to scheme their wide receivers open, a general lack of support for mediocre offensive line play and the fact quarterback Dak Prescott’s game fell apart at the end of the season; and it all adds up to Dallas needing an all a new direction offensively. If the Cowboys are keeping Jason Garrett, Linehan should be the first to go.

Answer me this. I understand that players must execute plays. I get that this group shares a massive amount of the blame for underperforming in Dallas. But I also see offensive coordinators across the NFL who are able to scheme less talented receivers open on a consistent basis.

Who is responsible for the development of these receivers? Who develops their hands, their footwork, who improves their route running? Who designs these plays? Who insures these receivers are mentally prepared to face their opponents week in and week out? Who gives them that “mental edge” against these suspect secondaries?

Think about the regression of this wide receiver group. Bryant has been a shell of himself for three years now. Terrance Williams has yet to live up the promise of his rookie season. After a terrific outing last season, Cole Beasley has all but disappeared in 2017. Ryan Switzer has barely seen the field as a receiver. And most fans didn’t even know Noah Brown was on the roster until Week 15.

https://thelandryhat.com/2017/12/27/dallas-cowboys-5-moves-fix-wide-receiver-corps/

 

[CATCH17]

I'm sure we'll get the "Dak isn't accurate" or the "Tony Romo says Dez is always open" line soon.

Because it’s true.

I trust Romo more then Will Mcclay.

 

[Rayman70]

Mensa certainly has nothing to worry about as far as Dez becoming a member in this life time.

 

[calico]

How about this:

There would be a certain irony involved in Bryant heading to Green Bay. After all, the most famous catch that never was of Bryant's career came in a playoff game in Titletown back in 2014.

As Will Brinson reported for CBS Sports, that playoff loss to the Packers actually led Bryant to rule out the Pack as a potential landing spot.

Per Brinson, Bryant smiled and said: "It wouldn't seem right. Too much history."

Would he really turn down the chance to play with Rodgers on a potential Super Bowl team?

i knew dez wasnt bright. but if this is true.......he's a functioning ra-tard.

 

[Rayman70]

i knew dez wasnt bright. but if this is true.......he's a functioning ******.

we can complete the sentence anyway we like..or fill the blank in.. I vote for moron.