ESPN's Bill Barnwell: Cowboys have worst group of WRs in the league

[Alexander]

I’d take Benjamin and Robinson over any WR we have.

But you are right..... Tennessee’s are weak too. A lot is riding on Corey Davis there.

The battery of weak WRs and the TE position is our issue.

I don't think you can find a weaker collective group.

 

[HowardC]

The FO is gonna have some serious egg on their faces if the offense sputters because of the lack of passing weapons...

 

[kskboys]

Still unknown. And the next time they try to make this claim, it will still be unknown. We won't even get a feeling for what we have at WR until preseason, and still won't know until around mid season. Claim it great, claim it terrible, but it's still uknown.

 

[Knotamus]

Yes that all entire offense is Zeke and stop him and let Dak beat you with his Arm...I mean what's the secret here?

Yep. You got it right. It’s a run first team believe it or not. Opponents will have to stop Zeke, which is why Dallas bolstered the OL. And Dak will have to beat them with his arm.. guess the same could be said ab every other QB in the league! Wow, what a concept. So, for the Dak haters.. this is the season you’ve been waiting for. Dak can’t throw right? Exp since we have the crappiest WRs in the league. Now you’ll finally be vindicated, Dak is horrible, right?.. but what if your wrong.

There’s no secret here. There’s teams around the league that are winning without a “true #1” like the Rams, Tenn, KC.. etc. Yet, people gloss over that fact or just can’t comprehend the scheme. No Dak isn’t the traditional QB like Romo, Brees, Rodgers, etc.. I think most compare him to the mold of Wilson or Cam. That said, having 3-4 starting WRs that can get open quickly via great route running and technique AND having a QB that makes his reads, has minimum turnovers and can make the short/quick throws is paramount in a league where speed is everything. And it doesn’t hurt when the QB can run too. Hell, Tom Brady is the king of dump passes, but I don’t see anyone complaining of the results. There will be more deep throws this year also, but those will be thrown to the speeder guys like Austin & Thompson to stretch the field. At the end of the day, this is what they plan to do for Dak.. and Dak has to prove he can handle it. If you don’t believe he can.. well, good for you. I think it’s exactly what he’d prefer. Only time will tell.

Btw.. can anyone tell me who the #1 Wr at Mississippi State was back when Dak went 19-7 his last two seasons? He also threw for more than 7000 yrds, 56tds, and 16Ints. Oh yeah, and he ran for another 24tds. All this against some of the best teams in the country within the SEC.

If you want the secret: it’s not about having a #1.. it’s about getting the ball to the open man.

 

[PAPPYDOG]

Yep. You got it right. It’s a run first team believe it or not. Opponents will have to stop Zeke, which is why Dallas bolstered the OL. And Dak will have to beat them with his arm.. guess the same could be said ab every other QB in the league! Wow, what a concept. So, for the Dak haters.. this is the season you’ve been waiting for. Dak can’t throw right? Exp since we have the crappiest WRs in the league. Now you’ll finally be vindicated, Dak is horrible, right?.. but what if your wrong.

There’s no secret here. There’s teams around the league that are winning without a “true #1” like the Rams, Tenn, KC.. etc. Yet, people gloss over that fact or just can’t comprehend the scheme. No Dak isn’t the traditional QB like Romo, Brees, Rodgers, etc.. I think most compare him to the mold of Wilson or Cam. That said, having 3-4 starting WRs that can get open quickly via great route running and technique AND having a QB that makes his reads, has minimum turnovers and can make the short/quick throws is paramount in a league where speed is everything. And it doesn’t hurt when the QB can run too. Hell, Tom Brady is the king of dump passes, but I don’t see anyone complaining of the results. There will be more deep throws this year also, but those will be thrown to the speeder guys like Austin & Thompson to stretch the field. At the end of the day, this is what they plan to do for Dak.. and Dak has to prove he can handle it. If you don’t believe he can.. well, good for you. I think it’s exactly what he’d prefer. Only time will tell.

Btw.. can anyone tell me who the #1 Wr at Mississippi State was back when Dak went 19-7 his last two seasons? He also threw for more than 7000 yrds, 56tds, and 16Ints. Oh yeah, and he ran for another 24tds. All this against some of the best teams in the country within the SEC.


That's why he was drafted in the 1st round I guess...we're sorry bud.....

If you want the secret: it’s not about having a #1.. it’s about getting the ball to the open man.

That's why he was drafted in the 1st round I guess...we're sorry bud.....

P.S. Not to burst your bubble there champ but Dak needs 10 seconds to find the open man......and by that time he's sacked and fumbled the ball away.....

 

[jay94]

There is no secret, its just obvious. I like for once our talent is getting called out, instead of being overly praised.

 

[buybuydandavis]

We are a heavy running team, and a power running team, which means TE's are used to block. So even if the TE's aren't used much as receivers, there is still reason to have them on the field. Even so, I think it's way premature to simply write off the idea that our TE's can help as receivers too.

I agree that 12-24 touches for Tavon seems wacky. I could see more like 6-12. I don't see him being used a lot as a runner, and that would be the only way for him to get anything close to that number of touches.

One of the best ways to power run is to have a good oline, a big, bruising back, and spread the field with WRs. You don't need TEs. They let the defense keep LBs on the field instead of DBs.

I can't think of teams going 3 wide with a FB, but I wouldn't really know as I mainly watch the Cowboys. It likely gets our best personnel on the field.

6-12 seems reasonable for Tavon. Closer to 6. Misdirection on fakes twice for every run.

 

[stiletto]

OMG it's over a dopey writer said they suck.. I think we should just forfeit the season right now..... LOL

Everytime crap like this is said it NEVER goes that way. I am waiting for the collective to start saying "The Cowboys won't sniff the playoffs"...It's guaranteed they will win the division at that point. Pretty much whatever the procrastinators conclude, predict the opposite and you'll probably do well on your bets...LOL

 

[DakBringMeBack]

He's not wrong. Not sure what they were doing this offseason when they constructed this unit.

 

[exciter]

I think the days of spending a fortune on "top" WRs is over, until the game changes again. Unless they're truly elite at getting separation and have size AND speed.

The game is changing, you want guys who can get that little bit of separation in their route running. Its all about efficiency, reducing mistakes, and making defenses cover a wide range of personnel and routes, attacking their pass defense and weaknesses in that area.

I think we'll be fine. We could use a superstar, who couldn't, but I'm more concerned with winning the passer rating differential battle and converting 3rd downs

Exactly what are you basing this belief on? Watkins just got a contract averaging 16m and Robinson 14m. Watkins has for all intents and purposes been a career bust and Robinson is coming off an acl tear. Reports were that the Jones' made a major play for Watkins. If teams are willing to throw fortunes a mid level at best receivers, what are they going to throw at the actual dominant ones with contracts coming up!

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

How good do they have to be to beat Twill and Brice Butler?
I agree about Gallup, he's going to be a good one.

But you are supposed to be improving the team not getting worse.

 

[Captain-Crash]

if the WR's don't get 2 or 3 yards separation, Dak will be scared to throw it to them. He will panic in the backfield and start running, or throwing the ball wildly like last year. Then it will be, "the wr's suck, they can't get separation". It will never be, "Dak is scared to throw it into tight coverage because he's not accurate.

 

[InTheZone]

I agree and I hope they prove me wrong. Anyone that is actually mad at this article is just mad at the current state of our offense.

 

[TexasHillbilly]

The first line of the article:

"When you remove that dominant offensive line and quarterback Dak Prescott from the equation...."

Well, nobody's doing that, so I guess the rest of it is just about pointless.

I was thinking the same thing. If the line is in tact, Mr. Prescott has time to throw and that will be the difference.

 

[CyberB0b]

The battery of weak WRs and the TE position is our issue.

I don't think you can find a weaker collective group.

We definitely have the worst TE group in the league. At least Beasley and Hurns have a little bit of production on their resume.

 

[Diehardblues]

I agree and I hope they prove me wrong. Anyone that is actually mad at this article is just mad at the current state of our offense.

Right!

There’s nothing wrong with being concerned with our recievers situation. It’s definitely an unknown quantity. No doubt why it’s drawing some criticism.

Not sure why some fans feel they need to defend it just because they’re hopeful or more optimistic. It’s not like we’re not hopeful.

 

[InTheZone]

Right!

There’s nothing wrong with being concerned with our recievers situation. It’s definitely an unknown quantity. No doubt why it’s drawing some criticism.

Not sure why some fans feel they need to defend it just because they’re hopeful or more optimistic. It’s not like we’re not hopeful.

In B4 being called a WR basher

 

[Sydla]

I struggle to understand the thinking of those that actually believe we don't have, at the very least, some large questions at WR and TE.

I always say the best way to look at these type of things is this.

If I told you that in 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles would roll out a WR corps of Hurns, Beasley, Williams, Gallup, Thompson and Austin and a TE group of Swaim, Gathers, Jarwin, the same people crying that outsiders aren't giving us enough respect would be laughing at how bad the Eagles' skill players are.

Maybe it will all work out and Hurns will find that magical season and Gallup will be that rare rookie that really produces and the coaching staff is able to figure out how to use Gathers in the passing game and Jarwin matches his hype. It's possible. But to basically ignore the significant risk in fielding a pass catching group of unknowns and question marks makes little sense to me.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The FO is gonna have some serious egg on their faces if the offense sputters because of the lack of passing weapons...

nah.....it'll all be on Dak

 

[Diehardblues]

I struggle to understand the thinking of those that actually believe we don't have, at the very least, some large questions at WR and TE.

I always say the best way to look at these type of things is this.

If I told you that in 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles would roll out a WR corps of Hurns, Beasley, Williams, Gallup, Thompson and Austin and a TE group of Swaim, Gathers, Jarwin, the same people crying that outsiders aren't giving us enough respect would be laughing at how bad the Eagles' skill players are.

Maybe it will all work out and Hurns will find that magical season and Gallup will be that rare rookie that really produces and the coaching staff is able to figure out how to use Gathers in the passing game and Jarwin matches his hype. It's possible. But to basically ignore the significant risk in fielding a pass catching group of unknowns and question marks makes little sense to me.

Absolutely!!

Amazing how some have confidence our coaching staff is going to make the difference in coaching these Jags up.. lol

Recievers by committee is a recipe for disaster without a more prolific passing QB.