Devin Smith Thread

DaBoys12

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I think JvJ is thinking way to much, and lost his confidence. Agreed, a year on the practice squad could help the young man out a lot.
I'm really intrigued with Devin Smith, like him a lot, he deserves a break from the football gods with the injuries he's had. He has the pedigree, I think he's hungry, motivated, and has a little chip on his shoulder, wanting to prove to himself, and others, that he can do this. If he stays healthy, he'll be a good one....me thinks.
 

morasp

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Strengths
Smooth speed merchant with instant gas off the line. Has outstanding body composure and an effortless stride. Electrifying foot quickness. Game-breaking speed with necessary feel of a downfield receiver. Tracks the throw over his shoulder and never breaks stride in the chase. Averaged 28.2 yards per catch and 54.5 percent of his catches were for 25-plus yards in 2014. Used outside and from slot. Must be matched by speed on defense or with safety over the top. Uses shoulder dip from inside release to avoid being redirected by slot corner. Speed creates uncontested targets for him underneath. Can snap off dig routes and open immediately. Good luck giving chase to Smith on a crosser or speed-out in the red zone. Might have been the best gunner in college football.

NFL Comparison
DeSean Jackson
Bottom Line
Smith isn't just combine-fast, he's game-fast and he would have had more than 12 touchdown catches during the 2014 season if he didn't have to slow down and wait on throws so often. Smith has the feet and hips to become much more than a deep-ball specialist and should be able to step right into a gunner spot on special teams. He still needs to learn his craft and improve his hands, but he has rare speed to score from anywhere on the field.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/devin-smith?id=2552459
 

Carson

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Smith needs to find a way to the 53. If he stays healthy, he can play.

Johnson, Guyton and Davis can all battle for the PS.
 

Kingofholland

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Cooper, Gallup, Cobb, Austin, and Wilson I think all make it.

Last spot is between Brown, Smith, Johnson, and Davis. Realistically its probably Brown or Smith. Right now the edge goes to Brown, based on how much the Cowboys like him for his blocking. However, I don't think he has the same upside as Devin Smith.

I know some have Austin on the chopping block, but I don't think anyone else here can field punts like Austin. That's why I think he makes the team.
 

CATCH17

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Drops are flukes. Like I said, if he makes a play and gets his hands on the ball, that's good enough for me. Doesn't matter if it sticks or lands on the turf. That's irrelevant.

It’s not fluke if we have back to back weeks of it and it’s a mainstream known problem with him.

He’ll be cut and put on the practice squad.
 

CowboysFaninHouston

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Caught a TD today after being in position to catch one last week... so likely the inside track to make that 6th and final WR spot... do you agree? So is Wilson out for sure now? What about Johnson and Austin?
I think Johnson is PS guy....not so sure about Austin and what he brings to the table that these other WRs don't. Wilson is good in the slot and can play some outside.
 

805BoysInBlue

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For me execution is about whether or not the guy can actually run the routes and demonstrate high field, play and ball awareness.

Whether or not he actually comes down with the catch or the ball finds the turf after he makes a play on it with his hands, is irrelevant. Drops are flukes, like make-or-miss in basketball. Would you cut Steph Curry if he missed a couple open 3's or free throws in a row? I didn't think so.
A guy who needs to catch the ball at his position has to be able to catch the ball and have reliable hands. I honestly have seen him make more drops than catches.
 

reddyuta

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I see no way that Tavon Austin is cut from this team.
I've said it for two years now. Cut Noah brown. Keep guys that can actually make plays down field. If you keep a WR just to block you are limiting your offense when he is on the field.

he is also so slow and cant shake CBs,i have no idea why they keep him but wont be surprised if he makes the team.
 

ConstantReboot

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Cooper, Gallup, Cobb, Austin, and Wilson I think all make it.

Last spot is between Brown, Smith, Johnson, and Davis. Realistically its probably Brown or Smith. Right now the edge goes to Brown, based on how much the Cowboys like him for his blocking. However, I don't think he has the same upside as Devin Smith.

I know some have Austin on the chopping block, but I don't think anyone else here can field punts like Austin. That's why I think he makes the team.

I'm kinda sick of Brown sticking around just for the sake of his blocking. I guess Garrett like those that can just block and do nothing else good. Then use him in important games and does absolutely nothing. No wonder our offense has been stale for so long. Blocking takes precedence over abilities to make plays. Because Garrett doesn't have a clue on how to make use of talent.
 

buybuydandavis

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Yeah I don’t know why people are insistent on replacing Austin. I have saw nothing from any of those other guys to say his position is in jeopardy. Wilson looked good last week.

Some people get too wound up about injuries, and there's a false narrative going around that Austin is injury prone, while he's averaged 15 games a season for the rest of this career.

The only reasons I see to get rid of Austin is to save a roster spot, and because you'd rather have other guys taking those snaps. Pollard and Smith give us what Austin does, and maybe better. Maybe not too.

But Pollard can be a plus for Austin too, with his ability to line up wide. Did in college. Pollard, Austin, Cooper as wideouts. There's a lot of jet sweeping and deep balls going on there.

We're probably the best fit in the league for Austin. We've been looking for that midget jet sweep receiving threat for a long time. And he was productive per touch/target for us when we gave it to him last year.

Linehan should have given it to Austin more. Similar weirdness with refusing to use Butler in 2017, when his production was great and he was clearly the guy to be forcing teams out of their press man coverage.

The Elliot holdout may help Austin. Austin is definitely the designated jet sweep receiver if Pollard is at tailback.

Way too much speed, talent, fit, and proven effectiveness for us to let him go. People are crazy.
 

buybuydandavis

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[ed: on Jonvea Johnson]
shouldve been converted to a CB, ...that's where wr with high drop rates end up as redshirt fr. In college

That's interesting. Not a problem to look into that for a PS player.
 

buybuydandavis

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I think it's down to Devin Smith and Austin for the 6th receiver spot. The top 3 are locked in, Cedrick Wilson is 23 and offers legit 3 level receiver potential down the road, and Noah Brown offers skills as a blocker and gunner that the speed guys don't. Austin and Smith are looking to play the same role.

Austin is on the team as a dual run/receiving threat. He's competing more with Pollard than Smith, but I can see them keeping both, and having them on the field together. I hope they keep both. Austin was very productive per target for us.

I'm on the dump Brown bandwagon. We don't need a midget blocking TE. We've got other guys to play ST.

We've got actual talent at the bottom of the roster I don't want to lose to keep Brown.
 

buybuydandavis

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I wonder what the Cowboys are thinking in terms of Austin returning punts? Smith might have the edge as a receiver, but punt returns could boost Austin’s status.

Another thing is Austin could be kept to add wrinkles to the offense - jet sweeps, reverses etc. in preseason we are too vanilla to get a sense of whether those things could be in the plans

The dual run/receiving threat is what to keep Austin for.

Looking across the offense, we resigned Olawale and Austin, and drafted Pollard. We clearly want that dual threat, giving us multiple run threats on the field simultaneously. Let's us lean on the strength of the team, which is run blocking from the oline.
 
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