News: Are the Dallas Cowboys planning for life without Dez Bryant?

[thechosen1n2]

I think that is a pretty fair question. I attribute his success in the Green Bay game to the fact that Green Bay's defensive backs sucked horribly. It enabled Dez to "go off" like he used to.

Dez is a lot likeT.O.was in his later years. When T.O. played lesser competition he feasted on it. But when he had a guy on him that could run competent press coverage he was done. I think that is why the Giants shut him down....both games.

Tony threw to Dez when he wasn't really open. It resulted in TDs and interceptions. The same interceptions that probably cost Romo a title and ultimately his job.

I think Dak threw to the open man. It wasn't Dez until he played inferior competition that he got open.

In fairness to Dez that wasn't the situation in every case, but it happened far too often.

I think its a little more nuanced than that. Dez is not a great route runner, but hes not as terrible as people make him out to be. In the beginning, Dak passed to the first open read. Not a terrible thing, but it leaves points on the board at times even though it moves the chains. Tony did the opposite, he looked for the big play too much instead of taking whats right there. I think the middle of the road of those 2 options is the best way to go, but back to Dez. Being that Dez is double teamed and Dak goes to the first open read, that played a huge part of the low receptions combined with lack of chemistry, injuries etc. I guarantee if Romo was still here buying time, this Dez drop off discussion would not even be a discussion, and Im going to go a step further...if Dez played with someone like Big Ben who constantly extends plays, Dez would lead the league in yardage. Every situation is different. What we should a appreciate is Dez attitude towards the pass game being secondary. He gets so little credit for being the player he is regardless of his stats.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Geezus come on regular season!

 

[negativecreep]

Dez is a great WR and according to most a great team mate and leader..kinda like a WR you'd like a young QB to be able to count on. We don't hand out contracts to good players? Ask Tyron, Jason,, ask Romo, Dez isn't going anywhere and didnt quit after his contract, he did get hurt, like Julio Jones or Alshon Jeffery or A J Green, lay off Dez.

 

[JoeKing]

I think its a little more nuanced than that. Dez is not a great route runner, but hes not as terrible as people make him out to be. In the beginning, Dak passed to the first open read. Not a terrible thing, but it leaves points on the board at times even though it moves the chains. Tony did the opposite, he looked for the big play too much instead of taking whats right there. I think the middle of the road of those 2 options is the best way to go, but back to Dez. Being that Dez is double teamed and Dak goes to the first open read, that played a huge part of the low receptions combined with lack of chemistry, injuries etc. I guarantee if Romo was still here buying time, this Dez drop off discussion would not even be a discussion, and Im going to go a step further...if Dez played with someone like Big Ben who constantly extends plays, Dez would lead the league in yardage. Every situation is different. What we should a appreciate is Dez attitude towards the pass game being secondary. He gets so little credit for being the player he is regardless of his stats.

The reality of the situation is Dez is a diminished contributor without Romo forcing the ball to him. It's time to stop bemoaning Romo's departure and how that effects Dez's stats. Statistically, Dak is a better ball distribution manager and that results in less turnovers. As long as Dak is our QB, Dez will continue to be under utilized until Dak figures out and is comfortable with one thing about Dez... when he's covered he's still really open much of the time.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The bottom line is that 1,000 yards or less is not good enough for his pay level...........either Dez ups his production level or his days of being a top 5 paid WR are over.

And this is not isolated to just Dez either, other players have had to take pay cuts or be released when their play did not live up to their contract, like Doug Free for example.

 

[Verdict]

I think its a little more nuanced than that. Dez is not a great route runner, but hes not as terrible as people make him out to be. In the beginning, Dak passed to the first open read. Not a terrible thing, but it leaves points on the board at times even though it moves the chains. Tony did the opposite, he looked for the big play too much instead of taking whats right there. I think the middle of the road of those 2 options is the best way to go, but back to Dez. Being that Dez is double teamed and Dak goes to the first open read, that played a huge part of the low receptions combined with lack of chemistry, injuries etc. I guarantee if Romo was still here buying time, this Dez drop off discussion would not even be a discussion, and Im going to go a step further...if Dez played with someone like Big Ben who constantly extends plays, Dez would lead the league in yardage. Every situation is different. What we should a appreciate is Dez attitude towards the pass game being secondary. He gets so little credit for being the player he is regardless of his stats.

I like this civil conversation about this important topic. Reasonable men can view the same facts differently. That part of what makes this board so great.

Now back to Dez.... Dez got owned against the Giants. Not just once, but twice. Against better CBs (usually on better teams) Dez really often disappears because he cannot get separation. Josh Norman was really in his head too.

Dez is elite at what he is (physicality and leaping ability) but he is a bit of a one trick pony, I would really like to see him work on his craft and be more than that, but quite honestly I think his limitations are mental.

He is willing to work hard on getting better at the things he already does well. The problem I see is that he needs to work on the things he doesn't do well.

Bill Parcells could have probably developed him more because he would have challenged his weak areas. Jason Garrett is content with cheering Dez like a clapping school girl, probably in part because I think Dez is emotionally weak minded.

 

[Verdict]

The reality of the situation is Dez is a diminished contributor without Romo forcing the ball to him. It's time to stop bemoaning Romo's departure and how that effects Dez's stats. Statistically, Dak is a better ball distribution manager and that results in less turnovers. As long as Dak is our QB, Dez will continue to be under utilized until Dak figures out and is comfortable with one thing about Dez... when he's covered he's still really open much of the time.

Actually if a player is covered, then he is covered. Dez is covered often. So essentially you have to force it into a small window without much margin for error and let Dez go get it/fight for it, OR the QB can actually throw it to someone else who actually is open.

The games we struggled in last year are the games that we got away from throwing the ball to Beasley. Beasley is like greased cat ****. He is almost always open.

 

[thechosen1n2]

The reality of the situation is Dez is a diminished contributor without Romo forcing the ball to him. It's time to stop bemoaning Romo's departure and how that effects Dez's stats. Statistically, Dak is a better ball distribution manager and that results in less turnovers. As long as Dak is our QB, Dez will continue to be under utilized until Dak figures out and is comfortable with one thing about Dez... when he's covered he's still really open much of the time.

Im not bemoaning Romos Departure. In Fact, I agree with most everything you said, and what I disagree is truly splitting hairs. The "under utilization" of Dez is to the teams benefit, but people think thats a reason to 86 him before he is reasonably replaced. Dez's presence allows the game plan to work because he still has to be accounted for. People only look at stats as to how effective he is.

 

[JoeKing]

Actually if a player is covered, then he is covered. Dez is covered often. So essentially you have to force it into a small window without much margin for error and let Dez go get it/fight for it, OR the QB can actually throw it to someone else who actually is open..

When Dez is covered he is not necessarily covered because he can jump higher than the man covering him and
high point the ball in most cases. Dak is just not accustom to having a receiver that can do that and so he throws the ball to Dez less than Romo use to.

The games we struggled in last year are the games that we got away from throwing the ball to Beasley. Beasley is like greased cat ****. He is almost always open.

I'm a big fan of Beasley's but the Cowboys don't just get away from throwing the ball to Beasley for no reason. Either Dak checked the ball to a different receiver in his progression or Beas was not open or the running game was being utilized.

 

[JoeKing]

Im not bemoaning Romos Departure. In Fact, I agree with most everything you said, and what I disagree is truly splitting hairs. The "under utilization" of Dez is to the teams benefit, but people think thats a reason to 86 him before he is reasonably replaced. Dez's presence allows the game plan to work because he still has to be accounted for. People only look at stats as to how effective he is.

Agreed, Dez is a decoy much of the time but he is so good that he must be respected.

 

[thechosen1n2]

I like this civil conversation about this important topic. Reasonable men can view the same facts differently. That part of what makes this board so great.

Now back to Dez.... Dez got owned against the Giants. Not just once, but twice. Against better CBs (usually on better teams) Dez really often disappears because he cannot get separation. Josh Norman was really in his head too.

Dez is elite at what he is (physicality and leaping ability) but he is a bit of a one trick pony, I would really like to see him work on his craft and be more than that, but quite honestly I think his limitations are mental.

He is willing to work hard on getting better at the things he already does well. The problem I see is that he needs to work on the things he doesn't do well.

Bill Parcells could have probably developed him more because he would have challenged his weak areas. Jason Garrett is content with cheering Dez like a clapping school girl, probably in part because I think Dez is emotionally weak minded.

I certainly do not think Dez is some genius, but I hate the premise that he is incapable of thinking. He allows his emotions to get the best of him at times, but other than the multiple ummms in an interview he is not some all out dummy. Who is dumber, the supposed dummy who is a 1 trick pony, or the dummy who people claim to be so intelligent that doesnt move his receiver around when a double team is constantly sitting on him...all while mishandling play clocks. My question is how can a supposed "mental midget" learn from a supposed "genius" when the genius does more dumb things than the mental midget? The fact that you think... and I think that coaches like Bill would have gotten more out of Dez demonstrates Dez isnt the problem, yet hes is the one that is always considered stupid.

 

[Verdict]

When Dez is covered he is not necessarily covered because he can jump higher than the man covering him and
high point the ball in most cases. Dak is just not accustom to having a receiver that can do that and so he throws the ball to Dez less than Romo use to.


I'm a big fan of Beasley's but the Cowboys don't just get away from throwing the ball to Beasley for no reason. Either Dak checked the ball to a different receiver in his progression or Beas was not open or the running game was being utilized.

Actually if you go back and watch the games in which Dak struggled he forced the ball to Dez a lot. Many times Beas was open.

 

[JoeKing]

Actually if you go back and watch the games in which Dak struggled he forced the ball to Dez a lot. Many times Beas was open.

You'd need to specify the game. I'm not going to go back and watch the whole season until I find evidence of what you say is true. Fair enough?

 

[Verdict]

I certainly do not think Dez is some genius, but I hate the premise that he is incapable of thinking. He allows his emotions to get the best of him at times, but other than the multiple ummms in an interview he is not some all out dummy. Who is dumber, the supposed dummy who is a 1 trick pony, or the dummy who people claim to be so intelligent that doesnt move his receiver around when a double team is constantly sitting on him...all while mishandling play clocks. My question is how can a supposed "mental midget" learn from a supposed "genius" when the genius does more dumb things than the mental midget? The fact that you think... and I think that coaches like Bill would have gotten more out of Dez demonstrates Dez isnt the problem, yet hes is the one that is always considered stupid.

Actually I don't think Dez is stupid. I just think he relies on his physical ability too much and not enough of the technical aspects of the game. It's more of a lack of attention to detail than stupidity.

But he is likely weak minded, which is different. He is a bit weak emotionally. That doesn't make him stupid or a bad guy, but it really puts pressure on a coach to force him the ball, which I am not a proponent of, because babysitting is too much.

Let's not forget we actually paid people to babysit Dez.

 

[Verdict]

You'd need to specify the game. I'm not going to go back and watch the whole season until I find evidence of what you say is true. Fair enough?

No. It's not worth the effort for me to try to convince you of my point of view. I am sure you will get the chance to see it going forward. Just pay attention and give it time. It will come to you.

 

[JoeKing]

No. It's not worth the effort for me to try to convince you of my point of view. I am sure you will get the chance to see it going forward. Just pay attention and give it time. It will come to you.

I watched every game last season already. I know what I saw. If you want to make a case of something contradictory then make a case, otherwise you have no evidence supporting what you say and all you have is hot air.

 

[thechosen1n2]

Actually I don't think Dez is stupid. I just think he relies on his physical ability too much and not enough of the technical aspects of the game. It's more of a lack of attention to detail than stupidity.

But he is likely weak minded, which is different. He is a bit weak emotionally. That doesn't make him stupid or a bad guy, but it really puts pressure on a coach to force him the ball, which I am not a proponent of, because babysitting is too much.

Let's not forget we actually paid people to babysit Dez.

We did. People watched over him because he wore his pants to low in northpark (i hate sagging by the way) and because of a jewelry bill that he got before he got a large sum of money. Are those really reasons to have someone pay for a sitter. I do agree he is a bit weak emotionally. He cares too much what people think and feel. On the other hand he is one of the most loyal people on the team.

 

[adbutcher]

Just which free agents did we miss out on?

It is a stupid theory.

The much more likely theory is we spread out the Romo money and saved the restructure on Dez to extend Martin this summer.

ditto...

 

[Verdict]

I watched every game last season already. I know what I saw. If you want to make a case of something contradictory then make a case, otherwise you have no evidence supporting what you say and all you have is hot air.

No. LOL. But I'm not going to waste hunting up anything for you, because you don't want to reasonably evaluate it so it is a waste of time.

 

[Verdict]

We did. People watched over him because he wore his pants to low in northpark (i hate sagging by the way) and because of a jewelry bill that he got before he got a large sum of money. Are those really reasons to have someone pay for a sitter. I do agree he is a bit weak emotionally. He cares too much what people think and feel. On the other hand he is one of the most loyal people on the team.

I think that Dez is a Cowboys fan, and thats great. It is in fact admirable.

I do not believe the jewelry deal and the pants sagging were the reasons why we paid people to baby sit him. But whatever the reason was, I think most people agree that if you pay people to watch a player 24/7 and babysit him that there are some pretty serious concerns involved. I personally wouldn't pay a guy $70 million dollars and not be able to trust him to keep it out of the ditch, in ANY respect.