Behind the scenes with Hopkins

[CCBoy]

Ranking the Cowboy's positional groups by strength:

1. Defensive Line​

It has to be a no-brainer. This group is talented, deep, and scary. The unit is among the best in the league and the team's strength.

2. Linebacker​

The unit has a quality starter and elite talent. Typically the guy in the middle is the leader of the defense or the one that calls the shots. In this case, it is Leighton Vander Esch.

3. Running Back​

A position that has fans excited for 2023. While the loss of Ezekiel Elliott was tough to swallow considering he was a fan favorite for so many years, it was a no-brainer as the former two-time rushing champion was declining.

4. Offensive Line​

The unit that can make or break an offense. In contrast, it may not be the 2014 or 2016 line. However, the Cowboys offensive line can make this offense a threat when healthy.

5. Quarterback​

The most talked about position in all of football, especially if you are the quarterback of America's Team facing the every-year pressure of leading the team to glory.

6. Wide Receiver​

Last year, the Cowboys struggled to find consistency at receiver outside of CeeDee Lamb and his All-Pro season.

https://thelandryhat.com/posts/ranking-every-position-cowboys-worst-first-prescott-parsons/3


Now, want to improve number 5? Improve number 6 even more.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The team that just won the super bowl had this WR corp:

JuJu Smith-Schuster
Justin Watson
Jerick McKinnon
Noah Gray
Kadarius Toney
Skyy Moore
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

 

[Rayman70]

The team that just won the super bowl had this WR corp:

JuJu Smith-Schuster
Justin Watson
Jerick McKinnon
Noah Gray
Kadarius Toney
Skyy Moore
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

but have this HC AND QB:

You left out these 2 very important facts.

 

[big dog cowboy]

but have this HC AND QB:

You left out these 2 very important facts.

I didn't include them because this thread is about WR's.

 

[CCBoy]

The team that just won the super bowl had this WR corp:

JuJu Smith-Schuster
Justin Watson
Jerick McKinnon
Noah Gray
Kadarius Toney
Skyy Moore
Marquez Valdes-ScantliIt's a team sport and every team has it's own direction.

Truth here is with the strength of this team's passing game (receivers) Jerry and what is assembled in Dallas has ... his proverbial last piece needed to put THEM over the top. That with one of the NFL's top 3 Defenses as well as top 3 Offenses. Not a relevant consideration for truthful evaluation for the Dallas Cowboys?

 

[Rayman70]

I didn't include them because this thread is about WR's.

 

[CCBoy]

I didn't include them because this thread is about WR's.

Oh, those two affect why Dallas has it's own needs and should be noted about receivers. It still involves a passing dominant offensive NFL now.

 

[jazzcat22]

Davis
Dowdle
Jones
Luepke
Pollard
Vaughn

There are enough RB's. They just need holes to run thru.

Maybe they get that with the new OL coach and schemes, and MM calling plays.
Instead of KM running into a stacked box constantly. no matter who the RB was. Though he had certain plays for certain RB's. Hopefully that is not the case anymore.

 

[Rayman70]

But its just not about the receivers. CONTEXT MATTERS.

 

[Rayman70]

I didn't include them because this thread is about WR's.

context matters

 

[Rayman70]

Reid and Mahomes can mask many sins on a team...ie receivers. Its really unfair to expect any QB, let alone, Dak to live up to the same standard.

 

[CCBoy]

Reid and Mahomes can mask many sins on a team...ie receivers. Its really unfair to expect any QB, let alone, Dak to live up to the same standard.

lol, I don't think I would sign any veteran that Andy Reid had given up on.

 

[MyFairLady]

Yes lets fill our team with overpriced has beens who are only interested in their final pay day. That is the key to winning in the modern NFL.

 

[Rayman70]

lol, I don't think I would sign any veteran that Andy Reid had given up on.

I tend 2 agree. RJ MAY be an exception because of the scheme they run. We will see I guess.

 

[CCBoy]

Yes lets fill our team with overpriced has beens who are only interested in their final pay day. That is the key to winning in the modern NFL.

Pay for what one gets...and this is part of the picture for the why to be smart and not afraid to take a thought out status;

With players such as Demarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, Dante Fowler, Mazi Smith, this year's first-round pick, and more, this group is a force to be reckoned with and a nightmare for offensive lines.

Starting off the edge, the Cowboys have plenty to rely on and rotate through with guys like Lawrence, Fowler, Williams, and Dorance Armstrong. The Cowboys also added Viliami Fehoko in the draft and brought back Takkairst McKinely, while Parsons plays most of his snaps on the DL.

In the middle, Dallas has to feel good about Odighizuwa, who, according to PFF, registered four sacks, 31 pressures, and 27 tackles in 2022. Veteran Johnathan Hankins is back on a one-year deal, and to sure up things up front, the team spent their first-round selection on Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith, an athletic freak who can command double teams and help improve the run defense.

https://thelandryhat.com/posts/ranking-every-position-cowboys-worst-first-prescott-parsons/8

A defense that is able to keep any opponent to 19 points a game, needs an offense that averages about 28 points a game. The finances have already been included. Keep up with discussions before ignoring reasons.

 

[CCBoy]

This much of the cruxt to the receiver questions:

Gallup

To say the former third-round pick predominantly has been an outside receiver in his career would be an understatement. According to Pro Football Focus, Gallup played 409 snaps out wide in 2022 compared to 35 in the slot. For his career, Gallup has played a whopping 2,226 snaps outside compared to 232 inside.

Most Cowboys fans would agree Gallup needs to expand his route tree -- and become an overall better route-runner -- and moving inside will help keep defenses honest. It'll be interesting to see if Gallup in the slot becomes a theme over the course of the offseason.

https://thelandryhat.com/posts/cowb...ichael-gallup-slot-kelvin-joseph-new-position

 

[Rayman70]

This much of the cruxt to the receiver questions:

Gallup

To say the former third-round pick predominantly has been an outside receiver in his career would be an understatement. According to Pro Football Focus, Gallup played 409 snaps out wide in 2022 compared to 35 in the slot. For his career, Gallup has played a whopping 2,226 snaps outside compared to 232 inside.

Most Cowboys fans would agree Gallup needs to expand his route tree -- and become an overall better route-runner -- and moving inside will help keep defenses honest. It'll be interesting to see if Gallup in the slot becomes a theme over the course of the offseason.

https://thelandryhat.com/posts/cowb...ichael-gallup-slot-kelvin-joseph-new-position

Gallup now has real competition. Let's see if it makes him or breaks him. He's the weak link in the wr room. That has to be flushed out in camp. We need to get better there.

 

[CCBoy]

Gallup now has real competition. Let's see if it makes him or breaks him. He's the weak link in the wr room. That has to be flushed out in camp. We need to get better there.

It's all in how he handles failures.

 

[J-man]

This would be off the charts...$15M for Hopkins and then this:

This Cowboys-Vikings trade for Dalvin Cook could actually work:​

Dallas Cowboys
RECEIVE
Dalvin Cook

Vickings
RECEIVE
2024 Fourth-Round Pick
2024 Seventh-Round Pick



The going rate for running backs is very cheap. As we noted earlier, though, Cook remains one of the league's most dynamic and explosive backs.

In 2022, he rushed for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns on 4.4 yards per attempt behind a wonky offensive line. He added 39 catches for 295 yards and two scores as a receiver, while forcing 51 missed tackles, averaging 3.18 yards after contact per rush attempt and totaling 30 explosive runs, per PFF.

https://thelandryhat.com/posts/this-cowboys-vikings-dalvin-cook-trade-actually-work-pollard-elliott

Now, Jerry, you tell us now, these types of trades and moves are off the table for the Dallas Cowboys!

Don't tell me this without telling me what Cooks' contract looks like.

 

[Sydla]

This would be off the charts...$15M for Hopkins and then this:

This Cowboys-Vikings trade for Dalvin Cook could actually work:​

Dallas Cowboys
RECEIVE
Dalvin Cook

Vickings
RECEIVE
2024 Fourth-Round Pick
2024 Seventh-Round Pick



The going rate for running backs is very cheap. As we noted earlier, though, Cook remains one of the league's most dynamic and explosive backs.

In 2022, he rushed for 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns on 4.4 yards per attempt behind a wonky offensive line. He added 39 catches for 295 yards and two scores as a receiver, while forcing 51 missed tackles, averaging 3.18 yards after contact per rush attempt and totaling 30 explosive runs, per PFF.

https://thelandryhat.com/posts/this-cowboys-vikings-dalvin-cook-trade-actually-work-pollard-elliott

Now, Jerry, you tell us now, these types of trades and moves are off the table for the Dallas Cowboys!

Trading for Cook makes more sense IMO.