Is Cole Beasley a No. 1 receiver? Dak Prescottmade national headlines this week when he selected Beasley as his "
go-to guy" during an interview with Kurt Warner and Michael Irvin on "Inside
Training CampLive." The proclamation might have taken some observers by surprise, due to Beasley's role as a slot receiver and his diminutive physical dimensions (5-foot-8, 180 pounds), but being a quarterback's No. 1 option is all about trust.
"For me, it's
Cole Beasley," Prescott said when asked which receiver is his safety net. "I think it's been that way. I know it was that way my rookie year. And last year, we were on the same page sometimes and sometimes we weren't. But he's a guy that's hard to cover. He's hard to cover in man to man, hard to cover in zone and he can stretch the defense, as well. It's about moving him around, making the defense respect the fact he can go over the top, he can beat you over the top. Once we open that up, he's hard to cover underneath and that's his game."
Prescott's scouting report and assessment of Beasley's game is certainly in line with my observations from tape study. Despite seeing his production dip in 2017, Beasley's combination of stop-start quickness and route-running ability makes him a tough matchup between the hashes. He sprinkles in a variety of hesitation releases and stutter-step moves in his route-running repertoire to keep defenders off balance, particularly when he runs "jerk" routes (wide receiver starts like he is running across the field before stopping and redirecting in the other direction) and angle routes off motion.
With Beasley frequently aligning in the slot within spread or empty formations, the
Cowboys can move him around to create and exploit mismatches against sub-package defenders and safeties in space. Prior to this season, Beasley would often align on
Dez Bryant's side in those formations to bust up the bracket coverage with "switch" routes that frequently pitted the shifty slot receiver on an overmatched defender in space.
Now, skeptics question Beasley's ability to anchor an offense as a No. 1 option based on his declining production in 2017, when opponents appeared to pay more attention to him and his whereabouts. With Bryant and Jason Witten failing to command double-coverage as declining playmakers last season, Beasley began to get some of the brackets and trap coverage that used to go in their direction. The newfound attention affected his production and his ability to impact the game. Beasley totaled 75 receptions on 98 targets in 2016, averaging 11.1 yards per catch and posting 51 first downs. Last season, he totaled just 36 receptions on 63 targets, averaging 8.7 yards per catch and recording 20 first downs.
Those numbers certainly don't reflect a No. 1 receiver, but I believe Beasley's ascension to that role will remind some observers of the rapid rise of Wes Welker and
Julian Edelman in New England. Now, I know some will think this comparison is due to their skin color, but I think their similar playing styles and offensive systems make it a valid comp.
In New England,
Tom Brady prefers to work "inside out" (from the middle of the field to the numbers) as a passer. He frequently targets tight ends, slot receivers and running backs between the numbers on a variety of option routes and crossers. Edelman and Welker racked up 100-plus-catch seasons behind this approach and became dangerous playmakers in the system.
In Dallas, Beasley could experience a similar rise with Prescott leaning on him as his No. 1 option in a scheme that will feature more interchangeable parts on the perimeter. Beasley and others will align in various spots within spread formations to create and exploits mismatches, particularly against linebackers and sub-package defenders in the box. Not to mention, the
Cowboys can also use the threat of
Ezekiel Elliottas a runner to enhance the passing game.
"I think it helps us out a lot," Prescott said on "Inside
Training Camp Live." "There's not anything they can key on. When Beasley's out there, he's not just in the slot -- he's out wide. Then you add Beasley and
Tavon Austinon the field at the same time with Zeke in the backfield, you maybe motion someone into the backfield -- it just opens up this array of things we can do on offense, not forgetting about that I can run the ball.
"It's kind of what we wanted going into this offseason: Moving guys around, keeping the defense on their toes, knowing we can still go over the top and do the things we're good at like running the ball and play-action. It's just going to allow our offense to take another step."
For a
Cowboys offense that seemingly lacks an established No. 1 receiver on paper, the connection between Prescott and Beasley could help No. 11 emerge as a blue-chip playmaker for an offense that features more layers and dimensions than the previous version.
Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.
