Bryant and Owens

[nablives]

When it comes to strictly on the field stuff, the only area I think Dez had an advantage was that T.O. seemed to get shy over the middle in Dallas a little too often, and considering how long he had played, I was disappointed that it sometimes seemed as if he got lazy on running some routes. Outside of that, the dude was physically a beast. If he could have got his mind right, he might still be playing.

 

[Clove]

If Owens had played with a Super Star QB, he would be number 1 or #2 in most categories. He was trained by Jerry Rice. He played with Young for a minute, with freaking Gracia, McChoke, and Romo earlier in Romo's career. Let's say for example, he played with Tom Brady and had a better attitude, he would be second to only Randy Moss who also played with junk most of his career. Was strong as an OX, fast like a cheetah, and ran great routes, never took plays off.

Dez is strong with incredible leaping ability and vice grips for hands. Dez is not nearly targeted as most receivers, Romo doesn't take as many chances as he did when he was with Owens, on the other hand, he doesn't throw as many interceptions. If Romo would take more chances, Dez would be breaking records.

 

[Clove]

I notice a lot of people give the strength advantage to T.O. but I feel Dez is better. There are times when Dez has 5 or 6 guys draped all over him and he still never went down. I don't know how people forgot but T.O. was never the type of receiver that was a beast in traffic like Dez is. There where numerous times where he got alligator arms going over the middle. You never see that from Dez. His stiff arm is mean like a running back. With that being said T..O had jets Dez didn't have but Dez is more agile than T.O.

In fairness to Owens, back then, you could literally kill the receiver. Now-a-days, db's just watch you catch it, then just sort of bring you down. Go watch some Roy Williams/ Ronnie Lott type videos and see why Owens would have alligator arms.

 

[joseephuss]

If Owens had played with a Super Star QB, he would be number 1 or #2 in most categories. He was trained by Jerry Rice. He played with Young for a minute, with freaking Gracia, McChoke, and Romo earlier in Romo's career. Let's say for example, he played with Tom Brady and had a better attitude, he would be second to only Randy Moss who also played with junk most of his career. Was strong as an OX, fast like a cheetah, and ran great routes, never took plays off.

Dez is strong with incredible leaping ability and vice grips for hands. Dez is not nearly targeted as most receivers, Romo doesn't take as many chances as he did when he was with Owens, on the other hand, he doesn't throw as many interceptions. If Romo would take more chances, Dez would be breaking records.

Let me guess. Romo hater?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

TO never had the ability....or didn't have the ability while in Dallas to go up and catch the ball. He was a freak of nature as a athlete. Probably still is to this day. IF his hands matched his athleticism he'd probably still be in the NFL now baggage and all.

 

[JoeKing]

Bryant is 10 times the teammate Owens was. That's the biggest difference I can think of.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I notice a lot of people give the strength advantage to T.O. but I feel Dez is better. There are times when Dez has 5 or 6 guys draped all over him and he still never went down. I don't know how people forgot but T.O. was never the type of receiver that was a beast in traffic like Dez is. There where numerous times where he got alligator arms going over the middle. You never see that from Dez. His stiff arm is mean like a running back. With that being said T..O had jets Dez didn't have but Dez is more agile than T.O.

That was TO being a veteran. Its something Dez has started to do more often. It makes great highlights but Dez as his career goes on will have to start going down and taking less damage to his body.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

If you could get Terrell Owens in his prime, without the personality issues, you take him over any other receiver in the history of the game.

Randy Moss?

 

[CATCH17]

Owens was awesome here and we didn't even use him to his strengths.

 

[31RoyW31]

To add:

- both are animal with ball in their hands
- both have nose for end zone. They want to get soooo bad
- Dez has much better hands. TO made some amazing catches but then dropped easy ones.
- TO could fly but couldn't fight for ball vs DB, Dez can... Does
- very similar fire. Dez is a controlled demolition whereas TO isn't.... He would take down his building and all surrounding buildings too. Leave a wake of devastation.

I love the fact that Dez can fight for the ball and doesn't have to be wide open, or even open at all really to come down with the catch. It seemed like after Irvin we had a long list of WR that needed to be wide open to catch the ball.......Galloway, Miller, Glenn, etc...

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Owens was about the same size as Dez, but much faster. They were probably the same in terms of getting off the jam. TO was a better route runner as he didn't have that hop out of the gate. Dez has far, far better hands. He's a better blocker and doesn't get as frustrated when he's getting doubled and we can't get the ball to him. Dez is also far, far better in jump ball and closed quarters.

I think both were great after the catch, but went about it in different ways. Owens could blow by the defenders and was a tough guy to bring down with an arm tackle and he could run right thru it. Dez won't run thru the tackler, but will shuck them off.

Even if you took the Owens' attitude out of the equation (and I still don't think he was a problem), I would prefer Dez because of his superior hands. Much more consistent and reliable.





YR

 

[Redball Express]

Owens was taller, heavier, and faster than Bryant.

Bryant has more wingspan and more hops.

Owens could and did routinely take short passes and take them to the house.

Dez is a better target in the redzone than Owens was and Dez has better hands overall.

As of now I'd say Owens the better more complete player, however, Dez is only in his 5th year so it's really too early to make a judgement call.

All of my comments are directed at what I remember was:

TOs nickname was Hands of Stone

Bryant has incredibly sticky fingers..he snatches the ball.

TO created a bunch of division on the team. He complained in the background that Witten got too many targets. This perimiated the other WRs we had such as Hurd, Crayton and MBIII our RB at the time.

Dez doesn't try to impose his opinions on anybody. In fact, he can frequently be seen on the sidelines screaming at no one in particular.

So trying to compare the two is unfair.

Dez is so far superior.

Just ask Romo when the cameras aren't around.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Agree with most of this however I think you are understanding how big a piece YAC is to the success of NFL WRs. This is one area, for whatever reason, Dez is just average. Case in point Dez ranks 33rd in the NFL in YAC this season.

Dez is incredible with the ball I'm his hands, I think we can all agree with that. Skill doesn't necessitate scheme. Our plays are not designed for YAC most of the time, ala TO and the WCO for the majority of his career.

Dez is a far better player with the ball in his hands after the catch than TO could ever dream of

 

[NextGenBoys]

TO was a freak, he was much faster than dez, you didn't really worry about overthrowing him. For a bigger guy, he ran really precise routes too, knew where the soft spots in the zone were, so he wasn't hollering about targets for nothing. He was literally open on almost every play.

Dez has better hands, and much greater leaping ability. He attacks the ball at the point of the catch much better than TO did, but nowhere near the fluidity/versatility in running routes, and can't really burn DBs with sheer speed either. The most appropriate comparison to dez would be michael irvin. Moss and TO were the two most diva receivers I've watched, but undoubtedly, the two most physically gifted receivers ever.

I'm going Moss and Calvin for most physically gifted

 

[NextGenBoys]

Which is shocking and inexplicable...

Dez is big and strong and refuses t go down. He is a great punt returner. He was good his first couple of years in yac if memory serves...

I don't understand why he is not better at yac...

Our routes we run

 

[Bleu Star]

Wow. I'm floored. A civil and intelligence filled thread that involves TO as part of the main theme. I never thought I would see it again on the zone. Color me impressed.

My 2 cents..

TO's ability to separate was world class. It allowed him to regularly make easy catches. He also did that in an era where the DB was more handicapped which allowed TO to more aggressively separate.

Dez, on the other hand, deals with today's modern rules which are clearly more governed from the center. The chance of the WR getting called for PI is pretty close to 50/50 nowadays. Yet Dez manages to use his physicality and incredible hands to flourish. No doubt Dez's hands are several cuts above TO's.

Tackling the two guys is like night & day too. Bringing Dez down is an exercise in futility. When he makes a catch the end zone is all he sees every single time.

 

[DejectedFan1996]

Only on clear outs when he knew there would be space, whereas Dez will go across the middle no matter what.

Owens has taken some big hits and has gone across the middle no matter what. Don't have time right now to upload videos but afraid of the middle he was not. And not just his tenure in Dallas, throughout his career.

 

[DallasDomination]

I will say this though. Bryant is a much better red zone target and jump ball receiver. I think Bryant is also stronger than T.O. Owens is awesome everyone knows I always talk great about him.. he did have speed over Dez though.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

Don't forget to like my post then

Wow. I'm floored. A civil and intelligence filled thread that involves TO as part of the main theme. I never thought I would see it again on the zone. Color me impressed.

My 2 cents..

TO's ability to separate was world class. It allowed him to regularly make easy catches. He also did that in an era where the DB was more handicapped which allowed TO to more aggressively separate.

Dez, on the other hand, deals with today's modern rules which are clearly more governed from the center. The chance of the WR getting called for PI is pretty close to 50/50 nowadays. Yet Dez manages to use his physicality and incredible hands to flourish. No doubt Dez's hands are several cuts above TO's.

Tackling the two guys is like night & day too. Bringing Dez down is an exercise in futility. When he makes a catch the end zone is all he sees every single time.

 

[theogt]

Randy Moss?

TO was better. He was just a head case.