Bryant on pace for 148 targets

[percyhoward]

It would be 5th-most by a Cowboy since 1994.

1 Irvin (1995) 165 tgt 103.6 (84.3) +19.3
2 Bryant (2013) 159 tgt 105.1 (89.5) +15.6
3 Irvin (1997) 157 tgt 81.7 (73.0) +8.7
4 Owens (2006) 150 tgt 97.1 (79.3) +17.8
*5 Bryant (2017) *148 tgt 74.1 (102.7) -28.6
6 Witten (2012) 147 tgt 95.0 (88.1) +6.9
7 Owens (2007) 143 tgt 98.9 (94.5) +4.4
8 Witten (2007) 141 tgt 100.3 (94.0) +6.3
9 Owens (2008) 140 tgt 71.5 (87.4) -15.9
10 Bryant (2012) 138 tgt 122.3 (81.0) +41.3

Player (year) targets, passer rating on those targets, (passer rating to all other players targeted), difference

*projection

Michael Irvin's 165 targets in 1995 are the most in a single season for a Cowboy since they started tracking targets. Aikman's passer rating (actually all Dallas QB's passer rating) on those throws to Irvin was 103.6, which would have won Aikman the passing title that year if he had matched it on his other attempts. All the other passes thrown to Dallas receivers that season resulted in an 84.3 rating. Because there was an advantage of 19.3 rating points when targeting Irvin, it makes sense that he had so many targets. It's the norm.

There are only two seasons on the list in which the player with the most targets had a worse rating than his teammates -- this year's projection and 2008. Romo, who missed 4 games in '08, had a 76.2 rating when targeting Owens, and a 96.6 to everyone else. The difference of -20.4 rating points is similar to what's happening through 9 games this year with Prescott and Bryant.

By the way, in the last 8 games Dak and Dez played together last year, Dak's passer rating was 122.8 to Dez, and 99.5 to everybody else.

 

[Ranching]

Good for him.

 

[Gameover]

Dez, like Irvin in 97, is no longer good enough to handle such a heavy workload

I believe Irvin's catch rate was 48% in 1997

67% in 1995
62% in 1996
48% in 1997

When receivers go, they go fast

 

[erod]

Ugh. A 74 passer rating for balls thrown to Dez?

 

[The Natural]

Dez isn't the problem. In games Dak has put up the yardage Dez has had his best games of the season, the only exception being NYG. When Dak has struggled Dez has too. When the QB only throws for 176, 143, 183 yards that's a small piece of pie to divide among your receivers.

Dez is only going to be as good as Dak allows him to be, Dak is only going to be as good as the o-line allows him to be.

 

[percyhoward]

Dez, like Irvin in 97, is no longer good enough to handle such a heavy workload

I believe Irvin's catch rate was 48% in 1997

67% in 1995
62% in 1996
48% in 1997

When receivers go, they go fast

The difference being that in '97 Aikman didn't have anybody else to throw to.

 

[erod]

Dez isn't the problem. In games Dak has put up the yardage Dez has had his best games of the season, the only exception being NYG. When Dak has struggled Dez has too. When the QB only throws for 176, 143, 183 yards that's a small piece of pie to divide among your receivers.

Dez is only going to be as good as Dak allows him to be, Dak is only going to be as good as the o-line allows him to be.

Romo threw to Dez no matter what. He gambled that Dez could go up and high point the ball or catch of his back shoulder.

Dak only throws it to open guys.

Dez has never been good at getting open.

Bad combination.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Another Dez thread.........almost can't wait until we cut him so you guys can move on to the next scapegoat.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Romo threw to Dez no matter what. He gambled that Dez could go up and high point the ball or catch of his back shoulder.

Dak only throws it to open guys.

Dez has never been good at getting open.

Bad combination.

Romo and Dez early on weren't very good. It took a few season for them to master their connection. Not saying that will be Dak and Dez. I think this is going to but what you see from those two to be honest. Like you said, Dak throws to guys open.

 

[The Natural]

Romo threw to Dez no matter what. He gambled that Dez could go up and high point the ball or catch of his back shoulder.

Dak only throws it to open guys.

Dez has never been good at getting open.

Bad combination.

Anytime Dez is 1 on 1 he's "open"

 

[percyhoward]

Dez isn't the problem. In games Dak has put up the yardage Dez has had his best games of the season, the only exception being NYG. When Dak has struggled Dez has too. When the QB only throws for 176, 143, 183 yards that's a small piece of pie to divide among your receivers.

Yardage is a function of passing the ball a lot, and has nothing to do with efficiency. When Romo led the league in passer rating in 2014, he was 17th in yards.

 

[The Natural]

Yardage is a function of passing the ball a lot, and has nothing to do with efficiency. When Romo led the league in passer rating in 2014, he was 17th in yards.

there was a youtube video posted in the *other* Dez thread where it was said only 50% of the targets were catchable. I'll say this again, Dez is not and has never been the problem.

 

[percyhoward]

Another Dez thread.........almost can't wait until we cut him so you guys can move on to the next scapegoat.

No need for a scapegoat. Despite the disparity in passer rating between Dez's targets and everyone else's, this is the #6 offense in points per drive.

 

[percyhoward]

there was a youtube video posted in the *other* Dez thread where it was said only 50% of the targets were catchable. I'll say this again, Dez is not and has never been the problem.

I'd like to see us stop wasting so many targets and figure out who the problem is later, but that's just me.

 

[The Natural]

I'd like to see us stop wasting so many targets and figure out who the problem is later, but that's just me.

you cant complain about # of targets then ignore the fact a large percentage of targets are not catchable

 

[xwalker]

No need for a scapegoat. Despite the disparity in passer rating between Dez's targets and everyone else's, this is the #6 offense in points per drive.

Yes, but the offense tends to stall at certain times like in the Atlanta game.

It "feels" like the offense has a better flow or rhythm when Dez is out. That includes the 3 games last season and some times this season that he has been on the sideline for various reasons.

 

[TheDude]

Another Dez thread.........almost can't wait until we cut him so you guys can move on to the next scapegoat.

No ****.

It will then be Lawrence (after signing him), then Elliot, then Dak, then we will be on to the TE or WR or new RB, rinse repeat

 

[TheDude]

Yes, but the offense tends to stall at certain times like in the Atlanta game.

It "feels" like the offense has a better flow or rhythm when Dez is out. That includes the 3 games last season and some times this season that he has been on the sideline for various reasons.

tends to stall on holding penalties and sacks. oddly

 

[percyhoward]

you cant complain about # of targets then ignore the fact a large percentage of targets are not catchable

Again, it's not about figuring out who's to blame. That's just something for fans to debate. Even if it's a case of the same receiver getting all the uncatchable throws, you're better off targeting him less.

 

[percyhoward]

Yes, but the offense tends to stall at certain times like in the Atlanta game.

It "feels" like the offense has a better flow or rhythm when Dez is out. That includes the 3 games last season and some times this season that he has been on the sideline for various reasons.

I don't think the sample of plays with Dez out of the game is big enough to draw any conclusions from, but it's safe to say the sample of pass attempts to other receivers is.