BTB Vela: Cowboys Offense -- How Deep is Your Squad?

[Alexander]

Stanback has been a core special teammer

How on earth could Stanback ever have been considered that? Returning a handful of kickoffs and promptly getting injured isn't a "core special teamer".

Neither is the average production of Bobby Carpenter.

Bill Bates was a "core special teamer". So was Kenny Gant, Jim Schwantz, Elvis Patterson, Matt Vanderbeek and Joe Fishback in the 1990s. Keith Davis was also one recently. I'd even put Sam Hurd in as one.

But Stanback?

I don't think a lot of fans, bloggers or even pundits know what "core special teamer" should mean. They just throw the term around like it has some meaning for someone lurking around on the roster for too long.

 

[skinsscalper]

IMO, he faced some very good corners at GB and Shawn Springs, and then Romo was off (even before the injury). It also didn't help that Garrett didn't do much to help get some mismatches and get Owens open and when he did, it was something goofy like having Owens out of the backfield where the entire world knew that Owens was going to get the ball. The second half of the season Owens was blowing by corners frequently, but we had Brad Johnson throwing him the ball and then Romo was clearly off due to the injury.

Even in the 2nd Commanders game, Owens burned DeAngelo Hall frequently, but either never got the pass his way or Romo missed him badly. I remember one pick Hall made where Hall was clearly beat on a slant by Owens, but Romo missed him badly and the ball went right at Hall.

I really think his 'diminishing skills' were overblown. Sure, they have diminished to a degree, but poor coaching and poor QB play resulted in that. And he still had over 1,000 yards and 10 TD's. And he still had that factor where if he hit a big play early, it completely changed the game as opposing defenses would then put all of there focus on Owens and open it up for the rest of the team. I think he'll probably have a very good season in Buffalo.




YAKUZA

Truths that the haterade crew will never fully grasp.

 

[Mash]

IMO, he faced some very good corners at GB and Shawn Springs, and then Romo was off (even before the injury). It also didn't help that Garrett didn't do much to help get some mismatches and get Owens open and when he did, it was something goofy like having Owens out of the backfield where the entire world knew that Owens was going to get the ball. The second half of the season Owens was blowing by corners frequently, but we had Brad Johnson throwing him the ball and then Romo was clearly off due to the injury.

Even in the 2nd Commanders game, Owens burned DeAngelo Hall frequently, but either never got the pass his way or Romo missed him badly. I remember one pick Hall made where Hall was clearly beat on a slant by Owens, but Romo missed him badly and the ball went right at Hall.

I really think his 'diminishing skills' were overblown. Sure, they have diminished to a degree, but poor coaching and poor QB play resulted in that. And he still had over 1,000 yards and 10 TD's. And he still had that factor where if he hit a big play early, it completely changed the game as opposing defenses would then put all of there focus on Owens and open it up for the rest of the team. I think he'll probably have a very good season in Buffalo.




YAKUZA

Nice Post!

I agree ....Owens may have lost some quickness but when corners pressed.....there was always a safety behind him. I hope RW can make a defense do that.

The lack of production from Owens was a combination of things.....Owens had drops....Owens did struggle to break free from press...injuries......Playcalling was too predictable and Romo's accuracy on slants wasnt very good and it doesnt seem very good this year also.

I think RW will do a fine job.....I really hope he makes the defense double up on him......because we do have alot of weapons that will take advantage of that.

 

[adbutcher]

Not really sure what Vela is looking at in regards to Bennett's blocking. he was outstanding at it at Texas A&M, pretty good at it last yr as a rookie and looks really good this preseason. In fact he's so good they even hinted they think if he sucked at TE (which obviously he doesnt) they could put 40lbs or so on him and make him a pro bowl tackle.

I agree, Vela is usually pretty accurate in his assessments but he is lost on his critique on Marty B. Marty is a blocking machine.

 

[speedkilz88]

I think the problem is that the Cowboys didn't throw to him enough. Romo averaged over 9 yards per attempt throwing to TO (I think, going from memory). In that case the traditional wisdom that the Boys were forcing it to TO is wrong, and they should have kept going to him.

TO was thrown at 140 times, they threw to him plenty and didn't get enough results from it.

 

[RS12]

-- McQuistan has also improved this year, if not as much as Free. His counterpart is the one-legged Kosier.

Huh?

 

[BAT]

I agree, Vela is usually pretty accurate in his assessments but he is lost on his critique on Marty B. Marty is a blocking machine.

I think it is his pass blocking that still needs work, although he is getting better. But Marty is an excellent run blocker.