Cole Beasley - Role Player

[RoyTheHammer]

The "emergence of Harris" statement had as much to do with his contributions on STs as much as at WR. Harris has become the most dynamic returner we've had on this team in a long time. That's not saying much, but the dude has a knack for playing in traffic and being physical after contact. Beasley, well, has not. He doesn't have the physical make up to contribute in the way that Harris can, especially in blocking.

All things considered, Harris is MUCH more dynamic with the ball in his hands than Beasley will ever be, bro. Harris has shown that he can handle the contact and still come out the other side with a positive gain and he's a beast to bring down. Beasley's advantage is crazy good hands. The dude catches everything. All things considered I would give Harris the advantage over Beasley. He contributes more to the team (i.e. blocking, STs/return ability, physicality). That doesn't mean that I'm not pulling for Beasley. I think the dude has a chance be a Welker/Amendola type if everything breaks right for him.

If we're talking ST's.. no doubt that's where Harris shines. I love him as a returner, and as i've mentioned in other threads, there isn't a guy on this team who's near as good on PR's.. including Dez Bryant.

In the offense though, not only do i agree that Beasley has great hands and will catch most everything that he can get a hand on, he also has the ability to get open much more quickly than our other recievers. He has great quickness and must be hard to track over the middle, but whatever he does, he gets open fast. That's why i think his skill set is something that will force the coaches to find time for him, again, even over Harris and Williams sometimes. The only two guys who are clearly far and away better than our other receivers are Dz and Austin. I think Beasley, Harris, and Williams are all in a group right now that will make the team and fight for time.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I disagree with both these statements, but its been debated already. Like i've been saying, no point in arguing about it now, just gotta sit back and see where they get used and who plays more in the offense. I think Beasley will get more targets this year than Harris.. that coming from a guy who's liked Harris from the beginning. Either way, its a good problem to have trying to get touches for so many good skill players.

Yeah, no worries on the disagreement. I guess it's good to see someone else think he's a more diverse player than I though. And you're right... it's a good problem to have. I can't remember the last time we had so much talent at WR.

 

[Galian Beast]

Let's not read too much into one day of practice, eh?

It's been more than just one day of practice, and the fact that he is consistently working with the 1s while Harris is not is very telling.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Beasley is getting time with the 1s, Harris is not...

I was going off of last year. I think Harris will eventually surpass him. I do remember that game where Beasley had a great performance. I worry about turnovers with him though.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I was going off of last year. I think Harris will eventually surpass him. I do remember that game where Beasley had a great performance. I worry about turnovers with him though.

Why is that?

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Why is that?

He's small and hits can cause fumbles with those guys. His frame is just really small. And the trajectory Romo has to throw the ball to get it to him over taller defenders also worries me.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

He's small and hits can cause fumbles with those guys. His frame is just really small. And the trajectory Romo has to throw the ball to get it to him over taller defenders also worries me.

There's no legitimate reason to worry about him being turnover prone unless he has a history of it. Welker is small and catches 100 balls a year in traffic and has less fumbles than years played.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

There's no legitimate reason to worry about him being turnover prone unless he has a history of it. Welker is small and catches 100 balls a year in traffic and has less fumbles than years played.

Welker also has a better build to hold on to the ball. Coal is freakishly small for an NFL player. I'm a huge Welker fan. I loved watching him against Texas. And I knew he'd be a good pro, but he has bigger arms and is slightly wider than Beasley from what I see. We'll see though. I do see the talent in Beasley.

 

[skinsscalper]

If we're talking ST's.. no doubt that's where Harris shines. I love him as a returner, and as i've mentioned in other threads, there isn't a guy on this team who's near as good on PR's.. including Dez Bryant.

In the offense though, not only do i agree that Beasley has great hands and will catch most everything that he can get a hand on, he also has the ability to get open much more quickly than our other recievers. He has great quickness and must be hard to track over the middle, but whatever he does, he gets open fast. That's why i think his skill set is something that will force the coaches to find time for him, again, even over Harris and Williams sometimes. The only two guys who are clearly far and away better than our other receivers are Dz and Austin. I think Beasley, Harris, and Williams are all in a group right now that will make the team and fight for time.

One more thing re: Beasley. If he can't block, doesn't contribute on STs, and is now playing in a Two TE set there's good reason to believe he won't even be active on many a game day unless injuries dictate it. They aren't going to bench their 3rd round pick to get Beasley on the field (even IF Beasley were the better player *which I don't think he is*, it's just not the Cowboys' way). They aren't going to go short at TE. Certainly not at D-line, O-line LB or DB considering our injury history at those positions. It may very well come down to sitting Beasley rather than a guy who contributes on STs (McCray or Magee) come game day. You can survive 60 minutes without a guy that's #4-5 on the WR depth chart (especially with Gavin and Escobar on the roster). Crappy STs play could potentially be a killer.

 

[Arkyvarminter]

I really like Beasley but, IMO, he is NOT the player Harris is and it isn't even close. Just my opinion.....

 

[Galian Beast]

I see people keep on bringing up the 2 TE formation. This has little effect on the WRs, rather it is simply the fullback who is no longer in the base formation.

We're still going to go wide receiver on a lot of passing down situations. You can count on that.

 

[Lonestar94]

I believe Beasley and Harris will be nothing more than role players this year and possibly their whole career. That's where Terrance Williams comes in.

 

[skinsscalper]

I see people keep on bringing up the 2 TE formation. This has little effect on the WRs, rather it is simply the fullback who is no longer in the base formation.

We're still going to go wide receiver on a lot of passing down situations. You can count on that.

The effect that 2 TEs has on the WR numbers is simple. The TEs can be and will be decoyed to be receiving threats or actual receiving threats on every play which eliminates the need to substitute a FB or a WR. The FB was rarely seen or used as a receiver out of the backfield. He was typically a lead blocker. When Romo goes no huddle, you can bet that a lot of that time it will be out of the two TE formation (unless they can get the defense caught with one too many LBs on the field coming out of a 3WR set on the previous play) and it won't always be a pass because of the mismatches that the formation creates. Opportunites for Escobar and/or Hanna cuts into the opportunities for Beasley, Harris, or anyone else playing that 3rd WR position. It's less about the actual numbers than it is scheme. You can bet that the Cowboys are going to try and replace a lot of that 3rd WR production with a TE especially when you have guys with Escobar's hands and Hanna's athleticism. The truth of the matter is that a good second TE will be much more effective in creating coverage mismatches and a solid running game than a 5'8" slot WR with a slight build, that can't block and, doesn't contribute on STs ever will. If you can't see how that will affect Beasley's numbers then, I don't don't know what else to say.