Coming to grips on how Dez is used

[Toruk_Makto]

I read thread after thread with people griping about the productivity of Dez Bryant. What we are seeing today has been building for some time. And the biggest culprits of what we are seeing today...is Jason Garrett and his offense. It is no secret that I am not of fan of Jason Garrett. I have felt all along that the Romo era and Jason Garrett should have ended together. I am on record saying I would not want Jason Garrett to spend 1 day tutoring, nurturing, developing our QB for the future. The book on Garrett has been out for some time AND it is not very difficult to figure out. He does not have enough flexibility, creativity or diversity to win 3 games in the postseason against quality opponents. The problem is the Romo era ended abruptly and we were in no position to move on from Garrett.

What does this have to do with Dez? First of all...is Dez Bryant perfect? No. Is he a speed demon? No. Is he an exceptional route runner? No. What he was....which is why he was deployed the way he has been for years...was a player that Garrett used to allow the other playmakers on the team a chance to go one on one against the oppositions weaker defenders. And Jason was content to leave Dez in one spot....so they could have a good idea where bracket coverage was going to be the majority of the time. Instead of Dallas getting a bona fide #2 borderline #1 WR...they have been content to fill that spot with warm bodies. And this is not to take anything away from Terrance Williams. But when Dez was younger and more explosive....and had the attention of the entire defense....a bona fide #2 WR would have put up Pro Bowl numbers. Thus making everyone's life on this team a lot better.

Dez has played such a physical style...because he was deployed to be the Shaquile O'Neal of WRs. Just throw it into him 2 feet from the basket and let him dunk everything. Dez has played such a physical style where every catch was with defenders within 6 inches of him...that the wear and tear has robbed him of his explosiveness. We never deployed him to catch the ball in different areas of the field with space to turn and run and wreak havoc in the open field on a consistent basis. Jason was content to let Dez just out physical everyone. And he has taken a lot of big shots over the years IMMEDIATLEY after catching the ball..because so many of his catches have been in traffic

So that brings us to where we are today. And this has NOT been by accident. Dallas is a big, lumbering, plodding slow team on offense. They have MANY opportunities to add guys that can stretch the field...and they have NOT done it. So that leads me to believe this has been by design. Witten will get all the 6 to 8 yard catches on his way to the HOF. Dez can get his 8 to 12 yard catches while engaged in a boxing match the over that 12 yard span....and of course Dallas will run the ball. So we just have to hope that 12 play drives in 4 - 8 yard increments is a formula that will work against quality opponents IF we are lucky enough to make it in the tournament.

WE NEED SPEED. And we need an organization that is not afraid to take these sacred cows off the field for a few snaps...so this team can be infused with some explosiveness.

Dez's explosiveness is gone?

What did I witness Monday night on his TD?

For all of Larry Fitzgerald's excellent route running chops he wasn't creating much desperation the majority of time. He still had a day due to excellent ball placement and 50/50 balls Palmer isn't afraid to let loose.

This isn't a Dez issue. This isn't a Garrett issue (Dez has had his best years under Jason).

This IS a Dak issue.

I know it's not popular but it's also true.

 

[Trouty]

Julio is better than Dez is, for sure. Julio can beat elite CBs. He can split double teams. Dez is a matchup problem and a red zone threat, but until he can consistently win against the top CBs, he's not in Julio's class.

To be fair, Julio's class is occupancy 1.

Dez doesn't have to be Julio to be a top-tier receiver.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Dez's explosiveness is gone?

What did I witness Monday night on his TD?

For all of Larry Fitzgerald's excellent route running chops he wasn't creating much desperation the majority of time. He still had a day due to excellent ball placement and 50/50 balls Palmer isn't afraid to let loose.

This isn't a Dez issue. This isn't a Garrett issue (Dez has had his best years under Jason).

This IS a Dak issue.

I know it's not popular but it's also true.

This could be true. I said in another post that Dak is not where Romo is in terms of ball placement. But that makes my point about this offense. You have to be EXTREMELY accurate. This offense requires difficult throws for the QB. Troy and Romo were extremely accurate...and their ball placement was top notch. If the coaches schemed it up differently...you could just get the ball in the hands of the playmakers with a chance to do their thing in the open field.

 

[Beats_By_Zeke]

When was the last time a team won a Super Bowl with a true #1 Reciever. I'll wait.

I kind of consider Gronkowski an Elite Receiver.

 

[Trouty]

Pains me to say it but

Julio>Dez

I don’t think Dez will ever be the receiver Julio can be.

Not too big a knock on Dez but they aren’t the same type of player.

And you would think by now Dez would be behind all the hand fighting downfield.

It shouldn't pain you to say it.

Julio>Antonio
Julio>Ol' Dirty Beckham
Julio>A.J.
Julio>Evans
Julio>Amari
Julio>T.Y.
Julio>Jarvis
Julio>Hopkins

Julio is nearly generational. Dez is still a top-10-15 WR

 

[Montanalo]

At the risk of beating a dead horse.... how many times in the past have we heard the Cowboy's brain-trust describe the offense as "Romo-friendly"? Now, we hear comments about adopting the offense to better fit Dak's skills; essentially, making the offense Dak-friendly. To what extent have the coaching staff endeavored to make the offense Dez-friendly? And, yes, QB and WR are vastly different positions in terms of responsibilities and touches per game.

Given they are the professionals and am merely an ignorant fan, I would assume they would be doing everything possible to get Dez involved. Again, I don't mean forcing the ball to him, but creating specific plays that cater to Dez's obvious strengths. Look no further than his 15 yard touchdown against Arizona. Dez demonstrated elite WR strength and determination. Dez may not be the elite athlete TO was, nor is he in the same stratosphere as Julio Jones but, for heaven's sake, he certainly can be our Jordy Nelson, AJ Green, or Doug Baldwin.

I guess my point is, the Cowboys have invested $$$ in Dez -- what are we doing to get value from the investment?

 

[Parcells4Life]

I read thread after thread with people griping about the productivity of Dez Bryant. What we are seeing today has been building for some time. And the biggest culprits of what we are seeing today...is Jason Garrett and his offense. It is no secret that I am not of fan of Jason Garrett. I have felt all along that the Romo era and Jason Garrett should have ended together. I am on record saying I would not want Jason Garrett to spend 1 day tutoring, nurturing, developing our QB for the future. The book on Garrett has been out for some time AND it is not very difficult to figure out. He does not have enough flexibility, creativity or diversity to win 3 games in the postseason against quality opponents. The problem is the Romo era ended abruptly and we were in no position to move on from Garrett.

What does this have to do with Dez? First of all...is Dez Bryant perfect? No. Is he a speed demon? No. Is he an exceptional route runner? No. What he was....which is why he was deployed the way he has been for years...was a player that Garrett used to allow the other playmakers on the team a chance to go one on one against the oppositions weaker defenders. And Jason was content to leave Dez in one spot....so they could have a good idea where bracket coverage was going to be the majority of the time. Instead of Dallas getting a bona fide #2 borderline #1 WR...they have been content to fill that spot with warm bodies. And this is not to take anything away from Terrance Williams. But when Dez was younger and more explosive....and had the attention of the entire defense....a bona fide #2 WR would have put up Pro Bowl numbers. Thus making everyone's life on this team a lot better.

Dez has played such a physical style...because he was deployed to be the Shaquile O'Neal of WRs. Just throw it into him 2 feet from the basket and let him dunk everything. Dez has played such a physical style where every catch was with defenders within 6 inches of him...that the wear and tear has robbed him of his explosiveness. We never deployed him to catch the ball in different areas of the field with space to turn and run and wreak havoc in the open field on a consistent basis. Jason was content to let Dez just out physical everyone. And he has taken a lot of big shots over the years IMMEDIATLEY after catching the ball..because so many of his catches have been in traffic

So that brings us to where we are today. And this has NOT been by accident. Dallas is a big, lumbering, plodding slow team on offense. They have MANY opportunities to add guys that can stretch the field...and they have NOT done it. So that leads me to believe this has been by design. Witten will get all the 6 to 8 yard catches on his way to the HOF. Dez can get his 8 to 12 yard catches while engaged in a boxing match the over that 12 yard span....and of course Dallas will run the ball. So we just have to hope that 12 play drives in 4 - 8 yard increments is a formula that will work against quality opponents IF we are lucky enough to make it in the tournament.

WE NEED SPEED. And we need an organization that is not afraid to take these sacred cows off the field for a few snaps...so this team can be infused with some explosiveness.

Here shows he is used at multiple spots and given chance to run after catch.

 

[birdwells1]

^^^^This times 100. Of course we do it some. But again...if we know where the bracket coverage is...we use that as a chance to get the OTHER guys the ball. Because the OTHER guys NEVER see bracket coverage.

You can use Dez to draw double teams to get others open but as much as I like Witten and Beasley, getting them open, at best, results in only getting first downs and most defenses will take that. It seems to me we've never valued a strong number 2 wr that will may teams pay for doubling Dez, Brice Butler has shown flashes but is inconsistent and when the team resigned Williams that showed me all I need to know about how they view 2wr.

If it was that easy, bracket coverages, then Julio, Brown, and Green wouldn't have the numbers that they have. The paid these receivers and are getting their moneys worth by designing patters to get them the ball on the run. Everyone knows going onto the game that you have to stop them but on most Sundays they are still effective. Do you ever think that you will see a stat that has Julio running 25 go routes to clear out for the slot wr and te, no you wouldn't. So I don't see why Dez is doing that, that's not why JJ paid him all that money.

 

[Montanalo]

Here shows he is used at multiple spots and given chance to run after catch.

Wow! this is great information and, to some degree, changes my perception that Dallas was not working Dez over the middle.

 

[birdwells1]

Here shows he is used at multiple spots and given chance to run after catch.

Just as I suspected, he's effective on crossing routes but look at how few times they called it, Julio nor Brown wouldn't be as effective with the routes on this chart. Look how many time they lined him up on the left and ran the pattern to the left sidelines? The sideline is an extra defender and the qb has to be very accurate on that throw. So when they line him up on the left, the defender knows that they only have to defend a few routes and if it's bracket coverage then the are breaking on stop routes quick outs and ins. I see why cb get excited playing against him.

 

[birdwells1]

Wow! this is great information and, to some degree, changes my perception that Dallas was not working Dez over the middle.

Why? This proves that they are not. So most of his yards came from the slot while running crossing patterns but the coaches figured that was working too good so they went away from it? Makes no sense.

 

[Zman5]

If you watch other teams play on Sunday, you'll see how bad JG's offense is compared to the other offenses around the league. Especially the route designs.

 

[Montanalo]

Why? This proves that they are not.

I guess I should have said, they are working him over the middle much more than I assumed or took-away from a game. I still believe he should have more opportunity at the crossing routes -- so, I agree with you

 

[LocimusPrime]

To be fair, Julio's class is occupancy 1.

Dez doesn't have to be Julio to be a top-tier receiver.

I love Julio. He's like the Landon Collins of receivers bro

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

You can use Dez to draw double teams to get others open but as much as I like Witten and Beasley, getting them open, at best, results in only getting first downs and most defenses will take that. It seems to me we've never valued a strong number 2 wr that will may teams pay for doubling Dez, Brice Butler has shown flashes but is inconsistent and when the team resigned Williams that showed me all I need to know about how they view 2wr.

If it was that easy, bracket coverages, then Julio, Brown, and Green wouldn't have the numbers that they have. The paid these receivers and are getting their moneys worth by designing patters to get them the ball on the run. Everyone knows going onto the game that you have to stop them but on most Sundays they are still effective. Do you ever think that you will see a stat that has Julio running 25 go routes to clear out for the slot wr and te, no you wouldn't. So I don't see why Dez is doing that, that's not why JJ paid him all that money.

Been saying this for years. But it is sacrilegious to criticize certain players around here. Love Witten. HOFer But people here don't seem to grasp that the defense would prefer someone catch the ball they can tackle easily...versus someone who is a terror in the open field. This team has never really thought a legitimate #2 WR was necessary...because they view Witten as the #2. His snaps should have been reduced years ago...and gone to a more explosive player. But there are things in play in Dallas...that trump winning football games. And you can do that when you don't have to win to increase the value of the franchise. The oppositions defense needs to be challenged vertically. The ball needs to be in the hands of explosive players more often. I will repeat what I said earlier. We are slow and plodding on offense. And I do not see how this philosophy can win 3 games in the playoffs. It will take everything we have to get to the playoffs. And then even more to win one game. And I have my doubts there will be anything left to win another one. Simply put...what have we done to improve who we were on offense least year?

 

[LocimusPrime]

I kind of consider Gronkowski an Elite Receiver.

Wow. I love gronk! He's a freaking monster

 

[LocimusPrime]

Been saying this for years. But it is sacrilegious to criticize certain players around here. Love Witten. HOFer But people here don't seem to grasp that the defense would prefer someone catch the ball they can tackle easily...versus someone who is a terror in the open field. This team has never really thought a legitimate #2 WR was necessary...because they view Witten as the #2. His snaps should have been reduced years ago...and gone to a more explosive player. But there are things in play in Dallas...that trump winning football games. And you can do that when you don't have to win to increase the value of the franchise. The oppositions defense needs to be challenged vertically. The ball needs to be in the hands of explosive players more often. I will repeat what I said earlier. We are slow and plodding on offense. And I do not see how this philosophy can win 3 games in the playoffs. It will take everything we have to get to the playoffs. And then even more to win one game. And I have my doubts there will be anything left to win another one. Simply put...what have we done to improve who we were on offense least year?

Shhhhhh peeps won't like that opinion here, but I feel ya

 

[Zman5]

We make Dez run routes as though he is a deep threat speed receiver. He should be used more like how they use Randall Cobb in GB. Both players have punt returner mentality and are great after the catch. Get Dez the ball on the move and he can dominate as you saw on Monday night. Go watch some Cobb highlights and just imagine what Dez could do in that type of pass offense.

 

[Trouty]

I love Julio. He's like the Landon Collins of receivers bro

Well, I wouldn't go that far, Loc

JK, muh boi

 

[birdwells1]

Yeah, if you think about it, when Dez is in the slot working the middle of the field that's Witten's and Beasley's area of the field but like you said neither one of those guys are explosive enough. Williams and Butler either have trouble beating man or it may be the same thing that Dez suffers from, bad route selection because I think both of those players could take it to the house.