DMN Blog: Michael Irvin has a notion for Cowboys WR situation

[cowboyjoe]

Michael Irvin has a notion for Cowboys WR situation
12:30 PM Wed, Oct 14, 2009 | Permalink
Barry Horn/Reporter E-mail News tips

Michael Irvin, back from barely surviving another round on Dancing With The Stars, got all Xs and Os on his ESPN Radio show this morning about the Cowboys wide receiver situation. And if Irvin knows one thing in this world it is how to play WR.

I think he concluded that Miles Austin should remain the "X receiver," the big play outside wide receiver, and the returning Roy Williams be moved to the "Y receiver" and run routes mostly from the slot. Williams is not the prototype slot but that could be used to the Cowboys advantage. Irvin said he can only hope the Cowboys are game planning that way right now.

 

[Hook'em#11]

Better idea would be to suit up Irvin.

Oh dreams.....

 

[theogt]

I doubt he actually said that Roy should a slot receiver.

 

[YosemiteSam]

It should be Miles and Williams wide with Crayton in the slot. You can always mix it up during the game, but no way you want Williams to play the slot all the time. It's better to have better route runners and quickness in the slot.

Actually, Crayton by default would be my slot guy, but I would test Ogletree there too. Speed in the slot is a very good thing to have and I believe Ogletree is faster than Crayton. Give Ogletree a chance to unseat Crayton in the slot. (By that, I DO NOT mean give Ogletree the job, just give him some game day reps there)

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

I doubt he actually said that Roy should a slot receiver.

He said that Roy should operate out of the slot more in three receiver sets using certain routes that would take advantage of his size and create more favorable matchups, but not running some of the more traditional fast cutting routes routes that a smaller slot reciever would typically do.

Can't really give exact quotes because I was working on something and not paying full attention to the specific routes Irvin was talking about.

 

[YosemiteSam]

He said that Roy should operate out of the slot more in three receiver sets using certain routes that would take advantage of his size and create more favorable matchups, but not running some of the more traditional fast cutting routes routes that a smaller slot reciever would typically do.

Can't really give exact quotes because I was working on something and not paying full attention to the specific routes Irvin was talking about.

Lies, all lies! :laugh2:

 

[jterrell]

Our outside plays over the Garrett era with the biggest success ratio have been the long crossing routes and you want speed for that.

Austin could be as deadly in those as T.O. was.

Austin is still learning his route running so asking him to play the slot is a mistake because that position is all about precise cuts and quickness moreso than speed. The poster child is Wes Welker for instance.

What has hurt us is the expected 2 TE success just hasn't happened imho.

Bennett needs to take that athleticism and translate it to onfield success at some point soon. He is a far better athlete than Witten but never seems to make the plays Witten does. He has to learn to play under control and make plays after the catch.

RW tried to play that off-WR position last year and was awful. Essentially what Irvin is saying is that RW11 sucks. But he has been saying that for a while and frick I guess he may be right

Austin is still raw but he is one guy who can make big plays. The more he plays the more he has a chance to make them. We tried to use him as a change up guy but his success rate isn't 100% or even close. So getting him a few targets really limits him. He needs more targets where he can take say 5-7% to the house. RW11 and Crayton aren't going to be nearly that high of a percentage, more like 1 or 2%.

 

[AdamJT13]

At least Mike didn't suggest starting Holley.

 

[Rampage]

I agree Roy should get more work in the slot. but 2 things need to happen to utilize Roy to his strengths.

#1 Garrett needs to stop leaving him on the outside running deep patterns all the time. throw some slants and what not.

#2 Romo needs to throw him the ball more than 3 times a game.

 

[YosemiteSam]

At least Mike didn't suggest starting Holley.

Maybe he did, maybe he did!

 

[theogt]

He said that Roy should operate out of the slot more in three receiver sets using certain routes that would take advantage of his size and create more favorable matchups, but not running some of the more traditional fast cutting routes routes that a smaller slot reciever would typically do.

Can't really give exact quotes because I was working on something and not paying full attention to the specific routes Irvin was talking about.

He does occasionally line up in the slot. I guess he's suggesting more often.

Eh...sounds like an off the top of the head throw away comment from Mike. Not a real "Xs & Os analysis" as billed in the blog article.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Lies, all lies! :laugh2:

I wanted to sound important!

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

He does occasionally line up in the slot. I guess he's suggesting more often.

Eh...sounds like an off the top of the head throw away comment from Mike. Not a real "Xs & Os analysis" as billed in the blog article.

Oh, Mike was breaking it down on specifics on how it could/should work better, but I was too busy goofing off to be able to relay the details. He was pretty passionate about keeping Miles in the "X" position if he was going to stay in the starting line-up.

 

[bootyhunta]

Wasn't he in the slot on the long td pass vs Tampa?

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

I agree Roy should get more work in the slot. but 2 things need to happen to utilize Roy to his strengths.

#1 Garrett needs to stop leaving him on the outside running deep patterns all the time. throw some slants and what not.

#2 Romo needs to throw him the ball more than 3 times a game.

But he wont and maybe throw it once to Marty B. No clout.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Start Austin and Ogletree and rotate Crayton/Williams.

Austin and Ogletree are the hungriest. They will perform. Austin smells big money. Ogletree needs to make a name for himself and has the speed to to some nice things.

I don't care who plays where just play Austin and Ogletree somewhere.

 

[juck]

Keyshawn was in the slot a lot,RW is a very similiar WR.

 

[juck]

Start Austin and Ogletree and rotate Crayton/Williams.

Austin and Ogletree are the hungriest. They will perform. Austin smells big money. Ogletree needs to make a name for himself and has the speed to to some nice things.

I don't care who plays where just play Austin and Ogletree somewhere.

Agree

 

[jzcowboy]

Wasn't he in the slot on the long td pass vs Tampa?

Yes he was

 

[Bluefin]

Austin smells big money.

Miles Austin isn't playing thinking about a new contract.

He's a total team player and will do anything they want him to.

Austin just wants to help, he isn't worried about filling his bank account.

Ogletree needs to make a name for himself and has the speed to to some nice things.

Kevin Ogletree didn't log a single snap at receiver last Sunday and he won't be active again unless another injury occurs at the position.

I like KO and look forward to watching him develop, but adding a rookie receiver Tony Romo does not practice with would only hurt the passing game right now.

Romo trusts Jason Witten, Patrick Crayton and now hopefully Austin as well.

Roy Williams is still a work in progress and Martellus Bennett is MIA in the air attack.

We do not need to add a complete unknown to the equation.