Does Dez Bryant remind you of TO...

[CATCH17]

TO was one of the very best YAC receivers ever.

Dez could definetely be one of those guys too.

I think Dez just has a lot more flair to his game than TO did.

TO was just very smart, hard working, and a bully with the ball.


I loved the TO years in Dallas. He brought a lot of excitement.

 

[dallasfan4lizife]

I don't see it. I think Dez is far more gifted and far more natural then TO ever was. As far as dropping simple passes I would say De doesn't drop as nearly the balls that TO dropped. Also Dez is a very good down field blocker. I don't really like the comparison.

you must be fairly new to football.

Dez isn't "far" more gifted than TO...not even close

TO was a freak of nature when he played for the 49ers, athletically and statistically. You're talking about one of the greatest receivers to ever play.

I hope Dez can accomplish what TO has.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

you must be fairly new to football.

Dez isn't "far" more gifted than TO...not even close

TO was a freak of nature when he played for the 49ers, athletically and statistically. You're talking about one of the greatest receivers to ever play.

I hope Dez can accomplish what TO has.

I think you're overrating TO a bit. Dez's stats last season weren't far behind TO's best season with the 49ers (1.4k yards, 16 TDs v. 1.38k yards and 12 TDs).

 

[Seven]

My ten year old reminds me of T.O.

Does that count?

 

[ufcrules1]

No, I don't see it.

T.O. was faster. Dez has much better hands. T.O.'s game was more about the crossing route and some drags and slants. Then when the corner pressed, he could get by him and beat him deep. And when T.O. got the ball he usually ran away from guys more than broke tackles (although he could break tackles well).

Dez has good speed and terrific hands. Catches the ball extremely well in closed quarters. Maybe even better than Randy Moss in closed quarters (Dez always fights for a ball). And he's probably the most vicious WR I've ever seen run with the ball.

I think T.O. intimidated defenders with his speed first and his power second. I think Dez intimidates defenders with his power first and his speed second.

I think Dez is much better against double teams. T.O. usually had to be moved around away from a double team by motioning him until they got the coverage they wanted. If they couldn't do that, then they would have him run slants, drags and crossing patterns. With Dez, he can beat double teams quite often deep. He'll beat the corner and then put Romo in position to fake out the safety. Very tough to do consistently.

I think this again has to do with Dez's power. If they can't quite beat the double team, you can still throw it for grabs and give it to Dez.

I know this sounds too obvious, but he really reminds me more of Michael Irvin than anybody.

Excellent break down man. I'm on the same page as you.

 

[CowboyStar88]

you must be fairly new to football.

Dez isn't "far" more gifted than TO...not even close

TO was a freak of nature when he played for the 49ers, athletically and statistically. You're talking about one of the greatest receivers to ever play.

I hope Dez can accomplish what TO has.

Talent wise. Nice back handed comment. No not new to football. TO was a hard worker and it didn't come to him as naturally as it comes to Dez anyone with a brain can see that. Sorry that you so easily missed the point. Not taking anything away from TO. I don't see Dez's game the same as TO at all 2 different players.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I think you're overrating TO a bit. Dez's stats last season weren't far behind TO's best season with the 49ers (1.4k yards, 16 TDs v. 1.38k yards and 12 TDs).

I think you're underrating TO a bit. TO did it his entire career, and that's why he's a sure hall of famer and one of the most productive WR's ever.

Dez has done it for one season. Lets see a few more before we put him in TO's category, but as far as athleticism and physicality, they are both in the same league. TO had more speed, though.

All i know is, if Dez can even get close when his career is over to the numbers TO put up, we should all be very happy.

 

[Super_Kazuya]

you must be fairly new to football.

Dez isn't "far" more gifted than TO...not even close

TO was a freak of nature when he played for the 49ers, athletically and statistically. You're talking about one of the greatest receivers to ever play.

I hope Dez can accomplish what TO has.

When they were showing Hard Knocks recently, I was shocked (apparently I forgot or took it for granted) how much physical talent even a 34 year old Owens had. He would run across the middle to make a catch and then he would just EXPLODE up the field in stride. Even at that age, it looked a level beyond what I've seen from Dez. I acknowledge they are different players though.

 

[JackWagon]

i have NO DOUBT .. that once Jerry pays Dez his first big contract ... full on Diva Mode will engage.

Edit: we might even get a "practice " rant from him like Allen Iverson.

 

[Lonestar94]

Lol @ ppl claiming Dez will be better than TO.

Pump the brakes.

 

[Nova]

Honestly I think Dez will be in his own category. T.O. Never had the leaping ability or circus catch ability Dez had. I also feel like Dez is more agile then TO while TO had better straight line speed.

Nailed it.

Dez can attack the ball in the air, something that T.O. never really did (although his speed never really required him to).

Anyone else remember the 'jump balls' Tony threw to T.O.? Most of them were intercepted.

T.O. was better at beating coverage with his route running and speed, but Dez has better agility and is far more physical. Owens struggled with press coverage.

I would say they're very different players.

If I were to compare Dez to anyone it would probably be Calvin Johnson. He's a Mini-Megatron.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

I don't understand all the TO hate.. yeah the guy was a headache but he always produced and sure as heck exciting to watch. it really should not surprise anyone that the years TO was with Romo that both had fantastic numbers and I think IIRC was considered to be the #1 QB/WR DUO for at least 1 year (2007 I think) and always top 5 every other season IIRC as well. It's just a bit premature to compare the two cause they had different skill sets as YR stated. not to mention TO is a HOFer and Dez is in his 3rd year?

 

[Tabascocat]

I don't understand all the TO hate.. yeah the guy was a headache but he always produced and sure as heck exciting to watch. it really should not surprise anyone that the years TO was with Romo that both had fantastic numbers and I think IIRC was considered to be the #1 QB/WR DUO for at least 1 year (2007 I think) and always top 5 every other season IIRC as well. It's just a bit premature to compare the two cause they had different skill sets as YR stated. not to mention TO is a HOFer and Dez is in his 3rd year?

I always kind of liked Owens. No one can say he wasn't good or boring. If T.O. was 32 yrs old again with the same off-the-field issues, there would be 32 teams lining up to get him.

I don't think the point of this thread was to compare the players accomplishments, but rather the type of style. It is a no-brainer T.O. is/was the better of the two up to this point but Dez has the potential to at least match him if he continues to work hard.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Lol @ ppl claiming Dez will be better than TO.

Pump the brakes.

I think he's better at the same stage of their respective careers.

Here's T.O's 3rd season numbers:

67 catches, 1,097 yards, 14 TD's

Here's Dez's 3rd season numbers:

92 catches, 1,382 yards, 12 TD's.

In T.O's 4th season he only had 60 catches for 754 yards and 4 TD's.






YR

 

[speedkilz88]

I guess it depends on what you consider a "burner". The year Terrell came out you can see times for him for between 4.26 and 4.35 depending on how it was timed and where etc... I think 4.35 was his combine number which aint to shabby. Last August 2012 he was timed at 4.45 STILL at age 38. I mean Felix Jones was our speed back and didnt he run a 4.45 or something at the combine? And Terrell just spun the same thing off at 38? Pretty amazing.

Tex

I have a Kiper Draft Report and it has 4.63 for Owens at the combine.

 

[joseephuss]

I think you're underrating TO a bit. TO did it his entire career, and that's why he's a sure hall of famer and one of the most productive WR's ever.

Dez has done it for one season. Lets see a few more before we put him in TO's category, but as far as athleticism and physicality, they are both in the same league. TO had more speed, though.

All i know is, if Dez can even get close when his career is over to the numbers TO put up, we should all be very happy.

True, it has only been one great year. Most receivers take a few years to find their groove. Owens was in the same boat as Dez after his first 3 seasons as well. He got his first 1000 yard season in his 3rd year and then followed that up with a 754 yard season his 4th year. Maybe Dez can keep playing at the level he attained last year. We shall eagerly wait and see what happens. As of now Dez has outpaced what T.O. did in his first 3 years in the league and it would be great if he can continue to do so.

 

[Clove]

Owens was deadly once he caught the ball, extremely explosive. At this point, Owens was more explosive than Dez, where Dez is more violent and better jumper than Owens. But as time goes on, I think Dez could become more explosive, we'll see. But Owens was a freak of nature, people hate the guy, but the dude was an immortal.

 

[KDM256]

I love TO and think he's one of the greatest WR to play the game. Stats prove it

One of my biggest gripes with TO was that Owens used his body way too much to catch the ball rather than catch the ball with his hands. That is why you saw alot of dropped balls with TO. I can deal with those mistakes in your first couple of years inthe league but not when you're in year 9 and still making those mistakes..


We have seen Dez drop gimmes onthe field as well but you also can see the potential with Dez to be one of the greatest Cowboy receivers to play with a Star on his helmet. I've seen Dez make some great catches this past season and really have high hopes for him this upcoming season. I just hope him and Romo are spending alot of time together during the offseason.

 

[RS12]

Dez reminds me of a more gifted Anquan Boldin, physical, sure handed, enjoys contact like Boldin.

 

[DejectedFan1996]

I think he's better at the same stage of their respective careers.

Here's T.O's 3rd season numbers:

67 catches, 1,097 yards, 14 TD's

Here's Dez's 3rd season numbers:

92 catches, 1,382 yards, 12 TD's.

In T.O's 4th season he only had 60 catches for 754 yards and 4 TD's.
YR

Completely unfair comparison as T.O. didn't even really become a starter until his third year and was a third round pick coming out of a small school. Dez was a first rounder and started his first year, albeit as the #3 WR and was a full time starter in year 2.

T.O. isn't as naturally gifted as Dez but his work ethic has caused him to be a HOFmer. He doesn't have great hands, nor did he have leaping ability like Moss and Dez. This is one reason why I respect T.O. despite his antics.