Among NFL FB's, yes, Deon is an elite blocker. Bringing up pass blocking for a FB is like bringing up run blocking for a RB. None of them are known for their pass blocking, you'll find that the best pass-blocking FB's are more like RB's than true FB's.
then I guess we agree to disagree. I don't think Deon is a devastating run blcoker. and as a FB not only you are lead blocker for a RB, half of the plays are pass, and in half of those we probably have a FB in play so he better be able to pass block and stop the blitzing LBs and be the last line of defense to Romo, barber is a RB and he does and excellent job in that dept, which often goes un-noticed by casual fans.
Deon has also had barely any targets in the passing game, so I don't know where the idea comes from that he can't catch anything. I doubt he had more than 5 or 6 targets all of last year, but his rookie year (not to mention in college) he showed that he can catch and do a little bit of something after the catch. He's a FB for crying out loud.
he doesn't get targeted because he doesn't catch well and he doesn't get open well. remember moose johnston. he was the security blanket and the 5th option and he caught a bunch. the cowboys are looking to improve in that dept. and thus have moved Phillips to the h-back role some last year and looking to do the same with Sicko to provide another element to their offense that's missing. and not every FB is a good pass catcher, specially these days in college many don't run pro offensive sets and FBs are used to open holes for running games. so just because he is a FB doesn't automatically mean he is a good pass catcher.
The FB just doesn't factor into our offense much, but the time Romo gets through reading for Witten, Austin, Roy and the RB, he's probably getting sacked.
same could have been said about our 90's offense. but Moose still managed to catch a ton. he was the 5th read on most pass plays. he released when there was no pass rush and caught a bunch in the flat or on short hook routes that was more like a long hand off. displayed sure hands as well. Deon lacks in this area greatly.
I still think that the only way Deon isn't on the roster is if he gets suspended, because he's done everything else about as well as you could want, including special teams.
gronwkowski (sp?) might be able to replace him if he can block and shows sure hands. but since FB ranks last as importance to the offense, we may just go with the experienced Deon, or replace him with H-back (Sicko and Phillips) and stash Gran....in practice squad.
We don't need Leonard Weaver at FB in this offense, we need a solid run blocker that hustles and plays special teams, and Deon does all that very well.
