FWST: Just Chill: Crayton's downfall, Choice's rise and Ratliff's great play... more

[Kevinicus]

Not that I'm one to want to defend Crayton, but I wish people would stop saying the refs incorrectly ruled that his forward progress was stopped. It WAS stopped. He was 4 yards back from the spot where he caught the ball when it came loose and he was making no effort at all to advance.

There, I'm done defending him. He was still way too careless on that play and on punt returns. He's always been careless on punt returns, or anytime he is carrying the ball. It's amazing he doesn't have a lot more fumbles in his career. Put him in the slot, where he's decent, and leave him there.

 

[rynochop]

* Jay Ratliff's blocked field goal was a thing of beauty. He sized the Chiefs up earlier in the game. His leap over the deep snapper was timed perfectly. It showed his instincts and outstanding athleticism.

Was watching highlights of the game on youtube. DIdnt notice it but when the Chiefs kicked the FG to go up 13-3, I think thats Ratliff darn near getting that one on the same unreal move for someone his size.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7sKh-F9qyc

At 2:03

 

[jobberone]

Austin didn't drop the ball either time. One was a great strip by the DB. The other he failed to make what would have been a great catch.

And Hurd didn't 'drop' the ball either. He failed to look for the ball soon enough and couldn't make the play. Still a mistake but not a drop. Maybe that's just semantics but I see a clear distinction esp on the balls to Austin.

Either he didn't watch the game, is repeating a perpetuated myth, or is just taking some journalistic freedom to balance a story. A willing suspension of disbelief.

 

[Wrangler87]

Austin didn't drop the ball either time. One was a great strip by the DB. The other he failed to make what would have been a great catch.

And Hurd didn't 'drop' the ball either. He failed to look for the ball soon enough and couldn't make the play. Still a mistake but not a drop. Maybe that's just semantics but I see a clear distinction esp on the balls to Austin.

Either he didn't watch the game, is repeating a perpetuated myth, or is just taking some journalistic freedom to balance a story. A willing suspension of disbelief.

I was going to comment on that as well. I don't think either of Austin's were flat out drops, ala T. Owens. The first one was an inch out of his reach and he barley got a hand on it. The second one he actually did catch but it was stripped away as he pulled it to his body. I would not call those drops like TO would drop a crossing route that hit him right in the hands on third and five. However, if Austin wants to become an elite receiver, he has to make those two catches. That is the difference between good and great. That is the difference between being another good NFL receiver, and being at the level of Fitzgerald or Moss. Austin is clearly not there, but don't sell him short as his confidence grows. We should not discount his potential to reach that level just because he was undrafted. He could be a number on some day, maybe soon.

Crayton is a different story. He has made a career out of making mistakes at a bad time. I'm convinced that he may not be a Cowboy next season. He is no better talent wise than Ogletree, and makes crucial mistakes to boot.

Just draft Golden Tate.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Pretty good read.

The article seems to paint Crayton as a complete imbecile when it comes to returning punts.

Yes, we all know 99.9% of the time, Crayton isn't going to get you chunks of yards but he hasn't been prone to fumbling the ball or making a ton of mistakes. Also, he was really only suppose to be a temporary solution at Punt Returner until someone else could take over.

Hill's thoughts about the Cowboys being "too nice" is very interesting and I believe it will eventually hurt them.
probably would

 

[Doomsay]

Good article.

I still haven't figured out why the coaching staff is so concerned about hurting people's feelings by not starting them or sitting them down. There's being nice and there's being stupid. This falls into the latter category.

They are not real coaches - they are afraid of the players because the players answer to Jerry.

 

[stilltheguru]

You need to add Ware and Witten to your list.

I just wanted to comment on the players being talked about in the first thread. Ware? I dunno about him man, he needs to step it up. I still like him though. Witten is the man too.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Brooking, Austin, Ratliff and Choice. Cowboys that demand your respect. Period

I'd put Ware, Bradie, Marion, Colombo, Kosier, etc in there as well.

Trouble is that we have guys like Carpenter, Crayton, and Hamlin who don't demand the respect of anybody and then you have coach killers in Crayton, Hamlin, Flo and Romo. At least I'm at the point where Romo *could* still possibly prove me wrong given his age and his skills have not diminished as much as those players' skills.

It's pretty apparent with Austin that his big thing he needs to keep working on is comeback routes. Romo curiously noted that Miles did a good job of 'coming back to the ball' and then the NFLN showed him on a few routes where he did a decent job on those comeback routes. He also tends to drop passes on crossing routes. If he can get those two routes down, he'll be tough because corners were certainly playing way off him last week.





YAKUZA