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Grades: Wide Receivers
The Cowboys have spent a lot of money on this position, from Terrell Owens to Roy Williams to Patrick Crayton. All three are locked into long-term deals, yet this position did not yield the type of results in 2008 as was expected.
Terrell Owens: C
Owens finished the season with 69 receptions for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had two 100-yard receiving games. This was his least productive "full" season since 1999 when he caught 60 passes in 14 games for the 49ers.
The rap on Owens before the year was that he couldn't play a full season any more; he did appear in all 16 games, but clearly age has caught him.
Owens is 35, and he no longer can ever be the top receiver he was when he was 28 or even 31. Owens can look like he's 25 and have chiseled features but it doesn't change the fact he's 35, and receivers are never, ever better with that much age.
He struggled with press coverage, and he never showed the ability "to go and get the ball." The ball pretty much has to be "right there" for him to make a play.
He signed a three-year extension before the start of the '08 season, but now it appears very doubtful he will be worth it, or that he will see the end of the contract.
The hard truth is that Owens' best days are behind him.
Roy Williams: C
Williams played in 10 games for the Cowboys after he was traded by the Lions and finished with 19 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys thought they were going to get instant production from Williams, but it quickly became apparent he had zero timing or chemistry with Tony Romo. That only happens with a full off-season and training camp.
Don't kill Williams or this trade until Williams has had a full season with Romo. If the numbers and production still stink then, feel free to rip away.
The Cowboys traded three draft picks to the Lions for Williams to become a No. 1 receiver, and likely Owens' replacement. He didn't show much yet, and he's on the clock.
Patrick Crayton: C
Crayton is another case of a player whose value and production may have peaked. In 2007, he finished with 50 receptions for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2008, Crayton had 39 receptions for 550 yards and four touchdowns.
He is a pretty decent No. 3, slot receiver, but nothing more.
Miles Austin: B
Austin is arguably the fastest receiver on the roster, and showed flashes of big-time potential. But he was slowed by knee injuries since the second week of the preseason. In 12 games, he finished with 13 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns. In the Cowboys' Week 3 win in Green Bay, Austin had two catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. He may yet develop into a quality No. 2 receiver, but it's going to be hard on this roster.
Isaiah Stanback: Inc
The fourth-round draft pick from 2007 continues to battle injuries, and he's about to enter a make-or-break zone. In eight games this season, he had two catches for 24 yards.
No one doubts his athletic ability, but it's hard not to question his ability to stay healthy. He probably has one more training camp to make an impression or he's going to be cut.
Sam Hurd: Inc.
Hurd was limited to three games in 2008 because of injuries. Because of numbers, Hurd faces a serious problem of making this team in 2009.
In two seasons he has 24 catches for 389 yards and a touchdown. He created a niche as a special teams player, but making the team as just that on a roster loaded with pricey receivers may be tough.
Overall, the Cowboys have talent at this position. But it seems to be at a crossroads - their No. 1 receiver can't be expected to have another 100-catch year, or come close to being the dominant player he once was. The success of this position largely swings on what Roy Williams becomes, and how much more room for improvement Miles Austin has.
- Mac Engel
http://dallascowboyscentral.com/forum/fwst-grades-wide-receivers-t9692.html
The Cowboys have spent a lot of money on this position, from Terrell Owens to Roy Williams to Patrick Crayton. All three are locked into long-term deals, yet this position did not yield the type of results in 2008 as was expected.
Terrell Owens: C
Owens finished the season with 69 receptions for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had two 100-yard receiving games. This was his least productive "full" season since 1999 when he caught 60 passes in 14 games for the 49ers.
The rap on Owens before the year was that he couldn't play a full season any more; he did appear in all 16 games, but clearly age has caught him.
Owens is 35, and he no longer can ever be the top receiver he was when he was 28 or even 31. Owens can look like he's 25 and have chiseled features but it doesn't change the fact he's 35, and receivers are never, ever better with that much age.
He struggled with press coverage, and he never showed the ability "to go and get the ball." The ball pretty much has to be "right there" for him to make a play.
He signed a three-year extension before the start of the '08 season, but now it appears very doubtful he will be worth it, or that he will see the end of the contract.
The hard truth is that Owens' best days are behind him.
Roy Williams: C
Williams played in 10 games for the Cowboys after he was traded by the Lions and finished with 19 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys thought they were going to get instant production from Williams, but it quickly became apparent he had zero timing or chemistry with Tony Romo. That only happens with a full off-season and training camp.
Don't kill Williams or this trade until Williams has had a full season with Romo. If the numbers and production still stink then, feel free to rip away.
The Cowboys traded three draft picks to the Lions for Williams to become a No. 1 receiver, and likely Owens' replacement. He didn't show much yet, and he's on the clock.
Patrick Crayton: C
Crayton is another case of a player whose value and production may have peaked. In 2007, he finished with 50 receptions for 697 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2008, Crayton had 39 receptions for 550 yards and four touchdowns.
He is a pretty decent No. 3, slot receiver, but nothing more.
Miles Austin: B
Austin is arguably the fastest receiver on the roster, and showed flashes of big-time potential. But he was slowed by knee injuries since the second week of the preseason. In 12 games, he finished with 13 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns. In the Cowboys' Week 3 win in Green Bay, Austin had two catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. He may yet develop into a quality No. 2 receiver, but it's going to be hard on this roster.
Isaiah Stanback: Inc
The fourth-round draft pick from 2007 continues to battle injuries, and he's about to enter a make-or-break zone. In eight games this season, he had two catches for 24 yards.
No one doubts his athletic ability, but it's hard not to question his ability to stay healthy. He probably has one more training camp to make an impression or he's going to be cut.
Sam Hurd: Inc.
Hurd was limited to three games in 2008 because of injuries. Because of numbers, Hurd faces a serious problem of making this team in 2009.
In two seasons he has 24 catches for 389 yards and a touchdown. He created a niche as a special teams player, but making the team as just that on a roster loaded with pricey receivers may be tough.
Overall, the Cowboys have talent at this position. But it seems to be at a crossroads - their No. 1 receiver can't be expected to have another 100-catch year, or come close to being the dominant player he once was. The success of this position largely swings on what Roy Williams becomes, and how much more room for improvement Miles Austin has.
- Mac Engel
http://dallascowboyscentral.com/forum/fwst-grades-wide-receivers-t9692.html
