Grading Every Dallas Cowboys Starter's 2013 Regular Season by Jonathan Bales

[RonSpringsdaman20]

The real telling portion of this was the author's comment on Witten ranking number 17 on yards per route.

If Romo was being more secure with the ball and his yards per attempt was lowered, would that not have an adverse effect on Witten?

playcalling.

 

[BigStar]

Are people just looking at the grade for Witten or reading the analysis? It was spot on...talented enough to start (maybe) but to force feed the Offense through him? That relates to many of the complaints related to the stale O and lack of effort in getting others involved. D+ was a little harsh though, maybe Cish.

 

[percyhoward]

.

Interesting point on Romo's Yards per Attempt being the lowest of his entire career at 7.2.

That makes sense to me -- watching the games it felt like the downfield passing game has been dramatically scaled back.

Tony felt the sting of leading the NFL in interceptions last year and effectively traded turnovers for high completion shorter passes and a higher QB rating.

Two really dumb mistakes by Bales here. First, he treats Romo's yards per attempt number as if it were as important as his passer rating. Very strange, since yards per attempt is included in passer rating. Yards per attempt is just passer rating without TD and INT. Bales is also way, way, way off about Witten.

Witten 73 of 109 851 yd 8 td 1 int 111.1

Witten's numbers would have been around 90 catches and 1,000 yards if it hadn't been for Murray. Just do the math. If Murray has a repeat of his 2012 season, Murray has 20 fewer receptions and 60 fewer carries. Half of those 80 missing plays become Witten targets, and he goes to his 9th Pro Bowl.

 

[BigStar]

.
Two really dumb mistakes by Bales here. First, he treats Romo's yards per attempt number as if it were as important as his passer rating. Very strange, since yards per attempt is included in passer rating. Yards per attempt is just passer rating without TD and INT. Bales is also way, way, way off about Witten.

Witten 73 of 109 851 yd 8 td 1 int 111.1

Witten's numbers would have been around 90 catches and 1,000 yards if it hadn't been for Murray. Just do the math. If Murray has a repeat of his 2012 season, Murray has 20 fewer receptions and 60 fewer carries. Half of those 80 missing plays become Witten targets, and he goes to his 9th Pro Bowl.

But 73 for 851 would not be considered good numbers for a #1 option and that was the reason he graded him so low.

 

[SDCowboy]

Its true. I am so sick of the offense being forced through Jason Witten. At this point in my opinion he is an average TE who is still thriving alot on reputation. His work ethic might be unmatched, but his skills have diminished greatly.

While I certainly wouldn't have him top 5 anymore, he's a lot better than average.

 

[percyhoward]

But 73 for 851 would not be considered good numbers for a #1 option and that was the reason he graded him so low.

Witten wasn't even close to Dez's 155 targets.

 

[BigStar]

Witten wasn't even close to Dez's 155 targets.

Witten shouldn't be even the 2nd lead in targets on this team, mostly because of age and what type of element he brings to the offense (inability to stretch the field, avg blocker). I can't be particularly hard on Romo/Garret for relying on him more than they should have this season with MIA Austin and TW being a rook, etc. Witten's not a bad player, he just shouldn't be a primary "weapon" to the offense and is about as poor an athletic outlet/dump off as you could find for a QB...

 

[percyhoward]

Witten shouldn't be even the 2nd lead in targets on this team, mostly because of age and what type of element he brings to the offense (inability to stretch the field, avg blocker). I can't be particularly hard on Romo/Garret for relying on him this more than they should have this season with MIA Austin and TW being a rook, etc. Witten's not a bad player, he just shouldn't be a primary "weapon" to the offense and is about as poor an athletic outlet/dump off you could find for a QB...

Pass rating wins games. Any receiver with a 110+ rating on 100+ targets easily deserves every target he gets.

These were all the TE with 100+ targets in 2013.
Olsen 114.7
Graham 112.8
Witten 111.1
Gonzalez 105.7
Cameron 100.6
Gates 99.8

 

[BigStar]

Pass rating wins games. Any receiver with a 110+ rating on 100+ targets easily deserves every target he gets.

These were all the TE with 100+ targets in 2013.
Olsen 114.7
Graham 112.8
Witten 111.1
Gonzalez 105.7
Cameron 100.6
Gates 99.8

Well, can't argue much of that outside it being my personal bias good post!

 

[Nova]

Wow.

Tyron Smith... a B? Swing and a miss.


"He was really good this year, but he still allowed a 4.4 percent pressure rate, according to PFF."

It's funny that this guy thinks that's a bad thing because that's good for 3rd best in the league for all tackles who have played 50% of their teams' snaps or more.

The number 1 guy was Orlando Franklin who is a right tackle, meaning he doesn't typically face the same type of competition.
The number 2 guy was All Pro Joe Staley, who played about 150 less snaps. And although he had less pressures total, Staley surrendered 4 sacks this year. 3 more than Tyron Smith... again. This is an All Pro tackle who played 150 less snaps.

What's more impressive. No other tackle who played 50% or more of his teams snaps surrendered 1 sack or less like Smith.

Smith is elite.

A++

 

[cowboys1981]

Its true. I am so sick of the offense being forced through Jason Witten. At this point in my opinion he is an average TE who is still thriving alot on reputation. His work ethic might be unmatched, but his skills have diminished greatly.

The thing is, he's our slowest guy running routes and he still creates more separation than any other receiver on our roster on a more consistent basis.

 

[DWhite Fan]

Why limit the grading to just the players...why do the front office and coaches get a pass? Shouldn't they be graded as well?

 

[DWhite Fan]

I give Romo a B+ this season...

 

[ShiningStar]

Wow.

Tyron Smith... a B? Swing and a miss.


"He was really good this year, but he still allowed a 4.4 percent pressure rate, according to PFF."

It's funny that this guy thinks that's a bad thing because that's good for 3rd best in the league for all tackles who have played 50% of their teams' snaps or more.

The number 1 guy was Orlando Franklin who is a right tackle, meaning he doesn't typically face the same type of competition.
The number 2 guy was All Pro Joe Staley, who played about 150 less snaps. And although he had less pressures total, Staley surrendered 4 sacks this year. 3 more than Tyron Smith... again. This is an All Pro tackle who played 150 less snaps.

What's more impressive. No other tackle who played 50% or more of his teams snaps surrendered 1 sack or less like Smith.

Smith is elite.

A++

and look at all of who Smith shut down this year. He was very impressive this year, good post btw, just watned to get in my 1 and 1/2 cent

 

[TonyRomo17]

agree on the dez part.. too bad we get one more year of this useless offensive system

 

[RamziD]

The thing is, he's our slowest guy running routes and he still creates more separation than any other receiver on our roster on a more consistent basis.

That's sad but true. Our receivers, including Dez, are pretty awful at creating separation.

 

[theSHOW]

Bleacher report is the National Enquirer of Sports reporting

Bleacher is the "Hustler" of sports info.

 

[mahoneybill]

Bleacher is the "Hustler" of sports info.

Good one