Here's why Dez Bryant is the real problem for the Dallas Cowboys

[Mr Cowboy]

By Andrew LynchDec 14, 2016 at 4:29p ET


For a team that didn't suffer its second loss of the season until December, the Dallas Cowboys sure have a lot of drama.



Between a rough schedule for the remainder of the year, the shine coming off of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and the very real possibility that the Cowboys could tumble down the standings before the playoffs, one might even argue that Dallas is on the verge of disaster. And in this week's episode of the "Make Me Smarter" football podcast, NFL insider Michael
Lombardi argues that Dez Bryant is the major reason for the Cowboys' relative struggles of late.





Nick Wright: Let me give the audience a stat, because this is jarring. The least-efficient quarterback-to-wide receiver combo in football this year is Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant. 80 targets, only 38 completions.



Lombardi: I think the narrative here is completely wrong. ... I was a bartender in college, and the guy that you're bartending with says to the owner, "Watch that other guy, he's stealing." But the guy who says that is the guy stealing.



This is the narrative: "Watch Dak, he's not playing good," right? But Dez is the guy who's not playing good. Let's be real honest here, Dez is the problem. The shift in the narrative is on someone else. ... I mean, look at the numbers. Dez is 12th out of the 13 [receivers] on the Cowboys in completion percentage. He's had 80 targets and has had 38 catches.



It's ridiculous. He's a No. 1 — paid like a No. 1 receiver in the NFL — and behaving like a 2 and a 3. I mean, Beasley's outplaying him. Terrance Williams is outplaying him. So for me, it starts with Dez.



And here's why Dez is a difficult guy for anybody who plays quarterback, okay? Dez is a guy who plays fast when he knows where he's going. When there's a little bit of hesitation in Dez's game, like let's just take the two slants. The one that was intercepted, he did an outside release technique, kind of a funky one because Janoris Jenkins lured him into making that release, and he wasn't comfortable with what he did. And he got all tangled up and tried to get back inside, and that was the interception.



Was that Dak's fault? I'd say no, that was more the receiver's fault on the release. But most of America is going to say, "Well, the quarterback threw a bad ball." Then he makes the right release, and he fumbles. ...



When you watch the Cowboys, encourage Dez Bryant to start making some plays.

It's worth noting, of course, that Bryant has battled injury for most of this season. Still, Lombardi's criticisms have nothing to do with effort or health. Bryant's technique is off, which in turn is throwing off Prescott, and that has the Cowboys in serious trouble headed into the final weeks of the season.



Just how poorly has Bryant played this year? Bryant is on pace for the worst full season of his career in catch percentage and receptions per game, as well as his worst season in total yards and receptions since his rookie campaign in 2010. The one bright side: Bryant's 16.9 yards per reception would be a career best.



Between Dallas' defensive woes and the potential for weather to be a factor in the playoffs, the Cowboys can't afford many mistakes if they truly are Super Bowl contenders. Yet if Jerry Jones' team is going to get back on track before the postseason, it won't be thanks to a quarterback change. These Cowboys need their top receiver to play like he's actually elite.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...ntroversy-change-super-bowl-contenders-121416

 

[DoctorChicken]

Ugh

 

[perrykemp]

This is the what Lombardi says about Dez:

Dez is a major problem for the Cowboys, is paid as a #1 WR in the NFL, and is playing like a WR2 or WR3.

Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant is the least QB/WR combo in the NFL -- Dez has has caught 38 balls on 80 targets.

He wraps up with saying Dez needs to be put in a position where he doesn't have to think.

 

[mattjames2010]

So Dez played well with Romo, great chemistry, tore the league up from 2012 to 2014. A new QB comes in, and the "lack" of production is on Dez, not the rookie QB...

 

[ElGatoGrande]

The problem with Dez, as I see it, is that he doesn't run good routes and doesn't get separation along with being unreliable as Lombardi says. Sure he's fantastic at grabbing contested balls, but most QBs are averse to throwing into those situations,,, especially a rookie that has been told that he can't put his defense in a bad spot with a turnover. What Dez needs is a precision passer that can put the ball in the perfect spot, away from the defender where only Dez can catch it. Drew Brees would clean up with a WR like him.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

So Dez played well with Romo, great chemistry, tore the league up from 2012 to 2014. A new QB comes in, and the "lack" of production is on Dez, not the rookie QB...

I think if you let dak scramble around maybe he'll see dez the same way romo saw dez.

 

[mattjames2010]

I think if you let dak scramble around maybe he'll see dez the same way romo saw dez.

Doesn't seem Dak wants to do that. Sadly, Dak is far more heavy footed than most other scrambling QBs in the league. I mean, I don't mind him standing the pocket, I prefer that, but he at times just flat out refuses to move from it.

 

[Proof]

Weird a season in which he battled injury and missed a few games he's on pace for his worst "full season" but most ypc. Weird

 

[Gameover]

With Dez in there and the emergence of CB, we do miss Williams ability to get open.

 

[perrykemp]

So Dez played well with Romo, great chemistry, tore the league up from 2012 to 2014. A new QB comes in, and the "lack" of production is on Dez, not the rookie QB...

We all know Dez isn't able to create much seperation. Could it just be that Dak isn't as comfortable as Romo was throwing to Dez when he is tightly covered?

 

[Ranching]

By Andrew LynchDec 14, 2016 at 4:29p ET


For a team that didn't suffer its second loss of the season until December, the Dallas Cowboys sure have a lot of drama.



Between a rough schedule for the remainder of the year, the shine coming off of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and the very real possibility that the Cowboys could tumble down the standings before the playoffs, one might even argue that Dallas is on the verge of disaster. And in this week's episode of the "Make Me Smarter" football podcast, NFL insider Michael
Lombardi argues that Dez Bryant is the major reason for the Cowboys' relative struggles of late.





Nick Wright: Let me give the audience a stat, because this is jarring. The least-efficient quarterback-to-wide receiver combo in football this year is Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant. 80 targets, only 38 completions.



Lombardi: I think the narrative here is completely wrong. ... I was a bartender in college, and the guy that you're bartending with says to the owner, "Watch that other guy, he's stealing." But the guy who says that is the guy stealing.



This is the narrative: "Watch Dak, he's not playing good," right? But Dez is the guy who's not playing good. Let's be real honest here, Dez is the problem. The shift in the narrative is on someone else. ... I mean, look at the numbers. Dez is 12th out of the 13 [receivers] on the Cowboys in completion percentage. He's had 80 targets and has had 38 catches.



It's ridiculous. He's a No. 1 — paid like a No. 1 receiver in the NFL — and behaving like a 2 and a 3. I mean, Beasley's outplaying him. Terrance Williams is outplaying him. So for me, it starts with Dez.



And here's why Dez is a difficult guy for anybody who plays quarterback, okay? Dez is a guy who plays fast when he knows where he's going. When there's a little bit of hesitation in Dez's game, like let's just take the two slants. The one that was intercepted, he did an outside release technique, kind of a funky one because Janoris Jenkins lured him into making that release, and he wasn't comfortable with what he did. And he got all tangled up and tried to get back inside, and that was the interception.



Was that Dak's fault? I'd say no, that was more the receiver's fault on the release. But most of America is going to say, "Well, the quarterback threw a bad ball." Then he makes the right release, and he fumbles. ...



When you watch the Cowboys, encourage Dez Bryant to start making some plays.

It's worth noting, of course, that Bryant has battled injury for most of this season. Still, Lombardi's criticisms have nothing to do with effort or health. Bryant's technique is off, which in turn is throwing off Prescott, and that has the Cowboys in serious trouble headed into the final weeks of the season.



Just how poorly has Bryant played this year? Bryant is on pace for the worst full season of his career in catch percentage and receptions per game, as

By Andrew LynchDec 14, 2016 at 4:29p ET


For a team that didn't suffer its second loss of the season until December, the Dallas Cowboys sure have a lot of drama.



Between a rough schedule for the remainder of the year, the shine coming off of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and the very real possibility that the Cowboys could tumble down the standings before the playoffs, one might even argue that Dallas is on the verge of disaster. And in this week's episode of the "Make Me Smarter" football podcast, NFL insider Michael
Lombardi argues that Dez Bryant is the major reason for the Cowboys' relative struggles of late.





Nick Wright: Let me give the audience a stat, because this is jarring. The least-efficient quarterback-to-wide receiver combo in football this year is Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant. 80 targets, only 38 completions.



Lombardi: I think the narrative here is completely wrong. ... I was a bartender in college, and the guy that you're bartending with says to the owner, "Watch that other guy, he's stealing." But the guy who says that is the guy stealing.



This is the narrative: "Watch Dak, he's not playing good," right? But Dez is the guy who's not playing good. Let's be real honest here, Dez is the problem. The shift in the narrative is on someone else. ... I mean, look at the numbers. Dez is 12th out of the 13 [receivers] on the Cowboys in completion percentage. He's had 80 targets and has had 38 catches.



It's ridiculous. He's a No. 1 — paid like a No. 1 receiver in the NFL — and behaving like a 2 and a 3. I mean, Beasley's outplaying him. Terrance Williams is outplaying him. So for me, it starts with Dez.



And here's why Dez is a difficult guy for anybody who plays quarterback, okay? Dez is a guy who plays fast when he knows where he's going. When there's a little bit of hesitation in Dez's game, like let's just take the two slants. The one that was intercepted, he did an outside release technique, kind of a funky one because Janoris Jenkins lured him into making that release, and he wasn't comfortable with what he did. And he got all tangled up and tried to get back inside, and that was the interception.



Was that Dak's fault? I'd say no, that was more the receiver's fault on the release. But most of America is going to say, "Well, the quarterback threw a bad ball." Then he makes the right release, and he fumbles. ...



When you watch the Cowboys, encourage Dez Bryant to start making some plays.

It's worth noting, of course, that Bryant has battled injury for most of this season. Still, Lombardi's criticisms have nothing to do with effort or health. Bryant's technique is off, which in turn is throwing off Prescott, and that has the Cowboys in serious trouble headed into the final weeks of the season.



Just how poorly has Bryant played this year? Bryant is on pace for the worst full season of his career in catch percentage and receptions per game, as well as his worst season in total yards and receptions since his rookie campaign in 2010. The one bright side: Bryant's 16.9 yards per reception would be a career best.



Between Dallas' defensive woes and the potential for weather to be a factor in the playoffs, the Cowboys can't afford many mistakes if they truly are Super Bowl contenders. Yet if Jerry Jones' team is going to get back on track before the postseason, it won't be thanks to a quarterback change. These Cowboys need their top receiver to play like he's actually elite.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...ntroversy-change-super-bowl-contenders-121416

LOL, there's a lot of idiots out there. I hope you don't buy into it.

 

[Sportsbabe]

By Andrew LynchDec 14, 2016 at 4:29p ET


For a team that didn't suffer its second loss of the season until December, the Dallas Cowboys sure have a lot of drama.



Between a rough schedule for the remainder of the year, the shine coming off of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and the very real possibility that the Cowboys could tumble down the standings before the playoffs, one might even argue that Dallas is on the verge of disaster. And in this week's episode of the "Make Me Smarter" football podcast, NFL insider Michael
Lombardi argues that Dez Bryant is the major reason for the Cowboys' relative struggles of late.





Nick Wright: Let me give the audience a stat, because this is jarring. The least-efficient quarterback-to-wide receiver combo in football this year is Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant. 80 targets, only 38 completions.



Lombardi: I think the narrative here is completely wrong. ... I was a bartender in college, and the guy that you're bartending with says to the owner, "Watch that other guy, he's stealing." But the guy who says that is the guy stealing.



This is the narrative: "Watch Dak, he's not playing good," right? But Dez is the guy who's not playing good. Let's be real honest here, Dez is the problem. The shift in the narrative is on someone else. ... I mean, look at the numbers. Dez is 12th out of the 13 [receivers] on the Cowboys in completion percentage. He's had 80 targets and has had 38 catches.



It's ridiculous. He's a No. 1 — paid like a No. 1 receiver in the NFL — and behaving like a 2 and a 3. I mean, Beasley's outplaying him. Terrance Williams is outplaying him. So for me, it starts with Dez.



And here's why Dez is a difficult guy for anybody who plays quarterback, okay? Dez is a guy who plays fast when he knows where he's going. When there's a little bit of hesitation in Dez's game, like let's just take the two slants. The one that was intercepted, he did an outside release technique, kind of a funky one because Janoris Jenkins lured him into making that release, and he wasn't comfortable with what he did. And he got all tangled up and tried to get back inside, and that was the interception.



Was that Dak's fault? I'd say no, that was more the receiver's fault on the release. But most of America is going to say, "Well, the quarterback threw a bad ball." Then he makes the right release, and he fumbles. ...



When you watch the Cowboys, encourage Dez Bryant to start making some plays.

It's worth noting, of course, that Bryant has battled injury for most of this season. Still, Lombardi's criticisms have nothing to do with effort or health. Bryant's technique is off, which in turn is throwing off Prescott, and that has the Cowboys in serious trouble headed into the final weeks of the season.



Just how poorly has Bryant played this year? Bryant is on pace for the worst full season of his career in catch percentage and receptions per game, as well as his worst season in total yards and receptions since his rookie campaign in 2010. The one bright side: Bryant's 16.9 yards per reception would be a career best.



Between Dallas' defensive woes and the potential for weather to be a factor in the playoffs, the Cowboys can't afford many mistakes if they truly are Super Bowl contenders. Yet if Jerry Jones' team is going to get back on track before the postseason, it won't be thanks to a quarterback change. These Cowboys need their top receiver to play like he's actually elite.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...ntroversy-change-super-bowl-contenders-121416

That's why we need a get like Tony from this point forward to make players like Dez better (if we want to get to the SB).

 

[Sportsbabe]

So Dez played well with Romo, great chemistry, tore the league up from 2012 to 2014. A new QB comes in, and the "lack" of production is on Dez, not the rookie QB...

Yep. Everybody else is producing.

 

[88sAndHeartbreak]

..... you'd think we lost every game the way yall talking.

 

[AdamJT13]

Nick Wright: Let me give the audience a stat, because this is jarring. The least-efficient quarterback-to-wide receiver combo in football this year is Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant. 80 targets, only 38 completions.

That's not correct. There are other QB-WR combinations with a lower catch percentage (including Dak to Brice Butler) and many other receivers with a lower catch percentage between multiple quarterbacks.

Just how poorly has Bryant played this year? Bryant is on pace for the worst full season of his career in catch percentage and receptions per game, as well as his worst season in total yards and receptions since his rookie campaign in 2010.

Talk about twisting the stats to fit the narrative. This is "the worst full season of his career" although he has played in only 10 games, which means that last year's nine games and his rookie year's 12 games are not counted as a "full season," but 10 games is. And he's not on pace for "his worst season in total yards and receptions since his rookie campaign in 2010" because he already surpassed his total yards and receptions from 2015. And he'd had more yards per game than he did in 2011, he just missed three games.

Did Dez have a bad game Sunday? Of course. Could he play better than he has so far this season? Of course. But twisting or flatly misstating the numbers serves no purpose except to deceive.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The problem with Dez, as I see it, is that he doesn't run good routes and doesn't get separation along with being unreliable as Lombardi says. Sure he's fantastic at grabbing contested balls, but most QBs are averse to throwing into those situations,,, especially a rookie that has been told that he can't put his defense in a bad spot with a turnover. What Dez needs is a precision passer that can put the ball in the perfect spot, away from the defender where only Dez can catch it. Drew Brees would clean up with a WR like him.

Dez gets separation. His routes are more reserved for routes where the QB has to anticipate the throw. He may not be open mid-route or even 3/4 of the route, but if the QB anticipates, he'll be open. This is really that last frontier that a QB has to go before becoming elite...consistently anticipating throws. This is why Dez was so good with Romo because anticipation is one of Tony's strongsuits. And Tony isn't exactly a precision passer on the deep ball.

I wouldn't confuse Dez with Steve Largent when it comes to running routes...but plenty of top notch receivers are not the best route runners. Calvin Johnson certainly wasn't, but at 6'6" and 240 pounds, he didn't need to be.

Where Dez struggles is in the more little things like hand placement to fight off jams and when the DB is engaged, using his footwork, etc. I can see why the staff is on him about practicing because he gets rusty in those areas without practice time. Probably the thing that stood out to me was the long pass that Dak made to him that Dez caught in the Minny game. He should have walked in for a TD, instead he made a small stutter step and misjudged the ball. He caught it, but he fell over because he lost his balance. That's something that Dez wouldn't do in previous years and it made an easy catch look pretty discombobulated.




YR

 

[Bay10]

This is the what Lombardi says about Dez:

Dez is a major problem for the Cowboys, is paid as a #1 WR in the NFL, and is playing like a WR2 or WR3.

Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant is the least QB/WR combo in the NFL -- Dez has has caught 38 balls on 80 targets.

He wraps up with saying Dez needs to be put in a position where he doesn't have to think.

Let's not pretend all these passes were catchable. Dak can be all over the place with his throws.

 

[Bleu Star]

Mmmmm hmmmmm

 

[Romotil45]

By Andrew LynchDec 14, 2016 at 4:29p ET


For a team that didn't suffer its second loss of the season until December, the Dallas Cowboys sure have a lot of drama.



Between a rough schedule for the remainder of the year, the shine coming off of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and the very real possibility that the Cowboys could tumble down the standings before the playoffs, one might even argue that Dallas is on the verge of disaster. And in this week's episode of the "Make Me Smarter" football podcast, NFL insider Michael
Lombardi argues that Dez Bryant is the major reason for the Cowboys' relative struggles of late.





Nick Wright: Let me give the audience a stat, because this is jarring. The least-efficient quarterback-to-wide receiver combo in football this year is Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant. 80 targets, only 38 completions.



Lombardi: I think the narrative here is completely wrong. ... I was a bartender in college, and the guy that you're bartending with says to the owner, "Watch that other guy, he's stealing." But the guy who says that is the guy stealing.



This is the narrative: "Watch Dak, he's not playing good," right? But Dez is the guy who's not playing good. Let's be real honest here, Dez is the problem. The shift in the narrative is on someone else. ... I mean, look at the numbers. Dez is 12th out of the 13 [receivers] on the Cowboys in completion percentage. He's had 80 targets and has had 38 catches.



It's ridiculous. He's a No. 1 — paid like a No. 1 receiver in the NFL — and behaving like a 2 and a 3. I mean, Beasley's outplaying him. Terrance Williams is outplaying him. So for me, it starts with Dez.



And here's why Dez is a difficult guy for anybody who plays quarterback, okay? Dez is a guy who plays fast when he knows where he's going. When there's a little bit of hesitation in Dez's game, like let's just take the two slants. The one that was intercepted, he did an outside release technique, kind of a funky one because Janoris Jenkins lured him into making that release, and he wasn't comfortable with what he did. And he got all tangled up and tried to get back inside, and that was the interception.



Was that Dak's fault? I'd say no, that was more the receiver's fault on the release. But most of America is going to say, "Well, the quarterback threw a bad ball." Then he makes the right release, and he fumbles. ...



When you watch the Cowboys, encourage Dez Bryant to start making some plays.

It's worth noting, of course, that Bryant has battled injury for most of this season. Still, Lombardi's criticisms have nothing to do with effort or health. Bryant's technique is off, which in turn is throwing off Prescott, and that has the Cowboys in serious trouble headed into the final weeks of the season.



Just how poorly has Bryant played this year? Bryant is on pace for the worst full season of his career in catch percentage and receptions per game, as well as his worst season in total yards and receptions since his rookie campaign in 2010. The one bright side: Bryant's 16.9 yards per reception would be a career best.



Between Dallas' defensive woes and the potential for weather to be a factor in the playoffs, the Cowboys can't afford many mistakes if they truly are Super Bowl contenders. Yet if Jerry Jones' team is going to get back on track before the postseason, it won't be thanks to a quarterback change. These Cowboys need their top receiver to play like he's actually elite.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...ntroversy-change-super-bowl-contenders-121416

Obviously Dez is a bit of a bone head at times. He's not a great route runner n doesn't have the best hands and he's a bit of a diva at times. But he does have talent he's big strong and the guy to go get a jump ball. When used properly hes hard to handle in the red zone. Daks not great yet at utilizing him in the red zone hes not great yet with the back shoulder throw. But the truth is they need each so I'm sure they will make it work.

 

[Redball Express]

That's not correct. There are other QB-WR combinations with a lower catch percentage (including Dak to Brice Butler) and many other receivers with a lower catch percentage between multiple quarterbacks.




Talk about twisting the stats to fit the narrative. This is "the worst full season of his career" although he has played in only 10 games, which means that last year's nine games and his rookie year's 12 games are not counted as a "full season," but 10 games is. And he's not on pace for "his worst season in total yards and receptions since his rookie campaign in 2010" because he already surpassed his total yards and receptions from 2015. And he'd had more yards per game than he did in 2011, he just missed three games.

Did Dez have a bad game Sunday? Of course. Could he play better than he has so far this season? Of course. But twisting or flatly misstating the numbers serves no purpose except to deceive.

I think it goes both ways with DAK and Dez.

This throwing the ball when Dez is covered has to stop.

We were doing fine when Dez was hurt because DAK was only throwing to the open man.

Now he's throwing into coverages and it's not working.

And by throwing 10-14 passes a game..

that leaves much less for the rest.

Reduce Dez to a decoy and give him 5-6 passes and get it to everybody else.

Problem cured.

We are better when Dez is getting less.