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

[Alexander]

Greg Cosell was on Sirius this morning stating that from what he sees, Bryant simply is not as explosive as he once was.

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah, we need to address WR in the offseason. Seriously address it.

 

[Bleu Star]

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

Unfortunately, throwing to Dez is always going to carry a higher level of risk for an interception because he is incapable of running the crisp routes necessary to separate. & they will happen.......

Whether you're Dak Prescott, Tony Romo, or Willie Beamon, the above statement applies to you.

 

[big dog cowboy]

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.

It wouldn't be serious trouble for the Cowboys if Dak started throwing much less frequently to Dez. I seem to recall the Cowboys moving the ball very well when Dez wasn't in there.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Yeah, we need to address WR in the offseason. Seriously address it.

That seems like the easy answer but the fact is the Cowboys are still 6th in the league in scoring. That is good enough to win a Super Bowl.

Resources need spent on defense because we are not good enough on that side of the ball to win a Super Bowl.

 

[Bleu Star]

That seems like the easy answer but the fact is the Cowboys are still 6th in the league in scoring. That is good enough to win a Super Bowl.

Resources need spent on defense because we are not good enough on that side of the ball to win a Super Bowl.

I'm right there with you but Dez is making a case for drafting a WR.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Dez was awful last game, but without him we lose in Minny

 

[MileyDancer]

Is Dez really that dumb? How did he get through college at all?

 

[tyke1doe]

Lombardi's comments will just sail over the heads of Dez apologists.

It has been long known that Dez is an awful route runner. He has but a few plays he's successful with and has made his living on said plays.

Of course, when you point this out, Dez apologists say, "Those are just rumors." But it's interesting how these comments aren't really said about the other elite receivers. Does anyone continue to criticize Antonio Brown for running the wrong routes, or Julio Jones or Jordy Nelson? Yet, you always here this about Dez, except for when he goes up to catch a touchdown then everyone's ready to just forget his other limitations.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

Is Dez really that dumb? How did he get through college at all?

I dont know if Dez ever finished college, but either way, Dez was considered the best WR arguably in college when he was a sophmore after breaking records at OSU as a freshman. I doubt they would really hold him back in school

 

[J_Allen]

Yep

This offense was a well-oiled machine before he came back and screwed it up.

 

[J_Allen]

I dont know if Dez ever finished college, but either way, Dez was considered the best WR arguably in college when he was a sophmore after breaking records at OSU as a freshman. I doubt they would really hold him back in school

Yes, he's dumb as a brick. All you have to do is listen to an interview.

 

[tyke1doe]

interesting take that Dez is more of the problem than Dak. Might help to explain some of Romo erratic play also thur his career.

It should. But it has long been rumored that Dez doesn't run the right routes. I can remember the NY Jets Monday Night game where Romo throws two picks. The word was that Dak ran the wrong route, but Romo got the blame.
Yes, it was just "word" or "rumors". But when we hear this repeatedly over and over again, it doesn't make you wonder if it's true.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Is Dez really that dumb? How did he get through college at all?

Come on, Miley, you really believe Dez was taking college courses? Try art appreciation (finger painting) and human relations studies (people watching) instead.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I can't stand Nick Wright, He's a younger version of Cowherd, a know it all that Fox's is pushing and how many NFL Jobs had Lombardi been fired from now?

 

[tyke1doe]

I dont know if Dez ever finished college, but either way, Dez was considered the best WR arguably in college when he was a sophmore after breaking records at OSU as a freshman. I doubt they would really hold him back in school

What was Dez's major? When you're a major talent in college, you have to be dumb as a door nob and hate classes to fail. My son is now going through the recruiting process and as we visit schools, I'm astonished how colleges and universities bend over backwards for athletes. You get private tutors and advisors trying to help you pass your classes every step of the way. At one of the colleges my son is interested in, the coach told him how many of the guys at his position have made themselves academically ineligible. One guy, they had to bring him a desk on the sidelines and make him do his classwork in an attempt to embarrass him into studying and taking his academics seriously in order to play football.

You just have to be a major screw up to fail. So I wouldn't put that much stock in what an athlete does in college, unless he has a super difficult major and unless he graduates in a sort-of difficult major.

Sadly, many athletes are just in college to play football.

 

[tyke1doe]

I can't stand Nick Wright, He's a younger version of Cowherd, a know it all that Fox's is pushing and how many NFL Jobs had Lombardi been fired from now?

So how many NFL jobs have you been fired from?

 

[CATCH17]

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.

That's just the Cowboys offense. It's always been that way. Even more so with a rookie QB.

 

[Bullet22]

Are you serious? no way. I haven't seen that. McFadden said that Zeke is average? Wow that's kind of bold coming from someone who's been hurt all year.

DMC never said that, prove it.......

 

[GIFTS86]

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.

I agree that something is off. Like you said when dez was hurt I said oh boy dak is gonna struggle. Dead wrong, he excelled without dez. You put dez in and this offense went to hell. I don't know what the problem is but usually when your #1 comes back it picks the offense up.