I like Dez

[Spectre]

Don't know him personally...
but everything I've seen from a football standpoint is encouraging to me.

I believe he's on the brink of 'arriving', as we speak-
There's a chemistry that must develop with Romo.
There's a learning process for what/when he performs at his best.
There's a confidence/humility factor him to balance.

I think it's all happening right now...

He's 23 years old, in only his 3rd season, and I see a star rising.

 

[Lonestar94]

This was being said this time last year, and will probably be said next year, maybe the year after.

 

[StevenOtero]

Don't know him personally...
but everything I've seen from a football standpoint is encouraging to me.

I believe he's on the brink of 'arriving', as we speak-
There's a chemistry that must develop with Romo.
There's a learning process for what/when he performs at his best.
There's a confidence/humility factor him to balance.

I think it's all happening right now...

He's 23 years old, in only his 3rd season, and I see a star rising.

I agree, and let's hope everything turns out the way it should with him.

He could either live up to his potential, or just be all about potential for the rest of his career. Most of the people on the Zone would rather it be the latter just so they could say I told you so.

 

[CowboysPhan]

This was being said this time last year, and will probably be said next year, maybe the year after.

And if it is, is that a bad thing? To be able to say each year that you are seeing improvement in your starting wide receiver is a good thing, imo. I think it's easy to see that he's improved since last year. There's still plenty of room for improvement, yet he's been a very significant part of our offense's production so far. I think that gradual progress, while not as satisfying as instant super-stardom, is still a very positive thing.

Now, if next year he comes out and regresses and looks like a complete bum, then we have a different story. But everyone got so caught up in his athletic ability we were expecting to see Randy Moss out there from day one, and instead he's following a fairly normal rate of development. This is his third year, and he's our leading receiver. Does he have some drops that drive you crazy? Absolutely! But he's still doing some really positive things as well. I think he's made a major step forward this year, and I see no reason that he won't make another one next year. It just takes time with some guys.

 

[perrykemp]

I don't think it's too late for Dez.

Per my post yesterday comparing Dez and Jordy Nelson, Jordy Nelson came out with nearly identical measurables as Dez -- height, speed, weight, and even hands (although Dez's are better) and Nelson went through three years of dropped passes, lots of fumbles, and general mediocrity in GB -- everyone had written him off as a possession reciever basically.

At the very end of his 3rd year (basically the playoffs) and then from there out Nelson starting pulling all that potential together and harnessing the height, speed, weight, and hands and went from a ho-hum possession receiver to one of the top deep threats in the NFL.

In other words he got all those tools working together. It can take a while.

I see parallels in the early careers of Nelson and Dez.

I think Dez has more upside than Jordy Nelson and I think the Cowboys need to wait at least into next year to make the final call on whether he can become a complete player.

Also don't forget the WR coach who ultimately assisted Nelson in harnessing all of those great attributes -- Jimmy Robinson.

 

[Joshmil53]

This was being said this time last year, and will probably be said next year, maybe the year after.

You've gotta be the most negative person on this board. Every thread you have something bad to say.

Anyways, agreed. I love Dez.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It will be a great story when Dez becomes an All-Pro and I believe he will.

 

[Shinywalrus]

People tend to lump "character issues" into one big group. People are complicated. Dez wants to do well. Dez works hard. Dez is ambitious and passionate.

There's a lot to like about him as a person and a player. And a few things he needs to grow beyond. Nothing like money and approval to keep someone from growing up, unfortunately.

I like Dez.

 

[JustDezIt]

I feel obliged to post in this thread, because I too in fact like Dez.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

I feel obliged to post in this thread, because I too in fact like Dez.

Plus one.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I like him too and feel that I've seen improvement year after year. Sadly, for some, if he's not putting up 3 TDs and 200yrds a game then he sucks and we should trade / release him.

 

[plastike]

 

[jobberone]

I don't think it's too late for Dez.

Per my post yesterday comparing Dez and Jordy Nelson, Jordy Nelson came out with nearly identical measurables as Dez -- height, speed, weight, and even hands (although Dez's are better) and Nelson went through three years of dropped passes, lots of fumbles, and general mediocrity in GB -- everyone had written him off as a possession reciever basically.

At the very end of his 3rd year (basically the playoffs) and then from there out Nelson starting pulling all that potential together and harnessing the height, speed, weight, and hands and went from a ho-hum possession receiver to one of the top deep threats in the NFL.

In other words he got all those tools working together. It can take a while.

I see parallels in the early careers of Nelson and Dez.

I think Dez has more upside than Jordy Nelson and I think the Cowboys need to wait at least into next year to make the final call on whether he can become a complete player.

Also don't forget the WR coach who ultimately assisted Nelson in harnessing all of those great attributes -- Jimmy Robinson.

Excellent post.

 

[Diogenes]

I'm rooting for Dez the person and Dez the player.

 

[jobberone]

Ok everyone. Group hug!

[youtube]hvtVGn-Ip6A[/youtube]

 

[boyzjunkie]

Uhmm. Actually Dez already is a very good receiver. If he improves at a rate of 10% a year he will be an all pro by the time he is 26 yrs. old. And with our luck choose free agency along the way.

 

[jamesdojr]

And when Dez is making pro bowls and setting records, all of these negative nancies will be proclaiming that they were always behind and knew he would be great.

Aside from Romo, Witten, Ware, and Lee, Dez is my favorite player. A friend of mine knows him and plays basketball with him in the offseason and says he is a really nice and polite kid. The crap he has gotten in trouble for... not paying his bills, wearing his pants too low, and slapping his mother with a ball cap allegedly because she brought drugs into the house he was in??/ Which could have completely ruined his entire career????.... She was never a mother. Nothing close to a role model. and a crackhead prostitute who had dez when she was 14.... He shouldnt have any animosity towards her? She probably deserved more than a slap with a ball cap. Everything is blown way out of proportion.

On the field, he is a difference maker and teams focus time on trying to stop him. He opens up Miles and Witten as much as they open up things for him. He's a hard worker. Is he einstein.. probably not. But where would you be if you were raised how he was... if you were dealth the deck of cards he was dealt. I'll tell you where youd be... dead or in prison... He's done real good and he's working on being better. it's all you can ask.

_______________________________________

You've gotta be the most negative person on this board. Every thread you have something bad to say.

Anyways, agreed. I love Dez.

 

[Verdict]

I like Dez' skill set. I'm not so pumped on his thought process, nor his dedication/mastery of his mental side of the game.

As a side note, you generally don't hear things like "he doesn't run the right route, or he didn't make the right adjustments, or he doesn't know where to line up" about the great receivers. All the physical gifts in the world won't get him over the top if he can't master the mental side of the game.

If he hasn't gotten the mental aspects of the game in all of his years of playing high school, college, and now 3 years in pro football, what gives someone hope that the light is suddenly going to click on for him?

 

[Verdict]

And when Dez is making pro bowls and setting records, all of these negative nancies will be proclaiming that they were always behind and knew he would be great.

Aside from Romo, Witten, Ware, and Lee, Dez is my favorite player. A friend of mine knows him and plays basketball with him in the offseason and says he is a really nice and polite kid. The crap he has gotten in trouble for... not paying his bills, wearing his pants too low, and slapping his mother with a ball cap allegedly because she brought drugs into the house he was in??/ Which could have completely ruined his entire career????.... She was never a mother. Nothing close to a role model. and a crackhead prostitute who had dez when she was 14.... He shouldnt have any animosity towards her? She probably deserved more than a slap with a ball cap. Everything is blown way out of proportion.

On the field, he is a difference maker and teams focus time on trying to stop him. He opens up Miles and Witten as much as they open up things for him. He's a hard worker. Is he einstein.. probably not. But where would you be if you were raised how he was... if you were dealth the deck of cards he was dealt. I'll tell you where youd be... dead or in prison... He's done real good and he's working on being better. it's all you can ask.

_______________________________________

I don't think Dez is a bad person. He is probably a pretty nice guy. But that doesn't excuse his failure to learn the mental side of his position when he is being paid millions of dollars per year to learn it and has the time to learn it since it is his full time job.

 

[Verdict]

Uhmm. Actually Dez already is a very good receiver. If he improves at a rate of 10% a year he will be an all pro by the time he is 26 yrs. old. And with our luck choose free agency along the way.

All pro would be great. But if he is an all pro that gets you beat by running the wrong route, or dropping a catch that hits him in the hands and costs you the game, the refs aren't going to go ahead and give you the ball back, or the points because he is an "All Pro".