If we draft a WR or 2 in this draft, can we develop them?

[JakeCamp12]

We have not developed a legitimate No. 1 receiver since Michael Irvin, so if we draft a receiver with our second round pick or move up to the first to get one, does anyone have any confidence that we can develop that player to be a true No. 1. Austin, Hurd and Crayton are nice No. 2 or No. 3 receivers, but if you draft a guy with a first or second round pick you would expect him to eventually be a starter. Thoughts?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

IMO Ray Sherman is one of the best coaches on the staff. We're all talking about Miles Austin the last few days, and the last couple of years he's been coached by Sherman.

But the real issue the last few several years is that we haven't even tried to develop a top WR. The last first-day draft pick we spent on a WR was Antonio Bryant seven years ago now. You can't develop top players if you don't give the coaches something to work with.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I believe if we drafted one that high that we'd do a good job of turning them into a number one. I think we were actually on our way to that with Bryant if he could have kept his mouth shut and his head on straight. That was a real shame that kid couldn't have panned out for us.

 

[DFWJC]

We have not developed a legitimate No. 1 receiver since Michael Irvin, so if we draft a receiver with our second round pick or move up to the first to get one, does anyone have any confidence that we can develop that player to be a true No. 1. Austin, Hurd and Crayton are nice No. 2 or No. 3 receivers, but if you draft a guy with a first or second round pick you would expect him to eventually be a starter. Thoughts?

If we had drafted guys in the 1st a and 2nd round and not developed them I may share your concern. But neither is true.

Sam Hurd was undrafted
Miles Austin was undrafted
Patrick Clayton was a 7th round pick

The fact that all of these guys are on the team and capable of contributing should instead give you great optimism that we could develop a high draft pick

 

[Apollo Creed]

IMO Ray Sherman is one of the best coaches on the staff. We're all talking about Miles Austin the last few days, and the last couple of years he's been coached by Sherman.

But the real issue the last few several years is that we haven't even tried to develop a top WR. The last first-day draft pick we spent on a WR was Antonio Bryant seven years ago now. You can't develop top players if you don't give the coaches something to work with.

I totally agree, Sherman has gotten it done year-in and year-out.

Going on what you said, I really think we're going to take a WR on the first day, maybe even in the 2nd if a guy falls like Jackson did last year. I just want to see how they compete with Austin in camp, because I'm just as excited about Austin as Romo was last year. When he tipped off Galloway I believe that Austin was going to have a big year and he was really hard to cover in camp. So its going to be interesting to see the camp competition this year.

 

[jterrell]

Guys can either play or they can not.

This isn't little league where its all about development.

Yes, the Cowboys and most teams will have depth WRs that were UFA or late round picks who work on special teams and/or the practice squad but those guys are role players. When you draft guys in the top 3 rounds you expect a guy who can actually play the position day 1. It isn't about a guy who can be good in 4 years.

Guys can be taught to run routes and taught techniques things like releasing at the line of scrimmage. Guys can improve their stamina and hand eye coordination over time. But mostly WR is a skill position where guys need to be comfortable playing full speed and that isn't taught, it is just. There is a reason guys like Rice and Irvin made the Hall of fame running 4.6 40s. Its about speed of play not 40 speed. Rice never slowed down to make a catch or make a cut. Irvin could run his fastest then come to a complete stop in 2 steps before going back to the ball. And both guys could catch the ball running full speed because they were never out of control.

The last WR Dallas drafted in the top 3 rounds was Antonio Bryant. Bad Apple? Yes, but right now he is franchised so he can clearly play.

Before Bryant you have to go back to 1996 and Stepfret Williams for a r3 or higher WR. That's why we had to sign T.O. and had to trade the world for RW11. The position has been totally neglected in the draft.

 

[DallasEast]

Guys can either play or they can not.

This isn't little league where its all about development.

Yes, the Cowboys and most teams will have depth WRs that were UFA or late round picks who work on special teams and/or the practice squad but those guys are role players. When you draft guys in the top 3 rounds you expect a guy who can actually play the position day 1. It isn't about a guy who can be good in 4 years.

Guys can be taught to run routes and taught techniques things like releasing at the line of scrimmage. Guys can improve their stamina and hand eye coordination over time. But mostly WR is a skill position where guys need to be comfortable playing full speed and that isn't taught, it is just. There is a reason guys like Rice and Irvin made the Hall of fame running 4.6 40s. Its about speed of play not 40 speed. Rice never slowed down to make a catch or make a cut. Irvin could run his fastest then come to a complete stop in 2 steps before going back to the ball. And both guys could catch the ball running full speed because they were never out of control.

The last WR Dallas drafted in the top 3 rounds was Antonio Bryant. Bad Apple? Yes, but right now he is franchised so he can clearly play.

Before Bryant you have to go back to 1996 and Stepfret Williams for a r3 or higher WR. That's why we had to sign T.O. and had to trade the world for RW11. The position has been totally neglected in the draft.

Good post. It will be interesting to see how Jerry Jones and Wade Phillips currently feel about the team's wide receiver position during the draft--namely, whether they will draft one (or more) in rounds one through three; or rounds four through seven; or not at all. In my opinion, it will not surprise me that one of the latter two choices comes true should Miles Austin be retained.