Is Dez the problem or is it Dak?

[marius]

I think something happened with Dak this year, he did not look with the same motivation he had last year.
this video shows some truth

 

[okstateCowboy]

Here comes about 30 replies of

"It's Garrett"
"It's Linehan"
"It's Kellen Moore"
"It's the scheme"

 

[sean10mm]

The real answer to "is it Dak or Dez" is "both."

Dak was undoubtedly worse for (take your pick) reasons... but Dez had the worst drop rate of all the receivers on the team (not counting guys who were targeted just a couple times or whatever.) You can't lay it all on Dak when all the other receivers had way less problems catching his passes. Some of it, sure, but Dez was also just plain worse at everything. Romo had better ball placement (we're comparing a vet to a newbie here, so you'd hope so) but Dez simply can't dominate the point of the catch like he used to, and anybody who thinks so is being deeply silly.

Here comes about 30 replies of

"It's Garrett"
"It's Linehan"
"It's Kellen Moore"
"It's the scheme"

I mean, those all suck to varying degrees too. You don't crap out as hard as the Cowboys without having multiple major problems.

 

[KJJ]

I think something happened with Dak this year, he did not look with the same motivation he had last year.
this video shows some truth

You’re judging Dak’s motivation level based on some clips of Dez?

 

[John813]

They got on a good frequency to end 2016. This year they just couldn't get on the same page.

IMO it's both. Dak had bouts of inaccuracy and Dez isn't a good route runner.
When one guy isn't pinpoint, whether to throw it over the right/left or at the apex and the receiver may not of ran the best route, you see this level of inaccuracy compared to the other receivers on the squad.

 

[mahoneybill]

Very interesting watching the Saints/Carolina game yesterday. Saw very few " non catches" those receivers were snagging everything thrown at them, and minus Greg Olson, non are big name high $$$ types.

To me Dez is wanting to make the yardage, big play, before securing the catch and that leads to his not concentrating through the whole process...

 

[marius]

 

[sean10mm]

I'm really struggling to see the evidence that Dak is lazy or unmotivated whatever.

Fans always seem to jump to the conclusion that if a guy plays worse it's because he's a bad person, I guess because losing games makes the fan feel bad so they personally hate the players for it. Dak might or might not succeed as an NFL QB for a variety of reasons, but I haven't seen any evidence that he's not trying hard to succeed.

If you're a grown-up, at some point you realize that just trying and wanting isn't always sufficient. Life's not fair and the hardest worker and the best person don't always come out on top. I'm guessing thousands of people have worked themselves almost to death trying to make it and the NFL and... not done it.

 

[KJJ]

If Dak was the main problem the Cowboys wouldn’t be asking Dez to take a pay cut and no one would be speculating about his future with the team.

 

[marius]

 

[marius]

You’re judging Dak’s motivation level based on some clips of Dez?

it's not because of the videos, it's because of what I saw when I watched the games, I did not see the same Dak from last year.
He looked like a scared Dak running for his life, although as seen in the videos, Dak had good protection and he looks desperate, last year he looked safer.

 

[cowboy_ron]

Dak isn't the one dropping passes that hit him square in the hands, chest, or facemask.

 

[sean10mm]

it's not because of the videos, it's because of what I saw when I watched the games, I did not see the same Dak from last year.
He looked like a scared Dak running for his life, although as seen in the videos, Dak had good protection and he looks desperate, last year he looked safer.

None of that has anything to do with motivation though?

And if you're talking about protection, he took 12 sacks in 2 games.

 

[cowboyskid29]

No question it’s Dak It would be impossible for any receiver to put up numbers when your quarterback can’t even throw for 200 yards. Put Dez on essentially any other team and he becomes an elite receiver again

 

[Texas_Pete]

NE usually trades players - while they still have good value - right before they decline. They get valuable picks in return. With the way McClay sets up our draft board these last few years? Dallas should start doing the same. IJS

 

[DallasDomination]

They both played bad. Dak was a bigger reason why they sucked but Dez isn't getting faster or running better routes either.

The scheme is the main problem considering it's the coaches job to put these guys in a position to succeed.

 

[sean10mm]

No question it’s Dak It would be impossible for any receiver to put up numbers when your quarterback can’t even throw for 200 yards. Put Dez on essentially any other team and he becomes an elite receiver again

Except the other receivers can catch a decent % of his passes, only Dez can't do it.

Nobody is whining about Dez's volume stats, they're complaining he drops way too much.

 

[IheartRomo]

Put Dez on essentially any other team and he becomes an elite receiver again

I disagree with this completely.

He was never a tactician or great route runner - his prime game revolved around effortless athleticism and contested catching ability. Ever since his string of injuries in 2015, he has not been the same player. Age and injury have caught up with him and he has not been able to adjust and hone the intricate parts of being a receiver that can allow you to be successful even once your athleticism fades.

 

[AzorAhai]

It’s both and more.

 

[LocimusPrime]

I think something happened with Dak this year, he did not look with the same motivation he had last year.
this video shows some truth

This an excellent question