Is TO really a "star" receiver ?

[MaineBoy]

I was just reading an ESPN article previewing the game and they said:

"Both teams feature star receivers -- Randy Moss of the Patriots and Terrell Owens of the Cowboys..."

And I started to think about whether TO is really a "star" receiver in terms of performance...I don't think I have ever seen someone who has his "star" reputation drop as many passes as he does - just taking Monday nite, he drops the quick pass to him in the flat, drops the 21 yarder on the last drive, loses the 2-point conversion (db makes a good play but aren't stars supposed to make the bigger plays ?)....in the course of regular games he can drop a normal pass for no apparent reason...and I remember he dropped an easy (and big) 3rd down pass in the Monday nite game last year against the Giants that Romo threw him in the second half....

I am pretty neutral on TO so don't have an agenda but I am not use to seeing our "star" receiver do this...

 

[Big Dakota]

You do know he has 12,000 yards and 117 TDs and will be in the Hall, right?

 

[Doomsday101]

I never cared for TO but I have always felt he was a very good ball player and still feel he is one of the top WR in the league.

 

[joseephuss]

He is a star. He just may not be the brightest of stars. He can make big plays, but he is not clutch.

Michael Irvin was clutch. Irvin did not make as many big TD plays in his career as TO. TO will probably end up with twice as many TD receptions as Irvin. Mike though probably has more clutch moments than TO.

Randy Moss may be the same as TO. Big playmaker, but not as clutch in the big moments. In two NFC championship games he has 8 receptions for 93 yards (11.6 avg.) and 1 TD. The biggest moments of his career and he came up small by his standards.

I would not discount either Moss or TO. You have to be aware of them in every game. I think they are great. There are just different degrees of greatness.

 

[TheCount]

He's a big time player, he just doesn't have soft hands.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Owens is still a threat anytime he gets the ball.

However of the three that you mention, in my mind, only the one in the flat was a drop.

If the DB slaps the ball out, then that is good defense, not a drop.

And the one at the end was a very bad pass, behind him and low. Catchable, but not a drop.

I do wonder how he disappears in some games, like the last two.

We have to move him around and get him touches, plus we have to find a way to run the ball.

 

[Doomsday101]

Owens is still a threat anytime he gets the ball.

However of the three that you mention, in my mind, only the one in the flat was a drop.

If the DB slaps the ball out, then that is good defense, not a drop.

And the one at the end was a very bad pass, behind him and low. Catchable, but not a drop.

I do wonder how he disappears in some games, like the last two.

We have to move him around and get him touches, plus we have to find a way to run the ball.

I have no problem with moving him around as long as Romo is not forcing the ball to Owens. He has enough weapons that he should not have to force the issue.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I have no problem with moving him around as long as Romo is not forcing the ball to Owens. He has enough weapons that he should not have to force the issue.

I agree, I just don't think we can let other teams take him out of our offense.

I think Romo has done a great job of spreading it around and finding whoever is open.

Like you say, we don't need to force it to anyone, but we can't forget anyone either.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I will always contend that he is a freak athlete whose best position on a football field is WR. Probably could have been a Safety as well. But he is not a great route runner in terms of variety and timing routes. He does not catch the ball in traffic..and he is to big to get low and make the kinds of catches he dropped in the last seconds the other day. But let him get the ball on the run about chest high and he can run with the best of them all day.

 

[YosemiteSam]

TO is the best receiver to ever play the game *physically*. (far above Rice physically) The only thing he truly lacks is focus. His physical skills make him the great player he is. If he had the same focus as say Marvin Harrison or Jerry Rice, he would blow the doors off of both Rice and Harrison Jerry Rice.

I don't care what anybody says, he is far a away superior to Randy Moss. Moss is a deep threat, but doesn't have much presents anywhere else. TO can kill you anywhere on the field.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree, I just don't think we can let other teams take him out of our offense.

I think Romo has done a great job of spreading it around and finding whoever is open.

Like you say, we don't need to force it to anyone, but we can't forget anyone either.

I think any team can take 1 guy out of a game and if they choose to do so then others have to step up. Hurd and Crayton need to make plays along with others if NE intends on putting the clamps on TO. I want to get TO involved as well and if Dallas can move him around to help get him open then great.

 

[DasTex]

This past game vs. the Bills sure looked like it was last year. I'm guessing the we ran a very bland offensive scheme. TO basically lined up outside and stayed there.

When TO is moved around, esp. in the slot...he is a Star receiver. If you just line him up wide and run go or streak patterns, he's not nearly as effective.

 

[iceberg]

I was just reading an ESPN article previewing the game and they said:

"Both teams feature star receivers -- Randy Moss of the Patriots and Terrell Owens of the Cowboys..."

And I started to think about whether TO is really a "star" receiver in terms of performance...I don't think I have ever seen someone who has his "star" reputation drop as many passes as he does - just taking Monday nite, he drops the quick pass to him in the flat, drops the 21 yarder on the last drive, loses the 2-point conversion (db makes a good play but aren't stars supposed to make the bigger plays ?)....in the course of regular games he can drop a normal pass for no apparent reason...and I remember he dropped an easy (and big) 3rd down pass in the Monday nite game last year against the Giants that Romo threw him in the second half....

I am pretty neutral on TO so don't have an agenda but I am not use to seeing our "star" receiver do this...

yea, it's common smart practice to take an event or two and redefine an otherwise stellar career on the field. he's HOF bound, that's that.

 

[WV Cowboy]

TO is the best receiver to ever play the game *physically*. (far above Rice physically) The only thing he truly lacks is focus.

It could be partly focus, but I just don't think he has ever been known to have great 'hands'.

 

[aikemirv]

It could be partly focus, but I just don't think he has ever been known to have great 'hands'.

I think only focus when he is looking upfield before catching the ball. He does not have the best hands and he does not use correct technique sometimes which gets him in trouble. He makes some very tough catches at times too.

 

[YosemiteSam]

It could be partly focus, but I just don't think he has ever been known to have great 'hands'.

Focus and hands go (pun intended) hand and hand. You cannot have great hands if you cannot focus on the act of catching the ball. What makes Harrison and Rice so great, is they never take catching the ball for granted. Before turning up field, they made sure they secured the ball first.

 

[iceberg]

Focus and hands go (pun intended) hand and hand. You cannot have great hands if you cannot focus on the act of catching the ball. What makes Harrison and Rice so great, is they never take catching the ball for granted. Before turning up field, they made sure they secured the ball first.

not sure i'd agree. i've known people who would focus all day long and still not be able to catch a thing.

 

[BouncingCheese]

What kind of a question is this??