Manuel Johnson

[JonJon]

I was thinking about our receivers and the need to get more players that can stretch the defense earlier today. Another discussion lead me to look up our draft picks from last year and I cam across Manuel. I pretty much forgot that he was even on the team.

My question is, does anyone have any insight on him as to whether he can be a star for the Cowboys or at least contribute in a positive fashion? I don't know much about him, but he does seem to have some speed.

3 TD's in college with Sam Bradford at helm
[youtube]OqokXXauWpM[/youtube]

Beating Scandrick deep with a one-handed catch in practice
[youtube]VaPsk9BL1IU[/youtube]

 

[Doomsday101]

I was thinking about our receivers and the need to get more players that can stretch the defense earlier today. Another discussion lead me to look up our draft picks from last year and I cam across Manuel. I pretty much forgot that he was even on the team.

My question is, does anyone have any insight on him as to whether he can be a star for the Cowboys or at least contribute in a positive fashion? I don't know much about him, but he does seem to have some speed.

[youtube]OqokXXauWpM[/youtube]

He was a good WR at OU not sure what kind of career he can have at the pro level. Speed wise he is a 4.5 guy.

 

[Future]

He doesn't have the speed to stretch the field, and I don't think he has the size to be a great possession guy. I think best case scenario for him would to be like Steve Smith from the Gints. That type of receiver, though I don't think he's as good.

I wouldn't expect much, if anything, from him in the NFL.

 

[AmishCowboy]

I was wondering about him as well, maybe since they resigned him, they see something in him.

 

[Marktui]

If they resigned him, I hope that he puts in the work to get better. They can at least look at what Austin did to get better.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Well all he has to do is eventually be a better WR than Sam Hurd and he'll have a spot on the team. If we have a young WR that's going to be 'another Miles Austin,' I think it'll be Ogletree, though it may still take a while for him to develop.

 

[Doomsday101]

All Manuel Johnson needs to do is be the best player he can be if that is not good enough to make it then so be it. Johnson has some good skills not sure if it will be enough but all you can do is work as hard as you can and try and take advantage of any opportunities that come your way.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Jerry mentioned something several weeks ago about how a couple of these guys on the practice squad could contribute next year. I have to think one of the guys he had in mind was Manny Johnson. (And once again, I don't think Jerry comes to these conclusions himself -- he just repeats what he hears from the coaches.)

I don't know what will happen to him but I did like the draft pick because he seemed to make a lot of big plays in college. And like a lot of our recent draft picks, he seems like a great kid.

If we draft a couple WRs maybe there's no room for him, but I wouldn't write him off yet. He does seem to have some talent, IMO anyway.

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Very impressive catch, I want to see him get a shot next year but I don't want to lose Hurd.

I also want to give Holley a shot.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Just another guy.

Besides, we already have Ogletree. Why would we need another receiver? /sarcasm

 

[JBond]

Just another guy.

Besides, we already have Ogletree. Why would we need another receiver? /sarcasm

Ogletree may eventually develop into a good WR according to his position coach, but some here seem have anointed him the next Austin a little early. Besides the O-line we need to go best player available in the draft and if that is a couple more targets for Romo, than so be it.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Manuel Johnson is better than Sam Hurd already. Furthermore, Dallas doesn't need to waste another high pick for a WR in this years Draft.

 

[pigskin fan]

I wouldn't cut Hurd to give Johnson a look.
The guy works hard, has good hands and was getting more raves fro the coaching staff last summer than Austin.

 

[28 Joker]

I like this guy.

 

[Eskimo]

I wouldn't cut Hurd to give Johnson a look.
The guy works hard, has good hands and was getting more raves fro the coaching staff last summer than Austin.

Some parts of our coaching staff clearly have trouble assessing talent at WR. We have only one upper echelon WR at yet in TC he is somehow behind RW, Crayton and Hurd? As such, I wouldn't put too much into their assessment of Hurd. He has been here four years and done next to nothing as a WR even though he was the #3 WR for a whole year in 2007 playing beside TO and Crayton. He then did nothing in 2008 and next to nothing in 2009. He failed in a couple of attempts against Champ Bailey in Denver in 1 on 1 situations and dropped a few passes.

He is not one of the best ST players in the league. His time on the gravy train looks like it is running out - he will be entering his 5th year in the league next year.

 

[Kangaroo]

Very impressive catch, I want to see him get a shot next year but I don't want to lose Hurd.

I also want to give Holley a shot.

Hurd is pretty much gone imo Ogltree will take over that slot and the cowboys will fill in the 5th and 6th wr cheaper than keeping Hurd

 

[dogunwo]

Manuel Johnson is better than Sam Hurd already. Furthermore, Dallas doesn't need to waste another high pick for a WR in this years Draft.

 

[Eskimo]

Hurd is pretty much gone imo Ogltree will take over that slot and the cowboys will fill in the 5th and 6th wr cheaper than keeping Hurd

The problem is that there are only so many spots on the roster that can be solely dedicated to ST play. At some point a young player who is a backup at another position will have to show he can be one of the starters or he will have to find a new career.

Hurd's chance was Denver and KC while RW was on the bench. I think he did next to nothing against a horrible secondary with no #1 or even #2 WRs in the game.

Right now Hurd is a guy who plays ST and who isn't good enough to play WR for this team. While he is a good ST player he is not spectacular like Buehler or Watkins. I just don't see his role here in the future. The coaching staff will be looking for a new developmental guy at WR who can play lots of ST snaps next year. My guess is Manny Johnson and Jesse Holley will be two of the guys gunning for Hurd's spot on the roster. There will probably be a few other UDFAs in the hunt, too.

 

[JonJon]

Thanks for all the responses. He will be a kid to keep an eye on. I'm not convinced he is any better than Hurd though, mainly because we haven't really seen him in live games, but I did notice that he runs that WR screen that we ran against the Eagles really well. Maybe that can be his niche until he adapts to the system. The position battles this offseason will be interesting.

 

[Eskimo]

Thanks for all the responses. He will be a kid to keep an eye on. I'm not convinced he is any better than Hurd though, mainly because we haven't really seen him in live games, but I did notice that he runs that WR screen that we ran against the Eagles really well. Maybe that can be his niche until he adapts to the system. The position battles this offseason will be interesting.

If he gets a spot it is likely because he can give them snaps on STs. We desperately need a KOR. We're probably only dressing 4 WRs and they are going to be Austin, RW, Crayton and Ogletree. There will be some ST positions and he needs to win one of those.