My Take on Dez

[visionary]

i think he's a top 3 WR in this league and we are not using him properly. The coaching staff doesn't know how to develop WRs or maximize their talents. Dez needs more jump balls in the red zone and Dak needs to force him the ball when he's single covered. I think having him return punts will keep him engaged more​

Yes, it's not the prima Donna who can't learn the play book, can't run routes consistently, had to be lined up by the QB

No, can't be
Has to be the coaches who are somehow able to utilize Witten and Beas and Williams

Dez is such a "special" WR that they just don't know how to utilize him

 

[Daillest88]

How we used him vs the bucs is how I wanna use him the rest of the season. Short routes and over the middle. Just get the darn ball in his hands. Running 20 go routes vs the giants is unacceptable. This how the giants use Beckham Short routes. And short passes. Dez was like 8 out of 9 on targets vs the bucs

 

[1972COWBOY]

Dez is real good, but like a lot of people, he needs motivation at times. I think Norm gave him some during the skins game and he did well. Gotta push him a bit.

 

[perrykemp]

Don't stop there. You can make cases for:

Amari Cooper
DeAndre Hopkins
Jordy Nelson
Julian Edelman
TY Hilton
Steve Smith (still)
Demarius Thomas
Jarvis Landry
Larry Fitzgerald

Amari Cooper - Could be. Kinda a Julio Jones type and he is trending up.
DeAndre Hopkins - Maybe. Was ultra productive before this year QB disaster in Houston. I feel bad for the guy -- the list of QBs that have thrown him the ball over the years is garbage
Jordy Nelson - No. I'm a big fan of Nelson but the current 31 year old Nelson less than a year out from an ACL isn't top 10 or better than Dez
Julian Edelman - No.
TY Hilton - No. Different kind of WR. I'll say this, he is very productive
Steve Smith (still) - No. But heart of a Lion.
Demarius Thomas - I've alway seen Dez and Thomas as being neck and neck in talent, capabilities, skill, etc.
Jarvis Landry - No,
Larry Fitzgerald - All time great but No. He is getting buy in veteran savvy.

 

[erod]

Amari Cooper - Could be. Kinda a Julio Jones type and he is trending up.
DeAndre Hopkins - Maybe. Was ultra productive before this year QB disaster in Houston. I feel bad for the guy -- the list of QBs that have thrown him the ball over the years is garbage
Jordy Nelson - No. I'm a big fan of Nelson but the current 31 year old Nelson less than a year out from an ACL isn't top 10 or better than Dez
Julian Edelman - No.
TY Hilton - No. Different kind of WR. I'll say this, he is very productive
Steve Smith (still) - No. But heart of a Lion.
Demarius Thomas - I've alway seen Dez and Thomas as being neck and neck in talent, capabilities, skill, etc.
Jarvis Landry - No,
Larry Fitzgerald - All time great but No. He is getting buy in veteran savvy.

You need to watch Jarvis Landry. That guy is terrific, just gets ignored because he plays in Cuba.

 

[perrykemp]

You need to watch Jarvis Landry. That guy is terrific, just gets ignored because he plays in Cuba.

Somehow missed what I was going to say after the "No, " part of what I said. I love the guy as a player. I just wonder if he falls into a the 'Great WR2' as opposed to 'Great WR1' category.

 

[Doomsday101]

i think he's a top 3 WR in this league and we are not using him properly. The coaching staff doesn't know how to develop WRs or maximize their talents. Dez needs more jump balls in the red zone and Dak needs to force him the ball when he's single covered. I think having him return punts will keep him engaged more​

Dez wanted to be paid like Calvin Johnson a player Linehan coached and he managed to get open and make the catches, Dez need to pick up pace it is not the coaches they know what they are doing and have done it before. I know it amazes fans that these coaches actually know more than they do but it is true.

 

[gimmesix]

Dez is really good. Only Romo knows how to make him look truly elite.

You have to pinpoint accurate with back-shoulder and high-point throws to utilize Dez' ability to catch balls in traffic. Otherwise, he's a pretty easy cover for cornerbacks.

He's too slow, and his routes are too poor, to use like a typical top receiver.

I think there's some truth to this. Dez's primary strength is his ability to be physical. Corners can stick with him, but he separates by using his body to hold them off and then going to get the ball. He's not much different than Michael Irvin in that respect.

One of Dak's strengths has been not taking a lot of chances with throws into tight coverage. That doesn't play to Dez's strength. Romo developed a rapport with Dez where he knew where to put it in tight coverage to allow Dez to win the ball. It's possible that Prescott will develop this same rapport over time, but for now, he's not comfortable putting it where Dez needs it unless Dez gains good separation on the route.

Dez can uncover completely at times when he runs sharp routes or catches a defender in a poor position, but his ability to be elite is tied to his ability to be physical. If that's underused, then he's good instead of great.

 

[perrykemp]

How many thousands of times has it been said here on CZ that the Cowboys are stupid not to play Dez in the slot.

My take is that there is probably a good reason why Dez, now 7 years into his NFL career, isn't played in the slot despite multiple offensive coordinators along the way. You need to be able to run the ENTIRE route tree from the slot and so much of what you do in the slot is not pre-dictated prior to the snap. It's pretty obvious they aren't comfortable with Dez playing any amount of substantial time in that position -- the likely reason is the coaches haven't like his decision making / route running when playing from that position.

 

[The Quest for Six]

Dez would be lucky to be in the top ten, he's a glorified possession receiver, and no where near an elite top three......that's just Cowboy koolaid talking...

 

[aikemirv]

Dez is really good. Only Romo knows how to make him look truly elite.

You have to pinpoint accurate with back-shoulder and high-point throws to utilize Dez' ability to catch balls in traffic. Otherwise, he's a pretty easy cover for cornerbacks.

He's too slow, and his routes are too poor, to use like a typical top receiver.

It seems we used him like a top receiver the other night.

 

[aikemirv]

I don't recall fans or the media criticizing Irvin prior to winning a Super Bowl. About the only thing said about Irvin was that he pushed off, but the refs didn't seem to agree.

I think Dez has talent, but I believe the reports that he isn't consistent in his route running. I don't ever remember that being said about Irvin.

I was watching a replay the other night of the Dallas and Pittsburgh game and listening to Aikman say that Dez might have gotten away with a pushoff on that one.

Troy - 25% of your career completions came from a Michael Irvin arm extension - shutup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[erod]

It seems we used him like a top receiver the other night.

Elite guys put up those numbers in their sleep.

He's had three games this year with one catch.

 

[xwalker]

Oh, okay. I just don't remember Irvin's sideline rants being made a big deal. But I am getting older and forgetting more.

There is no comparison between Irvin and Dez in regards to on-field issues. Irvin was the undisputed team leader when the Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls. He was known to work as hard or harder than anybody on the team. During games he was not a distraction to his teammates. Irvin knew the offense inside and out. He was an excellent route runner.

 

[xwalker]

i think he's a top 3 WR in this league and we are not using him properly. The coaching staff doesn't know how to develop WRs or maximize their talents. Dez needs more jump balls in the red zone and Dak needs to force him the ball when he's single covered. I think having him return punts will keep him engaged more​

Dez is a guy that was good because his physical talent was better than most other players on the field. He got by with poor route running and overall poor technique and lack of awareness. Now he has lost a step and some inches off his vert and he does not have the route running skills to fall back on. He'll still likely have some big games but the team can't count on him. He was just a possession receiver in the Bucs games averaging 10.2 yards per.

He also loses concentration if he is not involved early in the game. After his dismal showings in the Giants game, they gave him some easy routes in an attempt to get him going. One at least one occasion, they threw him a short easy pass and then immediately came back to a longer pass. It seemed that the idea was to warm him up and then see if he could do something with a higher degree of difficulty.

When Dak and the play-calling has tried to force the Ball to Dez, the offense has struggled; however, when they don't he tends to lose concentration.

 

[aikemirv]

Elite guys put up those numbers in their sleep.

He's had three games this year with one catch.

Julio Jones - 4 games under 50 yards this year - team rushing yards1634 - Passing 4146
Amari Cooper - 8 games under 50 yards - Team rushing yards 1635 Passing 3634
Jordy Nelson - 5 games under 50 yards - Team rushing yards 1508 Passing 3596
Odell Beckam - 5 games under 60 yards - Team rushing yards 1137 Passing 3352
Mike Evans - 5 games under 60 - Team rushing yards 1415 Passing 3478
TY - 6 games under 60 - Team rushing yards 1432 Passing 3624
AJ Green - 2 under 50 in 10 games - Team rushing yards 1566 Passing 3480
Dez 4 under 50 in 11 (played 1 game on broken bone) - Team rushing yards 2163 Passing 3294

 

[Proof]

Lol. Amari has 4 tds on the year. His own 1 catch and 2 catch games, and has been held in the 20s 4 times this year. We're good

 

[erod]

Julio Jones - 4 games under 50 yards this year - team rushing yards1634 - Passing 4146
Amari Cooper - 8 games under 50 yards - Team rushing yards 1635 Passing 3634
Jordy Nelson - 5 games under 50 yards - Team rushing yards 1508 Passing 3596
Odell Beckam - 5 games under 60 yards - Team rushing yards 1137 Passing 3352
Mike Evans - 5 games under 60 - Team rushing yards 1415 Passing 3478
TY - 6 games under 60 - Team rushing yards 1432 Passing 3624
AJ Green - 2 under 50 in 10 games - Team rushing yards 1566 Passing 3480
Dez 4 under 50 in 11 (played 1 game on broken bone) - Team rushing yards 2163 Passing 3294

Dez ranks something like 41st among receivers this year in yardage.

 

[visionary]

There is no comparison between Irvin and Dez in regards to on-field issues. Irvin was the undisputed team leader when the Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls. He was known to work as hard or harder than anybody on the team. During games he was not a distraction to his teammates. Irvin knew the offense inside and out. He was an excellent route runner.

Agree

People equating Irvin and Dez are grasping at straws

Go watch Irvins "path to the hall" by NFL network and listen to jerry and Woodson talk about Irvins work ethic

Tell me that is Dez lol

 

[aikemirv]

Dez ranks something like 41st among receivers this year in yardage.

How many games did he miss?

Rookie QB who does not go deep.

on a team who can run the ball at will.....