Some thinking to avoid

[Bobhaze]

For all thinking we are screwed without Dez or thinking that now we MUST draft a WR in round one of this upcoming draft, there are some things I would like to point out that I hope give us some good perspective:

1. We are trying to build a quality NFL roster, not a quality fantasy football roster. THE most overrated position on any NFL roster in the minds of most fans is WR. We need to build a whole team, not a team of stars at the skill positions.

2. Dez was no longer a star receiver. He is still good but not at the price he was receiving. The last 3 years he compares statistically more like Mohammad Sanu or Jamison Crowder than Julio Jones or Larry Fitzgerald. We didn’t lose numbers or talent that can’t be replaced.

3. WR is still NOT the greatest need this team has and we are NOT REQUIRED now to draft a WR in round one. Why? Because there may not be a WR worth the 19th pick in talent. We could just as easily find a good one in round 2 or 3.

4. There’s no reason to “panic pick” a receiver in round one. Selecting Calvin Ridley at 19 for example is not going to make this team a contender. This team’s needs include WR but WR is not the biggest need we have IMO.

5. This team needs a better defense to get serious about a deep playoff run. If anyone thought keeping Dez Bryant was the key to a deep playoff run next year, you were already sorely mistaken.

I’m not here to tell you that this FO has it all figured out. They have proved for two decades they usually don’t. But releasing Dez Bryant was not a stupid decision. How the FO handles the draft and what this mediocre HC can do with an improved roster remains to be seen.

 

[The Quest for Six]

The first round selection for me should be a stud Defensive tackle, linebacker or a safety, not a receiver..

 

[Nightman]

Dez was still our best WR by a long shot

Terrible call

 

[CATCH17]

Dez is still good. We just suck at throwing the ball and scheming guys open.


I’m fine if they release Dez by acknowledging that.


But don’t release Dez and then turn around and draft a guy that will disappear from games and pigeon holed to a few routes a game.


Oline, and TE is where you should draft if you want to help this offense.


Don’t even think about WR until round 3.

 

[Bobhaze]

Dez was still our best WR by a long shot

Terrible call

He was. But...What would you have done about Dez? What would improve our passing game?

 

[thisiscowboyscountry]

Every talent is replaceable, but all teams have to do is stack the box with their entire defense, putting CBs 1:1 with receivers. Unless we start installing more creativity into WR route running there's no one on this team that' going to be able to consistently make plays on talent alone. I do think we need to address WR with a premium pick adding more speed. I wouldn't reach for a WR at 19 if there was no one there, but if Ridley is there or you can get Moore in trade back scenario I wouldn't think twice about not taking a receiver in round 1.

The problem with releasing Bryant is you still have holes to fill at safety, MLB, 1tech, g, and now receiver. Keeping him another season doesn' necessarily force your hand to take a receiver early. Now if there's still a scenario that brings Earl Thomas here in a modest trade or one of Reid, Vacarro, Boston, sign Bowman, now that gives you much more flexibility in the draft to apply best player available.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Great post!

2. Dez was no longer a star receiver. He is still good but not at the price he was receiving. The last 3 years he compares statistically more like Mohammad Sanu or Jamison Crowder than Julio Jones or Larry Fitzgerald. We didn’t lose numbers or talent that can’t be replaced.

Quoted for dead serious truth!!!

 

[John813]

He was. But...What would you have done about Dez? What would improve our passing game?

Copying what Miami did with Landry.
Throw 60% of the passes to Dez within 3 yards of the LOS and let corners repeatedly take a beating trying to tackle him.
Landry, while a better route runner in the intermediate passing game had over 500 yards last year after the catch. His.

I mean, it's obvious Dak struggled with the outside throws last year. Why then compound it having dez run these long routes when both aren't the best at what they are being asked to do?
Want someone to stretch the field, use Butler who was actually effective with Dak deep.

As for his deal, keep as is.
He struggles again, then just cut him in 19.

 

[Nightman]

He was. But...What would you have done about Dez? What would improve our passing game?

I would have extended him for a better cap hit ...... he is a lifer but is not the 12m man anymore

I would use EE as designed for 16 games to help the passing game

I would stop forcing the ball to Dez and use him more on slants and inside routes and in the Red Zone

 

[Nightman]

2. Dez was no longer a star receiver. He is still good but not at the price he was receiving. The last 3 years he compares statistically more like Mohammad Sanu or Jamison Crowder than Julio Jones or Larry Fitzgerald. We didn’t lose numbers or talent that can’t be replaced.

Actually his comps last year were:

DAdams
SDiggs
DFunchess
DThomas
AJeffrey
JJSchuster

That is a pretty talented group and pretty well paid or soon to be well paid

 

[CATCH17]

He was. But...What would you have done about Dez? What would improve our passing game?

Better coaching and Dak getting better at using his X and Z.

Releasing Dez fixed absolute nothing. He’s not close to the problem.

He went to Garrett’s office and identified part of the problem to Garrett and Garrett pouted.

 

[Bleu Star]

For all thinking we are screwed without Dez or thinking that now we MUST draft a WR in round one of this upcoming draft, there are some things I would like to point out that I hope give us some good perspective:

1. We are trying to build a quality NFL roster, not a quality fantasy football roster. THE most overrated position on any NFL roster in the minds of most fans is WR. We need to build a whole team, not a team of stars at the skill positions.

2. Dez was no longer a star receiver. He is still good but not at the price he was receiving. The last 3 years he compares statistically more like Mohammad Sanu or Jamison Crowder than Julio Jones or Larry Fitzgerald. We didn’t lose numbers or talent that can’t be replaced.

3. WR is still NOT the greatest need this team has and we are NOT REQUIRED now to draft a WR in round one. Why? Because there may not be a WR worth the 19th pick in talent. We could just as easily find a good one in round 2 or 3.

4. There’s no reason to “panic pick” a receiver in round one. Selecting Calvin Ridley at 19 for example is not going to make this team a contender. This team’s needs include WR but WR is not the biggest need we have IMO.

5. This team needs a better defense to get serious about a deep playoff run. If anyone thought keeping Dez Bryant was the key to a deep playoff run next year, you were already sorely mistaken.

I’m not here to tell you that this FO has it all figured out. They have proved for two decades they usually don’t. But releasing Dez Bryant was not a stupid decision. How the FO handles the draft and what this mediocre HC can do with an improved roster remains to be seen.

 

[bsbellomy]

He was. But...What would you have done about Dez? What would improve our passing game?

Kept him. The fact is there was ZERO logical reason to do what we did unless we NEEDED that money now for another player.

 

[Whyjerry]

Another great post BH. I have long been of the opinion that DT, LB and WR were the first 3 picks. In no order. If Vea is there you have to grab him. Vander Esch as well. A good receiver will be there in rounds 2 or 3. I also think they need to grab a pure speed / gadget guy in rounds 4 thru 6. They need someone dynamic.

Dez was toast. No need to panic but with Jerry...

 

[Bobhaze]

I would have extended him for a better cap hit ...... he is a lifer but is not the 12m man anymore

I would use EE as designed for 16 games to help the passing game

I would stop forcing the ball to Dez and use him more on slants and inside routes and in the Red Zone

OK. I appreciate your answer. Maybe that would have made him more effective. I do think they tried to use Dez more in the short passing game, just not effectively. In 2014, he was a matchup nightmare and teams doubled him frequently. In 2017, he rarely drew double coverage because teams were not afraid of what he could do. Dez has declined.

 

[Bobhaze]

Another great post BH. I have long been of the opinion that DT, LB and WR were the first 3 picks. In no order. If Vea is there you have to grab him. Vander Esch as well. A good receiver will be there in rounds 2 or 3. I also think they need to grab a pure speed / gadget guy in rounds 4 thru 6. They need someone dynamic.

Dez was toast. No need to panic but with Jerry...

LOL...yeah I'm hoping someone else is advising JJ.

 

[jazzcat22]

Copying what Miami did with Landry.
Throw 60% of the passes to Dez within 3 yards of the LOS and let corners repeatedly take a beating trying to tackle him.
Landry, while a better route runner in the intermediate passing game had over 500 yards last year after the catch. His.

I mean, it's obvious Dak struggled with the outside throws last year. Why then compound it having dez run these long routes when both aren't the best at what they are being asked to do?
Want someone to stretch the field, use Butler who was actually effective with Dak deep.

As for his deal, keep as is.
He struggles again, then just cut him in 19.

Why all of a sudden are people acting as if Butler is a HOF type guy and better than Dez...
I have news, Butler sucked. If Butler was so good, then why did Dallas let him leave, why did he not get a HUGE contract in the 1st few days of FA?

let me reiterate, Butler SUCKED.

Dez ran routes within 3 yards of the LOS because he was inaccurate on anything over that.
Bubble screens and those out passes were what he was accurate on and the defenses figured that out in the playoff game against GB that help lose that game.

We joked about Wentz in his 1st year and those 2 to 5 yard passes. But he made adjustments in his 2nd year. And threw downfield. But I blame this more on the scheme here than I do Dak, at this point. I will give Dak this year to see how he improves.

 

[Bleu Star]

Mr Bob Haze sir. I stand by my belief that patience is key and that the newly found cap money may end up in the hands of an Earl Thomas, Navarro Bowman (or both).

If and when that happens, watch how quickly the tunes change around here.

 

[Bobhaze]

Every talent is replaceable, but all teams have to do is stack the box with their entire defense, putting CBs 1:1 with receivers. Unless we start installing more creativity into WR route running there's no one on this team that' going to be able to consistently make plays on talent alone. I do think we need to address WR with a premium pick adding more speed. I wouldn't reach for a WR at 19 if there was no one there, but if Ridley is there or you can get Moore in trade back scenario I wouldn't think twice about not taking a receiver in round 1.

The problem with releasing Bryant is you still have holes to fill at safety, MLB, 1tech, g, and now receiver. Keeping him another season doesn' necessarily force your hand to take a receiver early. Now if there's still a scenario that brings Earl Thomas here in a modest trade or one of Reid, Vacarro, Boston, sign Bowman, now that gives you much more flexibility in the draft to apply best player available.

Those are all good points. I keep thinking that Dez had begun to rub some people the wrong way over time. I think he was overall well liked by his teammates. But if you are vocal and abrasive, plus mediocre in performance and have a history of requiring the team to monitor your behavior, people tend to get tired of the antics. Don't know for sure but maybe that played in some too.

 

[Bleu Star]

LOL...yeah I'm hoping someone else is advising JJ.

I think nowadays JJ is advising Stephen and Will.... (& they listen if they care to do so)