Still think offense needs another explosive player

[Cowboyny]

Heading into the off-season, I wanted the front office to improve team speed within the offense. Add at least two speed type players, no matter the position, so the team would see less stacked boxes, as well as creating more chunk plays.

The team added Thompson who will in essence replace Brice Bulter's old role as the team's 3rd down deep threat. This is contingent of him making the final roster. Tavon Austin brings that speed element onto the field, but that's pretty much it. Most teams will load up the box, play single coverage on the outside and dare Dak to consistently beat them on the outside.

In my opinion, the offense is just marginally better on paper at this point. Offensive Line should be improved both with their starters and depth behind them. The receivers are about the same, even with the loss of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Tavon Austin returns a old element that the team had success with in Dunbar and Whitehead. The offense will be about the same talent wise, it's really up to the coaching staff to put them in better chances to succeed. I'm not opportunistic about the unit at this time, believe team needs to add another explosive weapon, either a TE or WR.

 

[Dbeastmode21]

Feels weird if we go in to the season without a number one WR

 

[Frozen700]

Feels weird if we go in to the season without a number one WR

It does... I just hope we don't turn into the Chiefs. One day will light it up, next week you don't even know who they are.

I will say I felt this same way though the year Austin went off. But then again we had Romo

 

[Prime21]

Assuming Tyron stays healthy, the addition of Connor Williams makes our OLine elite again. We should dominate on the ground ala 2014 and 2016. The passing game just needs to be efficient, it will not be sexy.

Obviously you always want more dynamic playmakers but we are fine. Witten and Dez were far past their primes. In Dak We Trust.

 

[jazzcat22]

Heading into the off-season, I wanted the front office to improve team speed within the offense. Add at least two speed type players, no matter the position, so the team would see less stacked boxes, as well as creating more chunk plays.

The team added Thompson who will in essence replace Brice Bulter's old role as the team's 3rd down deep threat. This is contingent of him making the final roster. Tavon Austin brings that speed element onto the field, but that's pretty much it. Most teams will load up the box, play single coverage on the outside and dare Dak to consistently beat them on the outside.

In my opinion, the offense is just marginally better on paper at this point. Offensive Line should be improved both with their starters and depth behind them. The receivers are about the same, even with the loss of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Tavon Austin returns a old element that the team had success with in Dunbar and Whitehead. The offense will be about the same talent wise, it's really up to the coaching staff to put them in better chances to succeed. I'm not opportunistic about the unit at this time, believe team needs to add another explosive weapon, either a TE or WR.

Can't argue against this.
Though there is no TE's or Wr's out there that will improve over what is here, other than a trade.

I feel the same way. The only reason the offense may be improved, is that Dak should be better protected, therefore giving him time to throw, unless he works on his release time, which it hard to do.
Zeke is back for sure, none of this waiting week to week to prepare the right way.

But yes, the O will have a lot to show us in TC if it is going to be productive or not. Or at least see signs of it before any game plans are put in.

For once I feel better about the defense going into a season than I do about the offense. When was the last time we could say that. And the defense still has a few questions in itself.

 

[Jake]

Feels weird if we go in to the season without a number one WR

Watched/played football for decades before I ever heard anyone say "number one" WR.

 

[Manster68]

Feels weird if we go in to the season without a number one WR

Between Terrell Owens & Dez Bryant, there was a nice surprise in Miles Austin. Can any of the receivers Dallas has currently surprise in a similar way?

 

[Fletch]

Feels weird if we go in to the season without a number one WR

Do we need a #1? I think that term is waaaaaaay overrated! We need production. That is all.

 

[DFWJC]

Do we need a #1? I think that term is waaaaaaay overrated! We need production. That is all.

It'd be nice, but not really a top priority compared to having a great oline and dominant RB. Not too mention all the priorities on defense.

Anyway, this team has
--a WR that has had a 1000 yard season in a dud offense
--a WR that is averaging almost 700 yard per year for 5 years
--a WR that is considered very hard to cover in the slot
--a rookie WR that many think was at least 2nd round worthy

It's not like our top WR is a castoff like L Robinson was or an UDFA like Austin--

 

[lukin2006]

Unless we sign a post June 1 cut, my guess is this is what we have. I think just having Zeke for a full 16 games makes our offence go, remember Zeke can catch out of the backfield...he me also be our most explosive pass catcher at this point. I think if our D is a consistent top 10 D and our offence stays efficient we win the east...

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Feels weird if we go in to the season without a number one WR

We've done it for the past 3 years. If anything....we should be prepared for it by now.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

I think we have too many explosive players

 

[RS12]

Drafts over. Will be mostly expensive bums in the street come August. Where does this explosive player come from? PS: I dont believe in Tavon Austin for a second. If McVay couldnt get anything out of him, I doubt this staff can.

 

[Ken]

Let's not forget about Gallup...he can run now. I also will not underestimate whoever we put at the TE spot will be a speed upgrade from what Witten was providing. I tend to agree, I want someone who scares the heck out of the other team but I don't think we have that guy as of now.

 

[QuincyCarterEra]

I think we are set at starter and depth at QB, RB, FB, and Oline with the exception of one more solid depth IOL.

What we still need:

A field stretching TE, we have competent blocking TEs, but even with Witten and Hanna we never had that TE that could punish opponents up the seam.

As far as WRs we have a big bodied slot(Hurns), small and shifty slot(Beasley), outside possession receiver(Gallup) for sure making the team. We still need a big bodied red zone threat and a Y speed receiver that runs below a 4.4 that will make the team to complete the group.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Look to weeks 4-6 of the 2016 season when Dez was out if you want to see what our offense is meant to look like this year:

Leading receivers:

Week 4:
Beasley 3 for 66 yards
Witten 7 for 47 yards
Terrance Williams 4 for 44 yards and a TD
Brice Butler 5 for 41 yards and a TD

Week 5:
Williams 5 for 70 yards
Beasley 4 for 53 yards and a TD
Witten 3 for 43 yards
Zeke 3 for 37 yards
Butler 2 for 20 yards

Week 6:
Williams 4 for 75 yards
Beasley 6 for 58 yards and 2 TDs
Witten 4 for 42 yards
Zeke 2 for 7 yards
Butler 1 for 20 yards
Whitehead 1 for 35 yards

In all 3 of those games, we ran the ball 25+ times for 150+ yards as a team and just passed to the open man. I hate T Will's body catching tendencies as much as anybody, but when he's gotten a shot to be the man he has produced decently.

Allen Hurns is better than anybody in that 2016 group except maybe T Will, he's probably a similar player to him. The two of them plus Beasley, plus young developing guys can get it done.

The biggest question is does somebody replace Witten's production in the pass game. Having a TE who understands how to drop in the zone to be open for that 6 or 8 yard completion is a thing we take for granted because he's been around so long.

 

[conner01]

Good route running beats speed
Speed is great but you can get open with good route running
The key is everyone running good routes and at least one will be open every time
Teams will stack the box but if the oline can stay healthy we can beat a stacked box and the weakness of stacking the box is if you beat it that leads to big runs

 

[EMMITTnROY]

What's better?

1. Having a WR1 who gets WR1 targets but massively underperforms, looking more like a WR3.

2. Having no WR1, but having far more efficient WRs splitting all the targets.

 

[Idgit]

We're going to hear a ton about Elliott and Austin tearing it up in camp. Maybe we get surprised and one of the WRs, too (Hurns? Gallup?). But I think it's going to be Austin.

Then we're going to have to remember we heard the same things about Dez and even Witten every year in camp, and that it doesn't always translate into special performance on the field.

I think the offense will be pedestrian but effective this year. The protection *ought* to be very good. Dak's strength is reading the field very quickly and then getting the ball more or less into that area. Followed closely by his misdirection game and what he does with his feet when he options. That all translates fairly well to what we'll have on the field.

I'm really not worried about replacing the production we got from Dez' targets.

I do think we'll miss Witten more than a lot of people expect. But that's offset with getting to see some different personnel packages that I've been interested in seeing more of for a while now, so that at least ought to be fun to watch for.

 

[dallasdave]

Heading into the off-season, I wanted the front office to improve team speed within the offense. Add at least two speed type players, no matter the position, so the team would see less stacked boxes, as well as creating more chunk plays.

The team added Thompson who will in essence replace Brice Bulter's old role as the team's 3rd down deep threat. This is contingent of him making the final roster. Tavon Austin brings that speed element onto the field, but that's pretty much it. Most teams will load up the box, play single coverage on the outside and dare Dak to consistently beat them on the outside.

In my opinion, the offense is just marginally better on paper at this point. Offensive Line should be improved both with their starters and depth behind them. The receivers are about the same, even with the loss of Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Tavon Austin returns a old element that the team had success with in Dunbar and Whitehead. The offense will be about the same talent wise, it's really up to the coaching staff to put them in better chances to succeed. I'm not opportunistic about the unit at this time, believe team needs to add another explosive weapon, either a TE or WR.

Maybe GATES from Chargers ?