Targets Per Game Analysis Dez vs. Top Receivers

[Jinxx13x]

Garretts comments about how many times Dez was targeted kind of annoyed me. i personally feel he is never targeted as much as top receivers from other teams, and that they don't do enough to get him involved. It always seems to be the same type of routes. Then I watch Pittsburgh vs Commanders tonight and I see Antonio Brown going in motion setting up on the left, the right, in the slot. Ben goes out of his way to get the ball to his game breaker and for good reason. Garrett says we tried a couple deep ones to Dez and that was enough! Uh excuse me no it's not ! It doesn't always need to be a deep pass mix things up, change up where he lines up, use rub routes, screens, slants, for crying out loud put him in motion DO SOMETHING....... I decided to do some homework to see if my feelings were warranted here is the data I found You Decide !!!!!!!

Dez Bryant
2010 - 12G - 45 Rec- 72Targets - Avg TPG = 6
2011 - 15G - 63 Rec- 103Targets - Avg TPG=6.8
2012 - 16G - 92 Rec- 138Targets - Avg TPG=8.6
2013 - 16G - 93 Rec- 160Targets - Avg TPG=10
2014 - 16G - 88 Rec- 137Targets - Avg TPG=8.5
2015 - 9G - 31 Rec- 72Targets - Avg TPG=9
2016 - 1G - 1 Rec- 5Targets - Avg TPG=5

Calvin Johnson
2010 - 16G - 77 Rec- 137Targets - Avg TPG=8.5
2011 - 16G - 96 Rec- 158Targets - Avg TPG=9.8
2012 - 16G - 122 Rec- 204Targets - Avg TPG=12.75
2013 - 14G - 84 Rec- 157Targets - Avg TPG=11.2
2014 - 13G - 71 Rec- 128Targets - Avg TPG= 9.8
2015 - 16G - 88 Rec- 149Targets - Avg TPG= 9.3

Julio Jones
2011 - 13G - 54 Rec- 95Targets - Avg TPG=7.3
2012 - 16G - 79 Rec- 129Targets - Avg TPG=8
2013 - 5G - 41 Rec- 60Targets - Avg TPG=12
2014 - 15G - 104 Rec- 163Targets - Avg TPG=10.8
2015 - 16G - 136 Rec- 203Targets - Avg TPG=12.6
2016 - 1G - 4 Rec- 8Targets - AvgTPG=8

Antonio Brown
2010 - 9G - 16 Rec- 19Targets - Avg TPG=2.1
2011 - 16G - 69 Rec- 124Targets - Avg TPG=7.75
2012 - 13G - 66 Rec- 106Targets - Avg TPG=8.1
2013 - 16G - 110 Rec- 166Targets- Avg TPG=10.3
2014 - 16G - 129 Rec- 181Targets - Avg TPG=11.3
2015 - 16G - 136 Rec- 193Targets - Avg TPG=12
2016 - 1G - 8 Rec- ???Targets - Avg TPG= I will call it 8 since that's how many catches

AJ Green
2011 - 15G - 65 Rec- 115Targets - Avg TPG=7.6
2012 - 16G - 97 Rec- 164Targets - Avg TPG=10.2
2013 - 16G - 98 Rec- 178Targets - Avg TPG=11.1
2014 - 13G - 69 Rec- 116Targets - Avg TPG=8.9
2015 - 16G - 86 Rec- 132Targets - Avg TPG=8.2
2016 - 1G - 12 Rec- 13Targets - Avg TPG=13

Odell Beckham Jr
2014 - 12G - 91 Rec- 132Targets - Avg TPG=11
2015 - 15G - 96 Rec- 156Targets - Avg TPG=10.4
2016 - 1G - 4 Rec- 8Targets - Avg TPG=8

When I look at these stats it tells me Dez is not being targeted enough for being the TD machine that he is. This is on the coaching take 2015 out Dez injuries made him not the same not to mention the revolving door of Qb's, but in his best years he was still being targeted less than the other Wr's. IMO they need to mix up the routes to Dez and get him more involved the numbers prove it ! What are your thoughts ?

 

[LocimusPrime]

Question: does the receiver have to be open to be targeted usually. So does his lack of separation and route running affect the amount of targets he gets. I guess it's a circular argument like chicken vs egg.

 

[Jinxx13x]

Question: does the receiver have to be open to be targeted usually. So does his lack of separation and route running affect the amount of targets he gets. I guess it's a circular argument like chicken vs egg.

I personally don't feel the Cowboys coaching does enough to help Dez look at the patriots they do rub routes every game for every receiver I never see that for Dez. They need to try to do more to help him get separation

 

[Craig]

Moreso than any of those guys other than megatron, his major asset is winning the contested balls. If thats the concern get him on some slants where he can use his body to keep space and grind out some yards. There are ways to use his strengths other than fades in the red zone.

 

[Jinxx13x]

Moreso than any of those guys other than megatron, his major asset is winning the contested balls. If thats the concern get him on some slants where he can use his body to keep space and grind out some yards. There are ways to use his strengths other than fades in the red zone.

I agree everything doesn't have to be deep let Dez run. But I was curious how the numbers lined up with other top receivers

 

[Jinxx13x]

Another example I will point out tonight in the Steelers game Antonio Brown was moved all over to to purposely get away from Norman and match him up with breeland and brown torched him all night. We typically leave Dez same place. why not go for the mismatch ?

 

[Zman5]

Just throw to him immediately as the ball is snapped if the DB is playing off. I've seen him take it to the house ( against Commanders). Worst case, it'll be good for 5-7 yards.

 

[Jinxx13x]

Just throw to him immediately as the ball is snapped if the DB is playing off. I've seen him take it to the house ( against Commanders). Worst case, it'll be good for 5-7 yards.

This is without a doubt my point I remember that play it was a thing of beauty, Dez is a beast but we are not giving him the best possible chances to succeed besides back shoulder, fades, and fly patterns their are so many other ways to get him involved. I love Dez just want to see him more involved hate when I see 1 catch, I know what the Giants were doing for sure but ok move him to the slot and let him go short over the middle

 

[Idgit]

Another example I will point out tonight in the Steelers game Antonio Brown was moved all over to to purposely get away from Norman and match him up with breeland and brown torched him all night. We typically leave Dez same place. why not go for the mismatch ?

Do we typically leave Dez at one position though?

 

[Jinxx13x]

Do we typically leave Dez at one position though?

I'm sure we move him around but I don't think I have ever seen him in the slot correct me if I'm wrong, and I don't recall ever seeing him go in motion.

 

[Zman5]

This is without a doubt my point I remember that play it was a thing of beauty, Dez is a beast but we are not giving him the best possible chances to succeed besides back shoulder, fades, and fly patterns their are so many other ways to get him involved. I love Dez just want to see him more involved hate when I see 1 catch, I know what the Giants were doing for sure but ok move him to the slot and let him go short over the middle

I'd even try jet sweep with him. Line up Escobar in a slot and Rod smith wide on one side. Motion Dez on a jet sweep and have Escobar and Rod lead the way. That should get us more yards than Witt on a screen or those 2 yard passes we throw to Witt.

Anything to get the ball in his hands.

 

[Doomsday]

12 targets for Beasley and 14 for Witten

It is obvious that Dak is carrying on the long tradition of JG's to take what the defense gives you.

JG continues to let opposing teams take away our outside WRs with poor route combinations etc.

Only 2 targets for Zeke, when they are stacking up vs the run is terrible as well. Get him some touches in space, instead of running dives into stacked boxes.

 

[Jinxx13x]

I hope this thread is not being misinterpreted this is not a I hate Dez thread he is one of my favorite players I have his jersey lol it just depresses me when I see 1 catch in the stat line from one of our most dangerous players. I mean we don't even throw his way on the final drive, he is our best receiver ! do you think any of the guys I compared stats from would not have been involved on the last drive in that situation.

 

[jrumann59]

Dez running from the slot would scare teams, even the best cover corners in the league hardly go into the slot totally different mentality and world outside corners excel on the outside because they have sideline that helps corral receivers. Slot usually gets a smaller less physical corner, the slot laso allows the receiver to release up, or out, or in or slant or drag, the hole route tree is available.

 

[Jinxx13x]

Dez running from the slot would scare teams, even the best cover corners in the league hardly go into the slot totally different mentality and world outside corners excel on the outside because they have sideline that helps corral receivers. Slot usually gets a smaller less physical corner, the slot laso allows the receiver to release up, or out, or in or slant or drag, the hole route tree is available.

I have seen Calvin Johnson in the slot if I remember correctly. Dez would be a monster in the slot him and romo have chemistry

 

[Wolfpack]

Dez should be feasting on slants, drags and short ins. A safety over the top can't help on those other than a tackle after the catch.

 

[Idgit]

I'm sure we move him around but I don't think I have ever seen him in the slot correct me if I'm wrong, and I don't recall ever seeing him go in motion.

He was in the slot on the 2nd quarter TD pass that got overturned yesterday.

 

[Tezz]

I'm not going to look this up, but I think all those other WRs also play on teams that pass a lot more. I understand your point though...

 

[Idgit]

I'm not going to look this up, but I think all those other WRs also play on teams that pass a lot more. I understand your point though...

Run/pass splits, other receiving options. Number of offensive series/snaps. There are a lot of things that go into how often a player gets targeted. For a guy like Dez, who's made a living in the red zone, it's not all that surprising that he might get targeted less than the guys on this cherry-picked list.

 

[Jinxx13x]

Run/pass splits, other receiving options. Number of offensive series/snaps. There are a lot of things that go into how often a player gets targeted. For a guy like Dez, who's made a living in the red zone, it's not all that surprising that he might get targeted less than the guys on this cherry-picked list.

Well Dez is considered to be one of the best receivers in the league so I chose some of the other top guys, he is most compared to