The Deep Ball: 2011 vs. 2012

[percyhoward]

Receptions (of Targets 20+ yards)
2011
Robinson 10 of 17
Witten 8 of 12
Bryant 7 of 19
Austin 5 of 11
Holley 2 of 2
Ogletree 0 of 4

2012
Bryant 12 of 24
Austin 4 of 19
Ogletree 4 of 11
Witten 2 of 11
Harris 0 of 5

 

[Idgit]

Wow.

 

[dargonking999]

That tells me that Bryant was the only real succesful deep threat, Witten's injury really hurt him, and Miles just was nothing last year but a waste of space

 

[Funxva]

Has anyone noticed that Tony can't wing it as deep with as much velocity as he did in 2011 as well? I remember a lot of under thrown balls. His release time is still top tier, but I noticed a bit of lack of zip on the deep balls a lot. I'm not saying he's noodle armed, but perhaps his injuries weren't fully healed in his torso?

 

[Crown Royal]

Has anyone noticed that Tony can't wing it as deep with as much velocity as he did in 2011 as well? I remember a lot of under thrown balls. His release time is still top tier, but I noticed a bit of lack of zip on the deep balls a lot. I'm not saying he's noodle armed, but perhaps his injuries weren't fully healed in his torso?

I remember hearing this a little, and then seeing an amazing BOMB to Ogletree that beat out all the coverage. I don't have a concern about his arm strength, but I don't think he had the ability to set his feet well last year.

 

[Crown Royal]

Bryant should have better numbers for 2012. With his height and athleticism, I'd rather see about 60% completion rate on the deep ball to him.

Austin and Harris are horrible at going and getting the jump ball.

 

[Wezsh0T]

Has anyone noticed that Tony can't wing it as deep with as much velocity as he did in 2011 as well? I remember a lot of under thrown balls. His release time is still top tier, but I noticed a bit of lack of zip on the deep balls a lot. I'm not saying he's noodle armed, but perhaps his injuries weren't fully healed in his torso?

I think having broken ribs might have something to do with this. Just a guess...

Broken ribs and not having a very clean pocket to throw from...

 

[Red Dragon]

Not re-signing Robinson was a real mistake.

 

[Idgit]

Not re-signing Robinson was a real mistake.

You mean after he was released from the Jags? Or the year before, when he was ridiculous-expensive?

 

[noshame]

Hummmmm......shocking

 

[percyhoward]

Has anyone noticed that Tony can't wing it as deep with as much velocity as he did in 2011 as well? I remember a lot of under thrown balls.

And yet Dez was 6th in the NFL in deep receptions, 4th in yards (on deep receptions), 2nd in catch rate at 50%, and tied for 1st in TD.

 

[Funxva]

I think some of you are missing my point. I think more so he was afraid to step into it sometimes and get injured/re-injured. I agree that he wasn't setting his feet as much. The point, also, is that with a cleaner pocket to step up into and him fully healed from broken rib and punctured lung, I think that we will have a chance to see some bombs. I remember one INT where the announcers called it basically akin to a punt, but the exact game escapes my mind at the moment. I remember thinking "Damn, is his torso still messed up?" I was just asking you all to confirm if he was under-throwing or not. So put the pitchforks and torches away, some of you, and take a deep breath.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Has anyone noticed that Tony can't wing it as deep with as much velocity as he did in 2011 as well? I remember a lot of under thrown balls. His release time is still top tier, but I noticed a bit of lack of zip on the deep balls a lot. I'm not saying he's noodle armed, but perhaps his injuries weren't fully healed in his torso?

Or perhaps he had so much more pressure to deal with throughout the season that it threw the deep ball off.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I think some of you are missing my point. I think more so he was afraid to step into it sometimes and get injured/re-injured. I agree that he wasn't setting his feet as much. The point, also, is that with a cleaner pocket to step up into and him fully healed from broken rib and punctured lung, I think that we will have a chance to see some bombs. I remember one INT where the announcers called it basically akin to a punt, but the exact game escapes my mind at the moment. I remember thinking "Damn, is his torso still messed up?" I was just asking you all to confirm if he was under-throwing or not. So put the pitchforks and torches away, some of you, and take a deep breath.

Well he did have minor surgery to remove a cyst in his back that he termed "annoying", so yes, it's quite lekely it affected him most on the deep balls. But the pressure he faced due to poor OL blocking I think was the main culprit.

 

[Nova]

Receptions (of Targets 20+ yards)
2011
Robinson 10 of 17
Witten 8 of 12
Bryant 7 of 19
Austin 5 of 11
Holley 2 of 2
Ogletree 0 of 4

2012
Bryant 12 of 24
Austin 4 of 19
Ogletree 4 of 11
Witten 2 of 11
Harris 0 of 5

Good stuff. Any way you have a breakdown of penalties drawn? I know Harris drew one late in that Browns game, and I think he may have drew another on a different deep ball. I remember he didn't catch many, but he put up fights.

 

[JsnSA]

Assuming a healthy Romo, healthy Witten, healthy Austin (for the love of god), improved Bryant, improved Harris and the introduction of Williams the Cowboys should improve in the long ball area by leaps and bounds. Of course this also depends on the Oline playing like they did at the end of last season vs the start of the season.

 

[EchoBrain22]

Bryant should have better numbers for 2012. With his height and athleticism, I'd rather see about 60% completion rate on the deep ball to him.

Austin and Harris are horrible at going and getting the jump ball.

Harris is still unproven, jump balls are't really part of his game. He is good at working the middle of the field and screens. But to say Miles is horrible at jump balls is a stretch. When he is healthy he is a beast. It sucks to see players like him fall from the graces of Cowboy fans when he has been great for us. Despite all his injuries last season he was still productive for us, he almost had 1000 yards. We just need him to stay on the field.

 

[Lonestar94]

Don't forget the Miles Austin catch vs. Brandon Carr in his breakout game.

 

[percyhoward]

When Ogletree assumed the 3rd WR position last season, he had not yet caught a pass thrown 20+ yards in his career.

He had caught 25 passes before 2012, and 18 of those passes were thrown 10 yards or less.

 

[FLcowboy]

Those were Austin clips that were from a bygone era. He didn't look like that last year.