Time for Dez to prove he's still elite

[LocimusPrime]

If he gets a 1000 yds this season, I'll be happy. He just needs to get back to elite production status.
Currently he's ranked #139th in the league with 150 yds, and Julio Jones is numero uno w 830 Yards.
I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that if he applies himself, he can make the top 40 by the end of the year. Then approach next season fresh, and try to reassert himself as a top 10 WR in this league.

His injuries have derailed him, and probably is a great source of frustration to himself as well as the fan base. It's on him to prove that the contract extension wasn't a mistake. I hope he proves the naysayers wrong, and if not trade him.

 

[Kevinicus]

He's not injury-prone, though.

Games played is not an indicator of the proneness for injury. The number of injuries would be.

 

[Doomsday101]

If he gets a 1000 yds this season, I'll be happy. He just needs to get back to elite production status.
Currently he's ranked #139th in the league with 150 yds, and Julio Jones is numero uno w 830 Yards.
I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that if he applies himself, he can make the top 40 by the end of the year. Then approach next season fresh, and try to reassert himself as a top 10 WR in this league.

His injuries have derailed him, and probably is a great source of frustration to himself as well as the fan base. It's on him to prove that the contract extension wasn't a mistake. I hope he proves the naysayers wrong, and if not trade him.

Let just hope his frustration pushes him to get to that next level and make this team even better.

 

[drawandstrike]

And while I'm on the subject, let's not forget in the very first game of this year, which inspired plenty of Dez negativity when he only had 1 catch for 8 yards, simpletons have to have explained to them that WR's only catch the ball when the QB targets them.

This was a coaching issue. The coaching staff simply LET the Giants take Dez out of the game. If Dez was targeted more than 3 times in that game, I missed it. Dak simply wasn't looking for him because as we saw in subsequent weeks, the coaches have Dak running a limited offense.

That's why in the 2nd game the coaches moved Dez around and got creative with him. There were even jokes the coaching staff must have been reading our board here. Dez was producing just fine with Dak actually targeting him in the games vs. the Skins & the Bears.

You remember what Dez did against the Skins right? His 7 catches for 107 yards? No? You memory holed that already? OK then.
As we all remember well, Dez then suffered an injury on his very first catch of the Bears game. And then stayed in the game to catch a TD pass.

The issue with Dez is coaches actually being SMART enough to target him and staying healthty. It is not effort or ability and never has been and only stupid people tell themselves it is.

 

[DakotaReign]

Dez was not healthy most of those 12 games and had awful qb play. Much worse than what Landry Jones did yesterday.

If you're worried aobut Dez I wonder if you have an ulterior motive or just don't understand football and/or our offense. Which is it?

Dez isnt Romo. Thats what it is.

 

[aikemirv]

Well the fact of the matter is that Dez on the field is going to make Beasley, Witten and Terrance even more open than they have been the last few weeks.

But by all means Prescott, throw the ball to Dez! We as fans need to make sure Jerry gets his moneys worth!

Just win!

 

[Hoov]

Well the fact of the matter is that Dez on the field is going to make Beasley, Witten and Terrance even more open than they have been the last few weeks.

But by all means Prescott, throw the ball to Dez! We as fans need to make sure Jerry gets his moneys worth!

Just win!

I don't care who gets the ball as long as they are winning.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Dez found ways when he first came into the league. He had his first 100 yard game with Jon Kitna at QB in 2010. He made some spectacular plays as a rookie with Kitna. He had catches of 41 and 46 yards in back to back games with Kitna. He scored at least 3 TD's with Kitna. Dez was doing things as a rookie that he's not doing now, which is what's so concerning about his play. He was even able to play with some injuries early in his career and play well.

Literally already happened. Yet you're ignoring it for narrative.

 

[KJJ]

Literally already happened. Yet you're ignoring it for narrative.

Have no idea what you're talking about but he hasn't been an elite receiver going on two seasons.

 

[aikemirv]

I don't care who gets the ball as long as they are winning.

Yep, neither do I. I think a lot of this fan talk is so fans can tell their buddies that this player or that player on the Cowboys is one of the best in the NFL. Barry Sanders always got more love than Emmitt, Jerry Rice got more love than Irvin, Steve Young got more love than Aikman but those Cowboys won 3 out of 4 Super Bowls in 4 years....

just give me some of that!!!!

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Have no idea what you're talking about but he hasn't been an elite receiver going on two seasons.

He had a 100 yard game with a backup QB in this season.

 

[Doomsday101]

Well the fact of the matter is that Dez on the field is going to make Beasley, Witten and Terrance even more open than they have been the last few weeks.

But by all means Prescott, throw the ball to Dez! We as fans need to make sure Jerry gets his moneys worth!

Just win!

Of course I don't want to see Dak force the ball to Dez, what I want to see and what I hope to see is Dez using his ability to get open then make big plays once he makes the catch. This is what is expected out of elite WR.

 

[CVN68_Cowboys]

To be fair, he had absolute trash throwing him the ball when he played last year, and he's missed a good bit of time. And remember, with Dez, you have to attribute a lot of the yards guys like Beasley and Williams are getting to him because he draws the extra attention.

 

[Hoov]

Yep, neither do I. I think a lot of this fan talk is so fans can tell their buddies that this player or that player on the Cowboys is one of the best in the NFL. Barry Sanders always got more love than Emmitt, Jerry Rice got more love than Irvin, Steve Young got more love than Aikman but those Cowboys won 3 out of 4 Super Bowls in 4 years....

just give me some of that!!!!

Yes. And I don't care who gets the most touches but what they do with each opportunity.

 

[KJJ]

He had a 100 yard game with a backup QB in this season.

It was a ho hum 100 yard game where we made a real effort to get him the ball. He had a 100 yard game with Cassel last season due to a jump ball. Hundred yard games should be routine with the experience he has. As a rookie with with Kitna he was making some great plays and we're not seeing great plays with him anymore. He can't take over a game like Julio Jones, OBJ and several other receivers.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

It was a ho hum 100 yard game where we made a real effort to get him the ball. He had a 100 yard game with Cassel last season due to a jump ball. Hundred yard games should be routine with the experience he has. As a rookie with with Kitna he was making some great plays and we're not seeing great plays with him anymore. He can't take over a game like Julio Jones, OBJ and several other receivers.

Good argument.

 

[lwehlers]

Since that contract was inked.....

22 games have passed
42 receptions
551 yards
4 TDs

He should be fully healthy now. It's time for him to prove he's in the elite class of receivers in the NFL.

I totally agree with this post. Bryant needs to step up and be a elite receiver. I know that injuries have slowed him down but for this team to keep winning we need him to play like the receiver he being paid to be. I also would like to see if he could have a big game without romo. has he had more then five catches in a game without romo?

 

[drawandstrike]

I totally agree with this post. Bryant needs to step up and be a elite receiver. I know that injuries have slowed him down but for this team to keep winning we need him to play like the receiver he being paid to be. I also would like to see if he could have a big game without romo. has he had more then five catches in a game without romo?

Yes. This year. When coaches actually had Dak throwing him the ball. Week 2. Vs. the Commanders. 7 catches. For 107 yards.

If you rewatch the Skins game, Dak isn't checking through a progression on about 5 of those throws either. He hits the end of his drop and fires Dez the ball.

Instead of "Man I sure hope that slacker Dez Bryant shows up vs. Philly!" how about some "Man, I can't wait to see if Dez gets over 100 yards again with Dak throwing him the ball for a full game like they did in Week 2 vs. the Commanders!"

Dez had 40 yards and 1 TD on just THREE catches playing on a fractured knee vs. the Bears. If he'd played the whole game healthy I have no doubt he'd have topped 100 yards again.

 

[lwehlers]

Yes. This year. When coaches actually had Dak throwing him the ball. Week 2. Vs. the Commanders. 7 catches. For 107 yards.

If you rewatch the Skins game, Dak isn't checking through a progression on about 5 of those throws either. He hits the end of his drop and fires Dez the ball.

I did not know that thank you. it seemed like he was quiet in the skins game this year I need to rewatch that game.

 

[drawandstrike]

I did not know that thank you. it seemed like he was quiet in the skins game this year I need to rewatch that game.

Stats for every player in each game they play in are available at nfl.com:
http://www.nfl.com/player/dezbryant/497278/gamelogs