Time for Dez to prove he's still elite

[Idgit]

I think he's a top five receiver......when Romo plays.

Romo throws him open repeatedly. He knows EXACTLY how to use Dez and what his strengths are. Other quarterbacks seem puzzled at how to use him because he doesn't get open with great routes or speed.

He's definitely capable of playing at that level. My beef with Dez and 'elite' is that he drops too many of his elite catches and they cost us. Granted, they'd be amazing physical plays if he were to bring them down....that's not lost on me, but elite guys make elite plays. If you can't make elite plays, you might be 'good.' You might be 'very good.' But hold onto that ball and beat the Giants or the Packers in the playoffs and we can talk elite.

I love Dez, though. And can't stand the way his personal life is misreported on and that he gets crapped on by our own fans. He lives for football and there's no doubt he gives everything he's got for the team. His heart's in the right place, and his head more or less is trying to follow much of the time. Given his upbringing, I don't see how people can fault him for it.

 

[erod]

He's definitely capable of playing at that level. My beef with Dez and 'elite' is that he drops too many of his elite catches and they cost us. Granted, they'd be amazing physical plays if he were to bring them down....that's not lost on me, but elite guys make elite plays. If you can't make elite plays, you might be 'good.' You might be 'very good.' But hold onto that ball and beat the Giants or the Packers in the playoffs and we can talk elite.

I love Dez, though. And can't stand the way his personal life is misreported on and that he gets crapped on by our own fans. He lives for football and there's no doubt he gives everything he's got for the team. His heart's in the right place, and his head more or less is trying to follow much of the time. Given his upbringing, I don't see how people can fault him for it.

I love the kid, and he's proven me wrong with the way he's conducted himself in general.

However, I don't care what your upbringing is, once you're 28, it's time to be a responsible man in every way. By now, he's had more positive influences in his life and opportunity than most any kid gets no matter where they are from.

 

[Idgit]

I love the kid, and he's proven me wrong with the way he's conducted himself in general.

However, I don't care what your upbringing is, once you're 28, it's time to be a responsible man in every way. By now, he's had more positive influences in his life and opportunity than most any kid gets no matter where they are from.

Well, to be fair, the stuff he's in the spotlight for is often made up (Walmart video) or is small potatoes (cut his fingers making soup, missing an MRI appointment). That said, I don't agree that at 28 somebody with Dez' upbringing should be expected to have their life entirely together. Given what he went through, years of therapy and emotional support that he almost certainly does not have the time for would be required. He's doing well to put quality play on the field and be a good father and person as far as I'm concerned, but that other stuff doesn't just go away because you're a adult or get old enough to hide it better.

 

[ringmaster]

He's definitely capable of playing at that level. My beef with Dez and 'elite' is that he drops too many of his elite catches and they cost us. Granted, they'd be amazing physical plays if he were to bring them down....that's not lost on me, but elite guys make elite plays. If you can't make elite plays, you might be 'good.' You might be 'very good.' But hold onto that ball and beat the Giants or the Packers in the playoffs and we can talk elite.

I love Dez, though. And can't stand the way his personal life is misreported on and that he gets crapped on by our own fans. He lives for football and there's no doubt he gives everything he's got for the team. His heart's in the right place, and his head more or less is trying to follow much of the time. Given his upbringing, I don't see how people can fault him for it.

I agree Idgit but the Green Bay game he did catch that ball only to be screwed by that clown Blandino and Steratore and we know the rest is history and I was glad the Cowboys beat them at Lambeau almost 2 weeks ago. As far as Dez being elite goes and imo that word is so overused in sports in general we really don't need Dez to be "elite" we just need him to be good and make the plays when his number is called and help the team win games and if it takes 5, 10, or 16Tds to help win games then so be it he now has a QB, not named Tony that can get him the ball in Dak all Dez need to do in the end is stay healthy.

 

[Idgit]

I agree Idgit but the Green Bay game he did catch that ball only to be screwed by that clown Blandino and Steratore and we know the rest is history and I was glad the Cowboys beat them at Lambeau almost 2 weeks ago. As far as Dez being elite goes and imo that word is so overused in sports in general we really don't need Dez to be "elite" we just need him to be good and make the plays when his number is called and help the team win games and if it takes 5, 10, or 16Tds to help win games then so be it he now has a QB, not named Tony that can get him the ball in Dak all Dez need to do in the end is stay healthy.

Yeah, we see it exactly the same way. I agree on the Lambeau catch, too, of course. Though it would have been nice for him to simply remove any opportunity for doubt while making the fantastic catch.

 

[dallasdave]

Good lord. Are those right?! Geeez. That's freaking terrible. Thanks for the breakdown. Hope he gets it together. Go Cowboys !

 

[KJJ]

"If he doesn't produce Sunday night the injury excuses will continue"

"With Dak at qb Dez won't be targeted as much"

Got it

You're a gem

A receiver doesn't have to be targeted all day to produce. He caught only 3 passes in his first 100 yard game and scored a TD.

 

[glimmerman]

We have to get him the ball and let him do his thang.

 

[tyke1doe]

In this offense is you ask me what is a big game for the QB? I would say it is having a high completion rate, converting the 3rd downs, not turning the ball over and of course getting the ball in the endzone. I think Dak has done each of those things.

FTFY!

 

[plasticman]

Another weapon, that's how I look at it.

Contracts, salaries, cap hits......that's offseason stuff.

They can't key on him like they used to, unless they enjoy getting run over.

Dez knows this, you can see it in his eyes on the sidelines. When he gets healthy, he is going to have fun!

 

[tyke1doe]

Dez's 1 completely healthy game this year where Dak was looking to get him the ball he had 7 catches for 107 yards.

Had Dez not been hurt early in the Bears game, he tops 100 yards in that one too, easily. Recall he had 40 yards & 1 TD on only 3 catches.

The issue with Dez is health and the limited offense we're running under a rookie QB. The training wheels are coming off a little bit more each game, but they are still on there.

Any game where Dez is healthy, plays the entire game, and has Dak actually looking for him, I fully expect Dez to be targeted 7-10 times and have 100+ yards.

If Dez got 7 balls for 107 when he was healthy and would have gotten more save for an injury in the Chicago game, how is he being impacted by a limited offense?

 

[tyke1doe]

He's been hurt recently, so that's nonsense about him not producing. Injuries happen. And I could not care less about any sideline antics just because butthurt old media hacks talk about it and Landry era dinos care.

You sure know how to hit a gray-haired brotha where he hurts.

 

[Lody]

The 100 yard game Dez had vs Washington was ho hum, not one highlight play and I believe he may have had a drop. The 100 yard game he had as a rookie, he had a great 46 yard play in that game and scored a TD. He even had a longer play overturned by replay in that game. He had "game changer" written all over him as a rookie but in what should be the prime of his career it's starting to look like his best days are over. Dak could have had a TD pass in the first game if Dez would have held on to the ball through the contact of the ground. That score that was overturned helped cost us the opener. You're saying the Cowboys running the ball more is why you think Julio and OBJ are more productive than Dez and are able to take over games and he's not? lol I got news for you not many teams ran the ball more than we did in 2014 but that didn't stop Dez from having a career year with 88 catches for over 1300 yards and a franchise record 16 TD's did it?

Not many teams in history ran the ball more than the Cowboys in the early 90s but that didn't stop Micheal Irvin from having a HOF career did it? Go look at the numbers Irvin put up in a run oriented offense. Dez has played his entire career with a pass happy QB who's broken just about every franchise passing record there is and he hasn't come close to the 1600 plus yards and 111 catches Irvin had in 95. Irvin had 3 seasons that were more productive than Dez despite playing in a heavy run oriented offense that featured Emmitt Smith. The excuses some of you come up with for why Dez isn't producing is hilarious. He doesn't have the speed or the ability to separate like Julio and OBJ, they're able to run away from defenders try watching their highlights. OBJ had a bad hip and still put up 222 yards a couple of weeks ago. When you watch Julio, OBJ and Antonio Brown you realize just how far Dez has fallen the past 2 years.

seriously?..so Dez goes off for 7/100yds and your hung up on him making "highlight" plays?

 

[KJJ]

seriously?..so Dez goes off for 7/100yds and your hung up on him making "highlight" plays?

You must not have been following my posts. That was only his second 100 yard game in his last 12 starts. Since he signed his new contract he's scored only four TD's and had two 100 yard games. After what happened in the opener with him having a career low one catch for 8 yards, Jerry made it clear he wanted Dez thrown the ball even if he's not open so we made a concerted effort to get him the ball against Washington in week 2. He followed that 100 yard game up with 3 catches for 40 yards vs Chicago but at least he scored a TD for the first time since week 15 of last year.

Dude, he was paid because he was productive and made game changing plays but he rarely makes those kinds of plays anymore and he hasn't been very productive. One 100 yard game with one TD, with 6 games down this season isn't getting it done or living up to his contract. Apparently he started thinking about his contract immediately after the 2014 regular season because he only produced 6 catches for 86 yards and no scores in those 2 playoff games. Twill was more productive in the playoffs than Dez. Are you going to deny he hasn't been disappointing the past season and a half or are you satisfied with his play?

 

[Lody]

You must not have been following my posts. That was only his second 100 yard game in his last 12 starts. Since he signed his new contract he's scored only four TD's and had two 100 yard games. After what happened in the opener with him having a career low one catch for 8 yards, Jerry made it clear he wanted Dez thrown the ball even if he's not open so we made a concerted effort to get him the ball against Washington in week 2. He followed that 100 yard game up with 3 catches for 40 yards vs Chicago but at least he scored a TD for the first time since week 15 of last year.

Dude, he was paid because he was productive and made game changing plays but he rarely makes those kinds of plays anymore and he hasn't been very productive. One 100 yard game with one TD, with 6 games down this season isn't getting it done or living up to his contract. Apparently he started thinking about his contract immediately after the 2014 regular season because he only produced 6 catches for 86 yards and no scores in those 2 playoff games. Twill was more productive in the playoffs than Dez. Are you going to deny he hasn't been disappointing the past season and a half or are you satisfied with his play?

Im not gonna discuss what he did while playing hurt last year. this year, he was effective in 2/3 games. tore Washington apart and scored a TD with a fractured knee

 

[KJJ]

Im not gonna discuss what he did while playing hurt last year. this year, he was effective in 2/3 games. tore Washington apart and scored a TD with a fractured knee

He dropped what could have been the winning score in the opener by allowing the ball to come loose when he hit the ground. He continues to make the same mistake even though he's well aware of the rule. He was effective in 2 of his 3 games but he can't take over games anymore. You have to scratch your head to try and remember the last time he took over a game looking like an elite receiver. He's been battling injuries a lot and when he's suppose to be healthy he makes few impact plays. He was suppose to be healthy for the opener but the excuse used here for his career low production was he was being used as a decoy. lol

Whether it's been injuries that have kept him from being the productive, exciting player he was or he's just lost it mentally or physically he's been a big disappointment. We don't even need him to win games. We had our 2 best games of the season without him, I'm starting to think we might be better off without him. He's a receiver you have to target a lot. He needs a lot of catches or he gets frustrated and his frustration or "passion" as he calls it leads to poor decisions and some of the immaturity issues we've seen with him.

 

[KJJ]

Im not gonna discuss what he did while playing hurt last year. this year, he was effective in 2/3 games.

Would you like to discuss what he did in the opener when he was healthy? His one catch for 8 yards was the lowest production of any receiver for either team in that game and no receiver on the field was being paid as much as Dez.

 

[theebs]

of else he will start hearing a course of boo's and people questioning him. He got his money and no one can take that from him but players still look for fan support and with strong fan support comes more endorsements. Ask RGIII those adds he was doing have been drying up since he is not a big deal any longer

You are taking the position that the fans in the stadium are going to boo Dez Bryant?

Good Luck with that.

 

[Doomsday101]

I know some claim that the money is for the off season but let me say when you are paid as an elite you are expected to perform as elite. With the money comes greater expectation. I'm not trying to get down on Dez but much is and should be expected from him. It appears he is ready to go for the Philly game and he really needs to step it up and help this offense move into the next gear. Not looking for Dak to force balls into Dez I expect Dez to get open and make big plays.

 

[Doomsday101]

You are taking the position that the fans in the stadium are going to boo Dez Bryant?

Good Luck with that.

I watched fans boo Meredith, I watched fans boo Aikman a man who helped lead this team to 3 SB's. You bet fans place expectations on players and in the case of Dez he held out for the big money but with that money come greater expectations. Hell Terrance Williams is always catching hell yet he has managed to get himself open without Dez in the lineup he is making plays so why should expectation on Williams be greater than that of a so called elite player? Reputation only takes you so far this is for a lack of a better word what have you don't lately league.