Vela: We Need a Deep Threat

[theebs]

well wade wilson must know everything about berrian so if he is on their short list they will have first hand knowledge of his abilities.

 

[Woods]

It would be great to get a D Branch type.

I think Hackett is another WR at Seattle with deep speed, and he should be affordable.

I would prefer Berrien, but I think he'll have a lot of interest and he won't be as affordable as we're all hoping.

Stallworth's durability concerns me a bit. At least that was an issue at NO.

And I really wonder if the Lions would trade R Williams for a 2nd . . . . not sure I buy that rumor.

Is J Gage of Tenn considered a WR with any deep speed? I think he's available as well.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

We got TO and Austin for deep threats but I'm more concerned about establishing short routes..

I don't think TO was picked up because he's a burner. He just has that ability to make the big play. I don't think teams see him as a threat to stretch the field. He's just physically imposing.

What about Chad Johnson at Cincy? Honestly, I'm not sure how he is on speed, but he is a playmaker. Doubt he would come as cheap as the others, but if he's out there, why not sign him?

Just food for thought.

 

[iceberg]

The Buffalo Bills of the early ’90s offer a case study in the value of a deep threat.

In 1990 their K-gun, three wide receiver no-huddle offense ran roughshod over the NFL. Only a determined ball control New York Giants attack and a missed Scott Norwood field goal kept this unit, which pasted Oakland with 51 points in the AFC title game, from winning the Super Bowl.

That team scored over 28 points a game. Its receiver trio divided up the field. Andre Reed was the all purpose threat, a complete player who could beat you on the flanks and in the middle. Don Beebe was a speed threat from the slot. Thurman Thomas was a running and receiving threat from the backfield.

They got their room to operate because James Lofton kept opposing safeties honest. He averaged almost 19 yards per catch, so defenses could not load up the short zones trying to stop Thomas and Reed.

In ‘92 Lofton began to age. By ‘93 Lofton was gone and while the Bills made their final two Super Bowl runs their points per game dropped to 24 and then 21 points per game though Beebe, Reed, Thomas and Jim Kelly were still going strong.

The ‘07 Cowboys may not seem like the proper parallel with those old Bills. After all, their points per game rose from over 26 to over 28 points from ‘06 to ‘07. And this came with Terry Glenn playing in the first season and not playing in the latter.

I would argue that the Cowboys’ improvement came from a better passing scheme, that better utilized Terrell Owens and some maturity from Tony Romo.

Let’s look at the Cowboys’ December. They scored 28 points against a Detroit team hell bent on stopping Owens, but had to go the long way to do so. Jason Witten caught 16 passes in that game and Dallas lost its big play capability.

Against the Eagles, Owens was again doubled, though Romo’s scattershot play affected the team more than anything.

Against Carolina, Dallas ran off two scoring drives in the first half, but scored only six points after Owens left with a bum ankle. The Cowboys would score only four field goals in the six quarters after he left.

In the playoff game, Dallas showed great skill at converting third down passes, but had no deep threat. New York doubled the game Owens and while he and Jason Witten got their yards, the plays that linger are Patrick Crayton’s drop and stutter step in the final seconds.

Dallas needs a deep threat. It had a very good one in Terry Glenn but lost him to a knee injury, one that will likely end his career. What’s more, it needs one that is good out of the box. Rookie receivers are notoriously slow to develop; a Randy Moss is a rare bird.

For a blueprint, they can look to New England. The Patriots’ ‘06 ended in Indy, when their defense collapsed in the second half. The most obvious shortcoming seemed to be the aging linebacking corps, that could not cover Colts’ tight ends and receivers.

Instead, the New England brain trust looked at its receiving corps, which dropped several key passes in that loss, and blew it up. For a modest price, the Pats got a wealth of veteran production. They:

traded a 4th round pick to Oakland for Randy Moss;
traded a 2nd and a 7th round pick to Miami for Wes Welker, whom they signed to a long term deal;
signed free agent Donte Stallworth to a one year $3.6 M deal with an option.
The Patriots gave Tom Brady dependable targets and watched their points per game explode from 24 a game last season to almost 37 this year. Teams could double Moss, but risked having Stallworth or Welker destroy them.

Dallas learned this the hard way. They kept Moss in check for much of the game but had no answer for Welker and watched Stallworth burn them for a 60 yard bomb in the 4th once the defense dialed up harder blitzes to get Brady.

Bloggers talk about chasing Moss, who will be a free agent, but he’ll be a top dollar signing. Dallas already has the all purpose threat in Owens and a steady, over the middle slot man in Crayton, who signed an extension this year.

Getting the deep man is key, and guys like this don’t cost an arm and a leg. Look at Stallworth’s contract. That’s in line with what Crayton will be making. It’s the mid priced deal that can be so valuable if the other pieces are in place.

That’s why I look at Chicago’s Bernard Berrian and to Stallworth himself as top targets for Dallas in free agency. Berrian has a reputation as being one dimensional but its the dimension Dallas lacks. He averaged 15.5 yards per reception in the Bears’ ‘06 Super Bowl drive and had a higher average until teams realized he was the lone legitimate weapon in Chicago’s passing arsenal.

He’s durable and should not cost a fortune.

Also look for Stallworth, who is due a $6 million roster bonus by February 25th. With Moss and Asante Samuel also facing free agency, there’s not much chance the Pats pick this up. He might be a good signing for a team at something approaching his ‘07 money.

With Jason Garrett staying the passing system will remain intact. Adding the deep speed should make Owens and Witten that much better, not to mention the running game.

when you read the title fast, the "e" in threat sure can look like an "o".

 

[burmafrd]

Berrian drops too many. Roy williams is a deep threat that demands respect.

As for Manningham, I watched him in 4 games this season and he dropped at least 2 in each of those games. PASS.

 

[40Bates40]

Hmm...whose the Giants deep threat again? , yeah ummm...not buying this one -Plax couldn't get off the blocks, Toomer is 37 yrs old , Boss is a backup TE.
Creative Writing Score - 9
Validity - 3
Reach Factor - 10 :starspin

 

[smarta5150]

Berrian drops too many. Roy williams is a deep threat that demands respect.

As for Manningham, I watched him in 4 games this season and he dropped at least 2 in each of those games. PASS.

TO lead the league in drops last year.

Braylon Edwards also has a case of the "dropsies" in college.

 

[burmafrd]

BUT he also did not make anywhere near the number of big plays that would allow one to accept the drops. AND by the way with a HEALTHY hand TO had a lot fewer drops this year.

 

[smarta5150]

BUT he also did not make anywhere near the number of big plays that would allow one to accept the drops. AND by the way with a HEALTHY hand TO had a lot fewer drops this year.

Ok... you obviously allowed Michigan's record to fool you on the number of big plays made.

He made a number of big plays including the 1st game of the year in a loss to App St.

He's the only reason why we had a FG attempt with no time left on the clock.

EDIT: MM was injured as well for a chunk of the season if you were unaware.

 

[windward]

BUT he also did not make anywhere near the number of big plays that would allow one to accept the drops. AND by the way with a HEALTHY hand TO had a lot fewer drops this year.

I disagree on not making big plays. In all but one game did he catch more than 2 passes. In 7 out of 12 games he averaged 15 yards or more per catch. 4 multi-TD games.
Look at these stats:

Oregon 8-117
Northwestern 10-123-1
Purdue 8-147-2
Illinois 9-109-2
Minesota 5-162-1
Michigan St. 8-129-1
Wisconsin 3-113-1

He had a solid game in the Capital One Bowl vs. Florida
5-78-1

72 catches 1174 yards 12 tds. Manningham is a player.

 

[smarta5150]

I disagree on not making big plays. In all but one game did he catch more than 2 passes. In 7 out of 12 games he averaged 15 yards or more per catch. 4 multi-TD games.
Look at these stats:

Oregon 8-117
Northwestern 10-123-1
Purdue 8-147-2
Illinois 9-109-2
Minesota 5-162-1
Michigan St. 8-129-1
Wisconsin 3-113-1

He had a solid game in the Capital One Bowl vs. Florida
5-78-1

72 catches 1174 yards 12 tds. Manningham is a player.

Don't mind Burm, he is either an Ohio St. fan or one of the guys who doesn't consider the Big 10 a real conference.

PS. Sorry Ohio St fans for dropping you a level :

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Vela is always shooting at the bullseye

 

[windward]

Don't mind Burm, he is either an Ohio St. fan or one of the guys who doesn't consider the Big 10 a real conference.

PS. Sorry Ohio St fans for dropping you a level :

He's a Notre Dame fan IIRC.

 

[windward]

Vela is always shooting at the bullseye

Who doesn't?

 

[smarta5150]

He's a Notre Dame fan IIRC.

Close enough.

 

[cowboyz]

What kind of wheels does Bryant Johnson have?
Andre Davis

Andre Davis is the correct answer. speed, decent hands, return ability bryant johnson has decent speed not great, but the guy was asked to be a #2 when boldin went out and was horrible, the guy drops way too many passes.

 

[windward]

Andre Davis is the correct answer. speed, decent hands, return ability bryant johnson has decent speed not great, but the guy was asked to be a #2 when boldin went out and was horrible, the guy drops way too many passes.

Andre Davis would come cheaper and he is a great return guy. I would not mind him at all.

 

[Kalyan]

What if that palyer is injured before playoffs? Repeat of 2007 season?

All teams have weakness, good teams overcome their weakness.
Gaints have very bad secondary but able to cover it with their stong defensive line. On the other hand, teams are able to constanly pick on Reeves/Williams on our secondary...

I am stil hurt from last weekend's loss, so still in a venting mode...

 

[sbark]

Article is right on the problem.......even in G.Bay game: Austin behind D 2x and got lucky enough to draw 2 penalties

Austin was way behind the Gints D middle/Late of 4 Qtr but Romo was running for his life, maybe the play Romo gave the business to Kosier/Gurode?

That "deep threat" is gonna have to be a guy that can also screen off a quik slant with a bigger body......as we are gonna see a ton of Philly Jim Johnson type D schemes (4 in our division alone) next year

 

[BlueStar II]

We do need some deep speed that we were lacking this year. While I would like to see him come back, I really don't think Glenn will be back, or if he comes back, I doubt that his knee will hold up.