Werder breaks down WR issues on Irvin Show - 7/8/08

[TwentyOne]

It worries me!

When Owens went down, the offense went with him. If he's lost for any period of time, the results will be similar. Others receivers had the chance to 'step up' and none did. Owens is the 'big dog' and everyone else is a role player.

Crayton did not start at the #2 spot by design last year, and he shouldn't this year either. He should be where he's supposed to be - at the #3 position.

Nothing can derail this team's Super Bowl hopes quicker than an injury to Owens, because the passing game will go with him.

That's the point.

It was never the question that our offense lacks power with the wr setup we had and have. the problem was depth behind to. i don't feel good baout our offense when i look at last years games with an injured or a missing TO. when i think about garrett and his tendency to abandon the run when the offense stutters it worries me eve n more.

but you can't fix every problem in one offseason. an compared to others teams our problems are really small. ok we have a high aim - tahts winning the SB. to archive this goal we have to stay healthy at the WRs starting positions. otherwise bye bye lombardy

 

[Stash]

That's the point.

It was never the question that our offense lacks power with the wr setup we had and have. the problem was depth behind to. i don't feel good baout our offense when i look at last years games with an injured or a missing TO. when i think about garrett and his tendency to abandon the run when the offense stutters it worries me eve n more.

That precisely what I worry about.

Owens goes down, this team has no other option.

Obviously nobody could fully replace Owens, but I'd feel better with more options.

Funny how everyone was on board with getting another receiver and then since it hasn't happened, it changes to the wide receivers being 'good enough'.

 

[CATCH17]

Crayton is what he is.

A 7th round draft pick who has developed into a good #3 receiver.

He benefits from the attention paid to the talent around him.

Ok... Thats fine.

But hes not a terrible #2 receiver by any means and our offense will be just as explosive with him as a #2.

Plus he has developed and got better each and every year. Its not tottally impossible for him to develop into a solid #2 if he hasnt done that already.

Im not sure why a lot of you think he has entirely hit the wall.

 

[Stash]

Ok... Thats fine.

But hes not a terrible #2 receiver by any means and our offense will be just as explosive with him as a #2.

Plus he has developed and got better each and every year. Its not tottally impossible for him to develop into a solid #2 if he hasnt done that already.

Im not sure why a lot of you think he has entirely hit the wall.

I'm not trying to bash Crayton or minimize what he brings to the table. Sorry if it seems that way.

I'm just looking for more options.

With Crayton, he is what he is. He has good hands and he runs good routes. But he doesn't threaten down the field.

I would like to see the team get someone who can bring that element to the offense.

 

[joseephuss]

It worries me!

When Owens went down, the offense went with him. If he's lost for any period of time, the results will be similar. Others receivers had the chance to 'step up' and none did. Owens is the 'big dog' and everyone else is a role player.

Crayton did not start at the #2 spot by design last year, and he shouldn't this year either. He should be where he's supposed to be - at the #3 position.

Nothing can derail this team's Super Bowl hopes quicker than an injury to Owens, because the passing game will go with him.

So, what do you do at this point?

You can try and trade for one of the big name receivers out there. That is the only thing that will help Dallas if Owens gets hurt. Other than that any move will leave Dallas in the same situation. It will be Owens and a bunch of question marks. At this time, there is no clear #2 caliber wide receiver just sitting out there waiting for to sign with the Cowboys.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

You know, when you think about it, Crayton is still the #3 receiver. T.O. and Witten are options 1 and 2. The only difference is where they line up.

There might be plays when Crayton is in the slot or in motion where he's the first option, but statistically speaking, he's still the 3rd best receiver on the team.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Miles Austin is ALWAYS letting us down.

And by ALWAYS, I mean the 24 months he's been a professional athlete after being an undrafted free agent from a tiny college which was basically glorified high school.

How much longer can we afford to wait on this guy? 30 months? 34 months? Why not draft a WR highly so he can step in right away and tear up the league ... like Robert Meachem and Dewayne Jarrett did.

My biggest problem with him is that we had a big fast guy before that didn't pan out that reminds me of Austin. Haven't we had enough of these big and fast guys? The Cowboys need to stop bringing in these big and fast guys.

 

[AmishCowboy]

Miles Austin is ALWAYS letting us down.

And by ALWAYS, I mean the 24 months he's been a professional athlete after being an undrafted free agent from a tiny college which was basically glorified high school.

How much longer can we afford to wait on this guy? 30 months? 34 months?

My biggest problem with him is that we had a big fast guy before that didn't pan out that reminds me of Austin. Haven't we had enough of these big and fast guys? The Cowboys need to stop bringing in these big and fast guys.

I gotta Believe this is Austin's last Chance with us, like Parcell's said, if you don't show something by your 3rd year it's time to move on.

 

[Stash]

So, what do you do at this point?

You can try and trade for one of the big name receivers out there. That is the only thing that will help Dallas if Owens gets hurt.

Best case scenario, sure. I would offer Detroit my 1st and the extra 3rd and 4th rounders they have for Roy Williams. If they have no intention of keeping him long-term, they should take it. We'll see how badly he wants out of Detroit come training camp. If he holds out or doesn't show when it counts, they might yet move him.

Other than that any move will leave Dallas in the same situation. It will be Owens and a bunch of question marks. At this time, there is no clear #2 caliber wide receiver just sitting out there waiting for to sign with the Cowboys.

I'm suggesting getting another option rather than playing the Terry Glenn waiting game. Nobody replaces Owens, but having more options wouldn't hurt. There are players who could be had that might not equal the "Big Three" routinely mentioned, but there are players available.

I think it's more realistic than hoping for Stanback to somehow morph into the team's #2 guy.

 

[CATCH17]

I'm not trying to bash Crayton or minimize what he brings to the table. Sorry if it seems that way.

I'm just looking for more options.

With Crayton, he is what he is. He has good hands and he runs good routes. But he doesn't threaten down the field.

I would like to see the team get someone who can bring that element to the offense.

He may not be a deep threat but he can hurt you down the field. Maybe not deep down the field but he can pick up chunks and on 3rd downs he is always a factor.

He can break tackles, and he is also good at reading the opposing teams blitz and adjusting his route.

Hes not all world or anything. I'd rather have Terry Glenn. But lets not act like he is some big glaring hole on our team or anything.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

Miles Austin is ALWAYS letting us down.

And by ALWAYS, I mean the 24 months he's been a professional athlete after being an undrafted free agent from a tiny college which was basically glorified high school.

How much longer can we afford to wait on this guy? 30 months? 34 months? Why not draft a WR highly so he can step in right away and tear up the league ... like Robert Meachem and Dewayne Jarrett did.

My biggest problem with him is that we had a big fast guy before that didn't pan out that reminds me of Austin. Haven't we had enough of these big and fast guys? The Cowboys need to stop bringing in these big and fast guys.

Love the sarcasm. That's rich.

 

[Stash]

Miles Austin is ALWAYS letting us down.

And by ALWAYS, I mean the 24 months he's been a professional athlete after being an undrafted free agent from a tiny college which was basically glorified high school.

How much longer can we afford to wait on this guy? 30 months? 34 months? Why not draft a WR highly so he can step in right away and tear up the league ... like Robert Meachem and Dewayne Jarrett did.

My biggest problem with him is that we had a big fast guy before that didn't pan out that reminds me of Austin. Haven't we had enough of these big and fast guys? The Cowboys need to stop bringing in these big and fast guys.

Big and fast is great.

Catching the football is greater.

Hopefully he does that this year.

 

[Stash]

He may not be a deep threat but he can hurt you down the field. Maybe not deep down the field but he can pick up chunks and on 3rd downs he is always a factor.

He can break tackles, and he is also good at reading the opposing teams blitz and adjusting his route.

Hes not all world or anything. I'd rather have Terry Glenn. But lets not act like he is some big glaring hole on our team or anything.

No arguments there.

His ypc numbers are actually higher than you would think and he's definitely not a 'galring hole'.

But he'll never be a guy who scares anybody.

If Owens gets hurt for any length of time, would you be comfortable with Crayton and Hurd?

 

[dbair1967]

I'm not trying to bash Crayton or minimize what he brings to the table. Sorry if it seems that way.

I'm just looking for more options.

With Crayton, he is what he is. He has good hands and he runs good routes. But he doesn't threaten down the field.

I would like to see the team get someone who can bring that element to the offense.

the guy in your sig doesnt do that as fyi...

David

 

[CATCH17]

No arguments there.

His ypc numbers are actually higher than you would think and he's definitely not a 'galring hole'.

But he'll never be a guy who scares anybody.

If Owens gets hurt for any length of time, would you be comfortable with Crayton and Hurd?

Comfortable no...

The sky is falling and our season is over? No to that too.

I like our 21 other guys and I still think we will have more talent than almost any team we line up against with or without Owens.

I cant think of many #2 receivers in the league that I would be comfortable with as my #1 if I had Owens go down.

If you can't get a bigtime receiver with next years #1 then i'd rather just try and develop the talent we have.

 

[Stash]

the guy in your sig doesnt do that as fyi...

David

Not In Jacksonville.

But then, who does?

I remember your famous Crayton lovefest post, that went over really well.

Maybe you should stick to the political zone?

 

[dbair1967]

Not In Jacksonville.

But then, who does?

I remember your famous Crayton lovefest post, that went over really well.

Maybe you should stick to the political zone?

Get back to me when you quit pimping scrub players on the verge of being dumped

no matter how you try to spin it Crayton>>>>>Matt Jones

David

 

[Stash]

Get back to me when you quit pimping scrub players on the verge of being dumped

no matter how you try to spin it Crayton>>>>>Matt Jones

David

I'm done wasting my time with you.

Your mind is obviously already made up (and closed).

You see what you want to see.

You're happy with status quo?

Duly noted.

I'm not.

 

[Shake_Tiller]

I think, in order for a team to be consistently successful in the NFL, at some point, there must be an effort to develop talent internally. I love the use of free agency, and I love the use of trades, but neither of those avenues can be employed to a great extent without some suffering -- whether because of mistakes or because, down the road, young talent wasn't developed.

Given the Cowboys' status among the league's elite teams, it would be great to see every possible leak repaired. It's probably not realistic. It would hurt the Cowboys a great deal if Owens were to suffer a long-term injury, or an ill-timed injury. But there isn't a team in the league that wouldn't be hurt if one of its three or four best players were injured.

I'm hoping one or more of the young receivers makes substantial strides in 2008. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't. But I know this: Developing young talent, building from within generally is the most successful approach to putting together a good football team that can sustain a level of excellence over a long period of time.

If the Cowboys become too seduced with the idea of patching from without, rather than from within, the franchise will struggle to stay among the elite.

 

[joseephuss]

I'm done wasting my time with you.

Your mind is obviously already made up (and closed).

You see what you want to see.

You're happy with status quo?

Duly noted.

I'm not.

Your mind is made up, too. You think Matt Jones will be some magical answer. He is not.

There is a difference between being happy with the status quo and understanding that at this point there is little that can be done to change it.

Complain all you want about the current wide receiving corp. It is in its current state because of many decision made over the last few years. Not one thing is going to dramatically change it unless they can pull off a blockbuster trade. And the probability of that happening is pretty low. You don't have to be happy with it, but it is what it is.

You bash Crayton as a 7th rounder, but he has gotten better each year. He has achieved the most out of his skill set. You also promote Jones a 1st rounder who just had his worst year of his 3 seasons. It looks like he may have reached the most out of his skill set as well. With him the size and speed he brings to the table is not enough to compensate for the wee sized mental game he brings as well.