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

[The Panch]

Just a little history lesson for the Madden generation: Alvin Harper amassed a grand total of 35 receptions for 562 yards and 4 TDs in the 1992 season (the first Super Bowl of the 90's).

The next year? 36 receptions for 777 yards and 5 TDs. Phenomenal YPC average, BTW (and never duplicated). The 50 receptions and 7 TDs that Crayton put up are nothing to scoff at. Try realistic expectations and you'll be less disappointed.

Here's a few numbers for you to ponder.

35 562 16.1 4 (1992)

36 777 21.6 5 (1993)

38 613 16.1 2 (1995)


Those are the numbers of the #2 WRs on the Dallas Cowboys' during our last 3 Super Bowl seasons. ONE player had more yards (Harper) during that stretch than Crayton had last year. NONE had more TDs. Some people need to get their head out of the clouds and pay attention to REAL football as opposed to fantasy stats.

Everyone's high on Jason Witten (as well we should be), but keep in mind that it took Witten 46 more receptions to come up with the same amount of TDs that Crayton recorded. You can spin that anyway you want, but that's a fact.

Crayton is a very serviceable #2 regardless of which measuring stick you choose to use. Is he All-Pro? No. And he doesn't need to be. He's a #2 WR.

NEWS FLASH: This isnt the early 90s. We had the best RB of the decade and ran to set up the pass as opposed to this pass happy team we have today.

 

[Stash]

I don't understand any of your points.

Keeping Glenn on the roster right now does not prevent or limit Dallas in any way from making any other roster moves to acquire a wide receiver. That is pretty straight forward.

I don't think it's a 'straight forward' as you do. Every day the situation goes unresolved is another day of playing the can-he-or-can't-he 'waiting game' that they've played since last year.

If they keep him on the roster after final cuts and he is not 100% healthy then he would be wasting a spot. We will have to see if that happens. I doubt it gets to that point because I doubt he is ever 100% healthy and I doubt they keep him if/when he isn't.

I sure hope so.

It was a big deal that Skyler Green was a failure. Did you not read this board after watching him play and him finally getting cut? I don't know where you got that I thought it wasn't a big deal. I am just not going to dwell on something that happened two years ago and doesn't impact what moves Dallas makes right now.

Merely brought up for perspective that a 6th rounder is a small price to pay.

My argument is not based on previous moves Dallas has made or yet to make with Glenn. It is based on that I don't think Jones is as good as you claim and not worth trading a 6th round pick to acquire. Dallas screwing themselves by drafting guys like Peterman, Rogers, Fasano or whomever does not change my mind about Jones. One screwup does not justify making another.

Jones has better skills and better numbers than Austin, Hurd, or Stanback do. And I think he would be an upgrade over any of them.

That's easily worth a 6th rounder to me.

 

[dbair1967]

Jones is better than Austin, Hurd, or Stanback

.

thats your opinion, but I dont agree with it. I bet Jax would trade Jones straight up for any one of them in a heart beat and be thrilled, whereas I bet Jerruh would laugh in their face if they asked

And I hope you're right. But I would hate to count on that and be disappointed.

I dont think we will be, Houck is a far better OL coach than Sparano and improves run game blocking everywhere he goes...Adams, Gurode and Davis seem tailor made for his style of OL play...even Columbo

We agree? Is that one of the signs of the Apocolypse?

wow, could be!

Definitely agree, nobody is going to totally pick up that slack. I'm just looking for as many options as I can get.

we have options, they just need the chance to step up and prove themselves...just because they arnt proven doesnt mean they cant play

I'm also in the camp that would prefer a better veteran backup QB to Brad Johnson.

Romo going down for the long term or the season is the nightmare scenario...Johnson might be ok for a game or so, but if he had to play alot it'd definitely have a huge impact...wouldnt mind seeing a different backup myself, but not sure there's a decent one to be had

My stance is that this team is Super Bowl caliber and I would do anything and everything I could to ensure that it wasn't derailed by injury.

They can only do so much...there are 4 guys you could probably say we cant afford to lose for the long term, Romo, Ware, Owens and probably Newman...perhaps even Adams. That said, there's no way we can have insurance that wouldnt be a fall off from any or all of them. Other guys have to step up...the OL has to run block better...Garrett has to stick with the run game more, and the defense has to be more consisent and put QB's on their backs more...the special teams has room for improvement in alot of areas...

on paper this is a better team than the one that lost to the Giants in January...have some faith

David

 

[dbair1967]

NEWS FLASH: This isnt the early 90s. We had the best RB of the decade and ran to set up the pass as opposed to this pass happy team we have today.

thats not really true...we threw more in the first halves of games, got ahead and then turned the game over to Emmitt in the 4th qtr...he got more carries in the 2nd halves than 1st halves...we were an excellent passing team then

last yr I suspect Garrett called alot more passes than runs for a few reasons...first we were good at it...nobody could stop it when they were healthy...second, he knew early on what became obvious to everyone as the season got later, that the OL wasnt very good at run blocking and we couldnt win games by relying on it...

David

 

[Stash]

Amazing how anyone wearing the star is so overvalued. Yeah, I'm sure they'd be all over Austin's 5 catches or Stanback's 0.

I dont think we will be, Houck is a far better OL coach than Sparano and improves run game blocking everywhere he goes...Adams, Gurode and Davis seem tailor made for his style of OL play...even Columbo

I'm excited by Houck's arrival as well. Maulers like Adams, Davis, adn Gurode seem like good fits - Colombo too.

we have options, they just need the chance to step up and prove themselves...just because they arnt proven doesnt mean they cant play

They did get a chance late last season. I didn't see anyone step up. That's part of why I'd be looking for another one.

Romo going down for the long term or the season is the nightmare scenario...Johnson might be ok for a game or so, but if he had to play alot it'd definitely have a huge impact...wouldnt mind seeing a different backup myself, but not sure there's a decent one to be had

I'd take Culpepper myself. The guy has shown that he's capable.

They can only do so much...there are 4 guys you could probably say we cant afford to lose for the long term, Romo, Ware, Owens and probably Newman...perhaps even Adams. That said, there's no way we can have insurance that wouldnt be a fall off from any or all of them. Other guys have to step up...the OL has to run block better...Garrett has to stick with the run game more, and the defense has to be more consisent and put QB's on their backs more...the special teams has room for improvement in alot of areas...

Agreed. Again. Scary!

on paper this is a better team than the one that lost to the Giants in January...have some faith

I agree with that (again!) but I'm just looking for a bit of insurance.

 

[joseephuss]

I don't think it's a 'straight forward' as you do. Every day the situation goes unresolved is another day of playing the can-he-or-can't-he 'waiting game' that they've played since last year.



I sure hope so.



Merely brought up for perspective that a 6th rounder is a small price to pay.



Jones has better skills and better numbers than Austin, Hurd, or Stanback do. And I think he would be an upgrade over any of them.

That's easily worth a 6th rounder to me.

It is only playing the waiting game if they end up wasting a spot for Glenn once the season starts. For now it means nothing. I say keep as long as possible so he can't readily join another team.

I don't view a 6th rounder as a small price. Losing a 4th rounder on Green sucked. Possibly losing one on Stanback if he doesn't pan out will also suck.

The basis is that you think Jones is worth a 6th rounder and I don't. What they do with Glenn does not change that. What they do or don't do to acquire Roy Williams or anyone else does not change that.

Dallas is going to have to go deep in the secondary because of the two drafted rookie CBs and the fact that it is still unknown when Pacman will be available. That is going to effect how many wide receivers they keep and what they expect from the receivers as far as special teams. Stanback can return kicks and nothing else. Hurd and Austin can play on the coverage teams. Jones can't do any of that.

 

[The Panch]

Cowboys four straight 12+ win seasons(92-95)
Aikman in 92: 29.5 attempts per game
Aikman in 93: 28.0 attempts per game
Aikman in 94: 25.8 attempts per game
Aikman in 95: 27.0 attempts per game
.................
Romo in 06: 32.5 attempts per game


After Aikman's 92 season, the numbers were significantly different.


And if you look when the Triplets won their first SB, they were 12th in the league in passing attempts and 5th in rushing attempts while the '07 Boys were 4th in the league in passing attempts and 21st in the league in rushing attempts.

 

[Kangaroo]

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.

Crayton is most effective in the slot IMO he is more quick than fast he has solid speed but he is more quick and fluid then anything

I like crayton he is a solid player you still need solid players to win in the NFL

 

[Stash]

It is only playing the waiting game if they end up wasting a spot for Glenn once the season starts. For now it means nothing. I say keep as long as possible so he can't readily join another team.

I'm not into 'spite' moves. The Jaguars are playing the same game with Jones. I think you do what's in the best interests of your team and move on.

I don't view a 6th rounder as a small price. Losing a 4th rounder on Green sucked. Possibly losing one on Stanback if he doesn't pan out will also suck.

The basis is that you think Jones is worth a 6th rounder and I don't. What they do with Glenn does not change that. What they do or don't do to acquire Roy Williams or anyone else does not change that.

I guess that's what it boils down to. But even if Jones put up the career worst numbers he did last season spent deactivated in Del Rio's doghouse he'd still be worth a 6th rounder.

Dallas is going to have to go deep in the secondary because of the two drafted rookie CBs and the fact that it is still unknown when Pacman will be available. That is going to effect how many wide receivers they keep and what they expect from the receivers as far as special teams. Stanback can return kicks and nothing else. Hurd and Austin can play on the coverage teams. Jones can't do any of that.

The two rookies replace Reeves and Nate Jones so that's a wash roster-wise.
Adam Jones would replace the departed Keith Davis and add at least as much special teams-wise at least on returns.

I think Felix Jones will replace Austin and/or Stanback on kick returns anyway.

I don't see cornerback or special teams preventing the team from keeping 6 receivers like they did last year.

 

[skinsscalper]

NEWS FLASH: This isnt the early 90s. We had the best RB of the decade and ran to set up the pass as opposed to this pass happy team we have today.

Here's another news flash for ya, genius: Maybe we should focus more on a solid rushing attack that failed to deliver in crunch time rather than a dropped pass, ya think?

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Miles Austin will make the move in training camp...

 

[proline]

The concerns all boil down to one word ..... DEPTH. If T.O. gets injured the guys behind him are just JAGs. Same for Witten. If we can avoid injuries, then we are in good shape. But that will take some luck, and I'm not comfortable relying on that.

 

[Hoofbite]

Im content with the receivers the team has, ecstatic if Glenn is able but that doesn't mean I would turn down the opportunity to get a good, young WR who could play 2nd to TO and move into #1 spot when TO is done.