Who are the playmakers that will emerge?

[ESisback]

I’m a huge believer that in team sports, you have to build a great TEAM to win. But every team has to have stars- players that the team relies on to make big plays when the game is on the line. These kind of players have often been called “playmakers”. Again- these are guys that make plays when you have to have it, often times in playoff games or reg seasongames that have meaning.

Every great era of Cowboys football where we were at least serious contenders for a SB, there were playmakers on both sides of the ball. Every decade of Cowboys football that has included contending teams has had multiple playmakers.

Here are some of the big time Cowboys “Playmakers” of the past over the years:

Bob Lily, George Andre, Mel Renfro, Don Meredith, Bob Hayes, Frank Clark, Don Perkins, Chuck Howley, Roger Staubach, Duane Thomas, Drew Pearson, Tony Dorsett, Tony Hill, Randy White, Harvey Martin, Too Tall Jones, Cliff Harris, Everson Walls, Danny White, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Jay Novacek, Charles Haley, Ken Norton, Jr, Deion Sanders, Darren Woodson, DeMarcus Ware, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Terrell Owens, Dez Bryant…maybe a few others.
​

Now…in 2021…who are the proven playmakers?

These guys are at this point- on offense, Dak Prescott, Zeke Elliott, Amari Cooper, maybe CeDee Lamb and maybe Michael Gallup. On defense- DeMarcus Lawrence….? Too early to tell on the young guys we’ve drafted this year on defense. Point is, that’s not enough. Especially on D.
​

So my question is, Who are the playmakers that will emerge? Without them, this is not a playoff team. I’m thinking if the offensive guys like Dak, Zeke and the receivers are back to what they have been, the offense has it playmakers. Defense? Can Parsons develop quickly along with some of the other young guys like Kelvin Joseph, Diggs, and maybe Gregory?

All I know is playmakers are needed. Who do you think they will be?

Parsons, Gallimore, Gregory, Diggs!

Keep an eye on Odiggy, Joseph

 

[Creeper]

I think Gregory is probably the one we expect to be a playmaker on defense. I suspect Diggs will be a playmaker too.

I'd like to see Gallimore step up a lot this year, and LVE. But LVE needs to stay healthy.

On offense, it is Dak. Then Gallup. Then a TE, and I think that might be Schultz.

I think Zeke will be a workhorse, but I don't see him making big plays like he did as a rookie.

My sense of the Cowboys offense is it will work best when Dak spreads the ball around. They have guys who will make plays but no one who will dominate a game.

 

[nightrain]

I think we are going to see a return to prominence for Zeke.
The OL will stay relatively intact and have a top 10 performance in 2021
The Cowboys passing game is going to be of the charts good. McCarthy and Moore will run multiple personnel groupings from a spread alignment with a 60/40 offense (more passing) utilizing more of the quick hit RAC style plays.

 

[cheyennes]

Charly Waters.
Wilson
Parson Cox

 

[kskboys]

Parsons. In a monstrous way.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I think with a healthy offensive line you'll see a much improved running game. Along with the depth at the WR position this team will be hard to defend. To me those two factors play into the hands of the TE position. My emerging playmakers are Schultz/Jarwin who I think will be major red zone threats and get lots of favorable matchups.

 

[kskboys]

What we really need is for D playmakers to emerge at all 3 levels. We need Diggy, Joseph, and one of the S's to emerge in a big way. And we need Bonanas to emerge as a nasty pocket collapsing middle stuffer.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

@Bobhaze The team has numerous players capable of being playmakers. The problem with some of those like Dak, Elliott, Lawrence, and Jaylon Smith is they are not clutch. They don’t elevate their game when all the chips are down and fold like cheap seats.

Team needs clutch players more than playmakers. Solid players who turn it up a notch on third down, turn it up in the big games.

Need players who aren’t out there freelancing trying to make highlight reels. Know your responsibility and do your job. Always play solid, fundamental football and quit trying to be the focus of attention.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

When the going gets tough, Dak will get pressure (both fair and undo because of his position and contract) to ‘throw’ them out of their rut.

And on defense, I think Dlaw will be what he has the last 2 years, a balanced Dlineman but not putting up particularly gaudy stats, and the pass rush will ebb and flow by how Randy Gregory is performing. He’s Dallas’s wild card: if he blows up this year, it’ll be huge for the 1-2 combo of him and Dlaw, and a strong pass rush fixes a LOT of problems on both sides of the ball.

 

[Melonfeud]

*while I'm not the type to go "off the reservation" in an overt fuzzed-up mode of posting operations* I was somewhat taken aback, by yer'
( unintentionally, I'm certain of it, there , bullet bob )
omission of both the #40& # 41 ,,, Bill Bates& Charlie Waters,,, tho, you're closer/ cya statement , was worthy of Revlon & Mabelleine's line of ladies war paint praise,,, as it TOO, covered a multitude of visual sins*

Our 1st Rd 2021 draft pick will be the most obvious one ( either thru cause or effect) being of most notable impact/ improvement,in conjunction with that brand new plan of the schemed game ploy, by the COACHING staffed dept
.

 

[MoistMayonnaise]

Let's be honest. No one really stepped up last year so the best bet for emergence is the new guys, FAs and rookies. I hope they all kick butt because we need the help.

 

[quickccc]

-Though Gregory still is promising physical more tools and potential and isn't a seasoned vet, he's expected to be a big playmaker.
I've heard a few talk of him being more of a rush specialist than full time starter, but i think they also underrate how he plays the run on the edge.
he's quite not Dlaw in that area, but he's not Robert Quinn either. And he certainly needs to be on field far more than what ex-DL coach Tomsula preferred.

- Wilson looked like he was emerging as a playmaker. For one without much NFL game experience, only started 11 games, seems to always be making something happening
vs pass. He wasn't always in right position, but he has a knack for making big play hits, fumble strips, blitz sacks, and INTs.
Once his overall game solidifies and becomes more consistent, don't be surprised if he eventually becomes the field general leader of the secondary.

- i think Gallimore & Hill maybe on brink on break out years, maybe wishful thinking of me, but i saw flashes from them that led me to believe they are developing well.
As inexperience as Trysten is, and as shelved as Hill was per Marinelli's last year, he was getting off blocks and into the backfield in spots and occasions, I could
only imagine what Hill could've been by season's end. Gallimore flashed occasional penetration skills vs run, but struggled overall in that area, and a way to go
as a developing interior rusher.

- I think my pet project Bradley Anae will give off another big impression in camp and force coaches to take it from there, whenever he's lined up
as a pass rusher per Utah, per Senior Bowl, per Cowboys camp, he always impressed and produced.
Some players just outplay their so-so measurables. and workout numbers. Big key will be added special teams play.
Backup reserves are especially counted upon to contribute on special teams. Up against numbers game, an unproven Anae cannot afford to be mediocre on special teams.

 

[CowboyRoy]

LVE on defense, and Lamb on offense.

LVE?

Lamb for sure.

 

[CowboyRoy]

-Though Gregory still is promising physical more tools and potential and isn't a seasoned vet, he's expected to be a big playmaker.
I've heard a few talk of him being more of a rush specialist than full time starter, but i think they also underrate how he plays the run on the edge.
he's quite not Dlaw in that area, but he's not Robert Quinn either. And he certainly needs to be on field far more than what ex-DL coach Tomsula preferred.

- Wilson looked like he was emerging as a playmaker. For one without much NFL game experience, only started 11 games, seems to always be making something happening
vs pass. He wasn't always in right position, but he has a knack for making big play hits, fumble strips, blitz sacks, and INTs.
Once his overall game solidifies and becomes more consistent, don't be surprised if he eventually becomes the field general leader of the secondary.

- i think Gallimore & Hill maybe on brink on break out years, maybe wishful thinking of me, but i saw flashes from them that led me to believe they are developing well.
As inexperience as Trysten is, and as shelved as Hill was per Marinelli's last year, he was getting off blocks and into the backfield in spots and occasions, I could
only imagine what Hill could've been by season's end. Gallimore flashed occasional penetration skills vs run, but struggled overall in that area, and a way to go
as a developing interior rusher.

- I think my pet project Bradley Anae will give off another big impression in camp and force coaches to take it from there, whenever he's lined up
as a pass rusher per Utah, per Senior Bowl, per Cowboys camp, he always impressed and produced.
Some players just outplay their so-so measurables. and workout numbers. Big key will be added special teams play.
Backup reserves are especially counted upon to contribute on special teams. Up against numbers game, Anae cannot afford to be mediocre on SP.

Hill? Anae? You must mean HOPE.

 

[CouchCoach]

We need some consistency too. Those playmakers of the past were consistent. You could count on them in the clutch. That’s what we’ve lacked for some time. Consistent playmakers that can be counted on.

That's the issue I have with Elliott and Cooper, they can be no shows.

Since we haven't seen Quinn's D yet, hard to call on the D side but if it holds true to form of SEA, Lawrence, Gregory, Parson, Vander Esch, Diggs and Joseph would be the playmakers and maybe, Cox.

My number one interest level about this team will be the response of the vets to Quinn and 8 drafted rookies on D.

On offense, if he stays healthy, I expect good things from Jarwin because I think the WR corps is going to draw the DC's highest concern and I think they're going to want to cut down Prescott's release time to keep invaders out of the pocket. McC got a real good look at his team without his QB, that happens again, chances are he's not looking at this team as his team in 2022.

 

[jazzcat22]

JAYLON #9...book it!

 

[Jake]

I’m a huge believer that in team sports, you have to build a great TEAM to win. But every team has to have stars- players that the team relies on to make big plays when the game is on the line. These kind of players have often been called “playmakers”. Again- these are guys that make plays when you have to have it, often times in playoff games or reg seasongames that have meaning.

Every great era of Cowboys football where we were at least serious contenders for a SB, there were playmakers on both sides of the ball. Every decade of Cowboys football that has included contending teams has had multiple playmakers.

Here are some of the big time Cowboys “Playmakers” of the past over the years:

Bob Lily, George Andre, Mel Renfro, Don Meredith, Bob Hayes, Frank Clark, Don Perkins, Chuck Howley, Roger Staubach, Duane Thomas, Drew Pearson, Tony Dorsett, Tony Hill, Randy White, Harvey Martin, Too Tall Jones, Cliff Harris, Everson Walls, Danny White, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Jay Novacek, Charles Haley, Ken Norton, Jr, Deion Sanders, Darren Woodson, DeMarcus Ware, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Terrell Owens, Dez Bryant…maybe a few others.
​

Now…in 2021…who are the proven playmakers?

These guys are at this point- on offense, Dak Prescott, Zeke Elliott, Amari Cooper, maybe CeDee Lamb and maybe Michael Gallup. On defense- DeMarcus Lawrence….? Too early to tell on the young guys we’ve drafted this year on defense. Point is, that’s not enough. Especially on D.
​

So my question is, Who are the playmakers that will emerge? Without them, this is not a playoff team. I’m thinking if the offensive guys like Dak, Zeke and the receivers are back to what they have been, the offense has it playmakers. Defense? Can Parsons develop quickly along with some of the other young guys like Kelvin Joseph, Diggs, and maybe Gregory?

All I know is playmakers are needed. Who do you think they will be?

DLaw, Jaylon, Dak, Zeke, and Cooper are the guys paid to be the playmakers. If we're looking elsewhere then the Cowboys paid the wrong players.

Paying good players like great players won't make them great players. They are who they are - Dak's contract won't suddenly make him Tom Brady.

 

[quickccc]

If Kellen Moore knew how to utilize Pollard's receiving skills, he could be one of the more dynamic situational nickel RB in NFL.
but while he excels at designing schemes and ultilizing the WRs and TEs, Moore is underwhelming when it comes to scheming and designing the RBs in both run and pass game, imo,

But Pollard remains severely under-used and kept as simplistic as they come.
We could've been scheme- designing so many mismatches vs LB coverage and in open field with his great speed and run skills.

 

[quickccc]

Hill? Anae? You must mean HOPE.

(sigh) .... Love your optimistic enthusiasm.

 

[CowboyRoy]

(sigh) .... Love your optimistic enthusiasm.

Are you interested in talking football or waving pom poms? If its the latter then I'm not the guy for you.

Hill and Anae have shown little to make any of us believe that are going to break out.