Why has the Playmaker had no impact?

[Chuck 54]

We're 4 games into the season, and our impact WR, T.O., has had little or no impact on the games or our W-L record.

Why? It can't just be Bledsoe...all his games haven't been the disappointments we saw this past Sunday.

Why has one of the best WR's in the game had no impact on the team's offense? Is it Parcells? Is it game-planning? Is it stupidity?

Anyone who reads the board knows I can't stand Parcells or T.O., and I wrote many posts looking at Bledsoe's entire career of TD's to INT's, showing he's nothing special.

Still, Bledsoe has the arm and accuracy to deliver...we saw that last year.
T.O. is among the best WR's in the NFL on the field.
Parcells is going to the HOF.

We can't make excuses for everyone...why isn't T.O. having an impact? And don't tell me he is having an impact because he's opening up things for everyone else...I haven't seen evidence of that on the field yet, and we all know this thing will end very very badly if T.O. is used as a decoy all year...unlike Joey Galloway, he won't suffer silently.

What's going on?

 

[SultanOfSix]

1) He probably isn't 100% football shape. Remember, he sat out 9 games last year, and was injured in preseason.
2) He's learning a new offense.
3) Play of Bledsoe. He's been open, but Bledsoe just hasn't been able to get it to him.
4) We're probably not using him as best as possible.

 

[lyrclcipha12]

we have no clue how to utliize him. and you saw it when parcells said his game plan for the biggest game this season was to not pass the ball to him. it's insane. so basically its a combination of the gameplan and our quarterback just making bad throws. Bledsoe has missed TO or underthrown him many times this year near the endzone and thats just the ones I saw the commentators point out.

Not to mention TO has dropped two touchdown passes.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

1) He probably isn't 100% football shape. Remember, he sat out 9 games last year, and was injured in preseason.
2) He's learning a new offense.
3) Play of Bledsoe. He's been open, but Bledsoe just hasn't been able to get it to him.
4) We're probably not using him as best as possible.

I agree that all 4 are possible. But I believe #4 is

 

[Rampage]

1) He probably isn't 100% football shape. Remember, he sat out 9 games last year, and was injured in preseason.
2) He's learning a new offense.
3) Play of Bledsoe. He's been open, but Bledsoe just hasn't been able to get it to him.
4) We're probably not using him as best as possible.

im leaning towards answers 3 and 4

 

[Alexander]

I haven't seen evidence of that on the field yet, and we all know this thing will end very very badly if T.O. is used as a decoy all year...unlike Joey Galloway, he won't suffer silently.

What's going on?

Interesting point about Galloway. Glenn is always going to be the apple of Bledsoe's eye and probably Coach Parcells too. I remember people thinking Galloway was terrible, but he exploded last season. Weapons aren't weapons if they are not utilized.

Is it Owens' unfamiliarity? I believe that's a factor.

I also do not believe we have explored our options in terms of featuring him either, probably because of it.

The two are intertwined.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think a good portion of it is TO does have a full grasp of the offense which is why Dallas is not putting him in motion. TO has spent his entire career playing WCO this is not the WCO and seeing how he was unable to play for most of the pre-season and had a limited camp I don't think he is on the same page with Bledsoe as Glenn is. Add to that defense are focused on TO

 

[DallasDomination]

Bledsoe is just not playing up to standard.

 

[WV Cowboy]

Tender hamstring to open the season

Broken bone in his hand for two games. (might affect catching a football don't ya think ?)

1st yr in new offense.

Bledsoe.

Be patient, Owens will have good games, .. but it is up to Bledsoe, let's face it.

 

[WV Cowboy]

I think a good portion of it is TO does have a full grasp of the offense which is why Dallas is not putting him in motion. TO has spent his entire career playing WCO this is not the WCO and seeing how he was unable to play for most of the pre-season and had a limited camp I don't think he is on the same page with Bledsoe as Glenn is. Add to that defense are focused on TO

Good point, I would move him in the formations, put him in motion, run a reverse to him, ... I would get him the ball.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Possible reasons either by themselves or in combination.

1. Chemistry/Timing - I still don't think they have had the time to work this issue out. Just when TO get's healthy from the hammy...bang his hand. They just don't have it together yet. I know Irvin could give Troy a look and they would be on the same page. This is something I think Drew and Terry does have. Not just timing but chemistry in trusting and knowing the player.

2. Game planning - Maybe they need to throw a few WCO routes in for TO. Does not mean they have to switch the offense but maybe a couple of routes that TO likes.

3. Double or tripling of TO - People can say what they want but there are times teams can cover a wr...yes even TO. We have done it, the Skins have done it. Problem is we need to take advantage of it with the other WRs. Sometimes we do, sometimes we do not.


4. Dropping the ball - When you do get a pass thrown at you and it is catchable...catch it.

5. Accuracy - Drew can be accurate most times but he also has issues at times where I have no clue what he is doing as he will throw it on the ground 3 yards from a WR.

6. Line must protect - We all know drew is not going to be a Marino in getting rid of the ball. Let him stay reasonably comfortable during a game and he can make the throws and look all pro.

7. Get him started early - TO, IMO, is the type of player that needs to get started early. If he is frustrated early it will normally only get worse.

8. Trick plays or Play action- During the eagles game I was thinking when will we do a flea flicker play. Bill (or maybe it was payton) seems to have a flea flicker ready for at least one big game a year. Of course when the eagles got the ball they did it. Anything to make the safeties stop and head back towards the line even if it is just for a split second.

9. Quick Slants -more ofthem.

10. Set up the pass with the run more - Maybe it is just me but it seems we, so far this year, have been too pass happy when the run is working. Can not believe I would say that as other times I have wanted more passing. But it seems the running game is working but we keep going away from it at times.

 

[Chuck 54]

I blame the coaching...I believe Parcells is stubborn and doesn't really care to have star players...he's the only real star. I believe he gets a guy like T.O. and does absolutely nothing except line him up at a position and have him run the pattern the play calls for.

We heard Bledsoe say he's simply going through his progression of reads...makes perfect sense if you have no stars at WR, just ordinary guys.

But, as much as I dislike him, I do recognize that T.O. is not just another WR. When you have a special player, you shouldn't just keep calling the same plays and running the same offense.

I won't be terribly surprised if T.O. never becomes a consistant impact player in Dallas, nor will I be surprised if that leads him to another meltdown, and I'll blame Parcells.

Instead of stubbornly plugging guys into your system and demanding they "play their roles," I think when you have a legitimate star, which Owens is, you design your offense around him, you make sure he's touching the ball regularly...hitches, screen, reverses, end-arounds, fly, curl, post, corner, pick-plays, run the corner off and come back, anything to get the ball in his hand. Mostly, a big guy like T.O. should be able to run the slant the way Irvin did almost anytime he wants to on 3rd down...we've seen it.

I really don't think it's the injury or the OL or the new offense or Bledsoe. I think he's a superstar who just runs out to his position and runs the same stuff Hurd or Crayton would run if they were in there...just running around and waiting for Bledsoe to make his reads from the top of the passing tree down....what a stubborn waste of a superstar, imo.

 

[removed_20241105]

I think he has made an impact. I find it hard to believe our O Line is the entire reason we are running so much better. Our O Line talent still leaves much to be desired. That extra man in the box is gone. Why? Probably T.O.
Last year, our running game was manure and now it's the only real dependable strength.

 

[juck]

Possible reasons either by themselves or in combination.

1. Chemistry/Timing - I still don't think they have had the time to work this issue out. Just when TO get's healthy from the hammy...bang his hand. They just don't have it together yet. I know Irvin could give Troy a look and they would be on the same page. This is something I think Drew and Terry does have. Not just timing but chemistry in trusting and knowing the player.

2. Game planning - Maybe they need to throw a few WCO routes in for TO. Does not mean they have to switch the offense but maybe a couple of routes that TO likes.

3. Double or tripling of TO - People can say what they want but there are times teams can cover a wr...yes even TO. We have done it, the Skins have done it. Problem is we need to take advantage of it with the other WRs. Sometimes we do, sometimes we do not.


4. Dropping the ball - When you do get a pass thrown at you and it is catchable...catch it.

5. Accuracy - Drew can be accurate most times but he also has issues at times where I have no clue what he is doing as he will throw it on the ground 3 yards from a WR.

6. Line must protect - We all know drew is not going to be a Marino in getting rid of the ball. Let him stay reasonably comfortable during a game and he can make the throws and look all pro.

7. Get him started early - TO, IMO, is the type of player that needs to get started early. If he is frustrated early it will normally only get worse.

8. Trick plays or Play action- During the eagles game I was thinking when will we do a flea flicker play. Bill (or maybe it was payton) seems to have a flea flicker ready for at least one big game a year. Of course when the eagles got the ball they did it. Anything to make the safeties stop and head back towards the line even if it is just for a split second.

9. Quick Slants -more ofthem.

10. Set up the pass with the run more - Maybe it is just me but it seems we, so far this year, have been too pass happy when the run is working. Can not believe I would say that as other times I have wanted more passing. But it seems the running game is working but we keep going away from it at times.

perfectly stated!

 

[Doomsday101]

Tender hamstring to open the season

Broken bone in his hand for two games. (might affect catching a football don't ya think ?)

1st yr in new offense.

Bledsoe.

Be patient, Owens will have good games, .. but it is up to Bledsoe, let's face it.

In fairness Bledsoe needs some time with TO as well that he did not get because of missed time during camp and pre-season. Bledsoe has no big issue connecting with Glenn, they are on the same page with each other because they know and understand the offense which is why Glenn has had very good success during his time in Dallas with Bledsoe.

 

[Rampage]

In fairness Bledsoe needs some time with TO as well that he did not get because of missed time during camp and pre-season. Bledsoe has no big issue connecting with Glenn, they are on the same page with each other because they know and understand the offense which is why Glenn has had very good success during his time in Dallas with Bledsoe.

so are you saying its gonna take 4 to 6 years for T.O. and deadsloe to get on the same page? like so with glenn and deadsloe

 

[Doomsday101]

so are you saying its gonna take 4 to 6 years for T.O. and deadsloe to get on the same page? like so with glenn and deadsloe

Not saying that at all and once again a smart ars who takes a statement and exaggerates what the poster is saying. Look there is a reason NFL has training camp and pre-season and it is not to make owners money it is to get guys ready for the season. TO comes from a system that he has played his entire career now he is playing in a system new to him and his routs have been very limited and not hard for defense to control as he learns more about this offense Parcells can move him around put him in motion and as for Bledsoe he did not miss camp and he has no problem hitting guys like Crayton or Glenn and no it did not take 4 to 6 years for him to be able to connect with guys like Crayton or Glenn. If you’re sole goal is to lay it on Bledsoe fine but then Bledsoe was not the one missing training camp or the pre-season.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

While I understand the original point, we probably aren't having this conversation if Owens doesn't drop the TDs against the Commanders and Titans, and if Bledsoe doesn't underthrow him against Eagles/overthrow him against the Jaguars.

Personally I would throw to him at least 2x every series because he is just that damn good, but that is just me.

 

[Rampage]

Not saying that at all and once again a smart ars who takes a statement and exaggerates what the poster is saying. Look there is a reason NFL has training camp and pre-season and it is not to make owners money it is to get guys ready for the season. TO comes from a system that he has played his entire career now he is playing in a system new to him and his routs have been very limited and not hard for defense to control as he learns more about this offense Parcells can move him around put him in motion and as for Bledsoe he did not miss camp and he has no problem hitting guys like Crayton or Glenn and no it did not take 4 to 6 years for him to be able to connect with guys like Crayton or Glenn. If you’re sole goal is to lay it on Bledsoe fine but then Bledsoe was not the one missing training camp or the pre-season.

other then a couple overthrows by drew in the opener they looked pretty good together. since then he can't find 1 of the greatest recievers of all time? gimme a break.

 

[Hoofbite]

yeah, hes probably dropped about 8 balls this year......2 for TDs......might have something to do with it.