Will Dez ever be elite again?

T-RO

T-RO

Well-Known Member
Messages
15,089
Reaction score
16,861
CalPolyTechnique said:
I can definitely see why you guys hate this selfish player.
Click to expand...

I can't speak for all fans here.

He's definitely matured in terms of demanding the ball. I suspect fans here would love to love Dez. That starts with more realistic expectations.

He's not going to catch 90 balls again. I doubt he posts 1,000 yards again. He won't produce value commensurate with the salary.

But the salary is water under the bridge. Jerry Jones is the one who gave him the money.

I'd be happy with Dez if he really dedicates himself to knowing his assignments without exception, tightening up his routes and playing hard every play. Even if he only catches 45-50% of balls his ways...if he can give us some home runs...blocks hard...he's playing a positive role.
 
T-RO

T-RO

Well-Known Member
Messages
15,089
Reaction score
16,861
CalPolyTechnique said:
Witten also averaged just 9.3 YPC, the lowest of his career.

Your theory is tilted.

Beyond that, if you understand the game, guys like Witten and Beasley will typically have higher percentage catch rates due in large part to the types of routes they run. Neither Witten or Beasley are running lower percentage deeper routes.
Click to expand...


Witten's 74% catch rate and 9.3 YPC wasn't special but it was solid last season. That moves the chains.

Regarding routes. It's absolutely true that tight ends and running backs enjoy higher catch rates than wide receivers.

But amongst fellow wide receivers Bryant is 79th out of 82 receivers on the season.
 
Jake

Jake

Beyond tired of Jerry
Messages
36,067
Reaction score
84,352
fairviewfarmer said:
Dez is overpaid, but its not my money.:) He draws double coverage, leaving Beasley, Williams, and Witten room to maneuver. We are 7-1. Its working.
Click to expand...

I don't care about Jerry's money but I do care about cap space and being able to keep our offensive linemen, for example. The Cowboys won without Dez drawing double coverage this season, so it's not essential to team success.

The bottom line is paying big bucks to a WR is risky. It's a dependent position. They don't automatically have the ball in their hands. They need other things to happen to even make it possible - pass protection, getting open, accurate throws and actually catching it. It doesn't help if they pout when they're not getting it.

As someone else said, if Dez provides veteran leadership, blocks for Zeke, and runs his routes full speed he's doing his job. That it appears he's not always doing those things is frustrating.
 
Kaiser

Kaiser

Well-Known Member
Messages
16,628
Reaction score
28,430
MileyDancer said:
I just hate how he drops a pass, then cries for a flag. You didn't catch the ball, Dez, because you sucked. Quit crying, you diva.
Click to expand...

He should have been crying. He had four targets and one catch, but on two of the targets the DB did hold him without drawing a flag. It isn't crying if you are right about a missed call.
 
AmishCowboy

AmishCowboy

if you ain't first, you're last
Messages
5,134
Reaction score
569
Dez is fine, he will just have to come to terms with the fact that Dak doesn't play favorites
 
Ky31

Ky31

Well-Known Member
Messages
525
Reaction score
1,037
This dude is still elite...he's a Cowboy, he wears 88...X...seriously! Who hasn't had a bad day at work?? Crazy speak here!
 
CalPolyTechnique

CalPolyTechnique

Well-Known Member
Messages
27,800
Reaction score
44,761
T-RO said:
Witten's 74% catch rate and 9.3 YPC wasn't special but it was solid last season. That moves the chains.

Regarding routes. It's absolutely true that tight ends and running backs enjoy higher catch rates than wide receivers.

But amongst fellow wide receivers Bryant is 79th out of 82 receivers on the season.
Click to expand...

The point is this:

1) "Catch-rate" is crappy statistic because it provides no context. It doesn't account for dropped passes, passes overthrown, passes defended, et cetera, which leaves huge grey areas when trying to draw any meaningful conclusion from it.

2) Circumstances dictate the results.

Witten's YPC catch dropped nearly 2 yards from the previous season and that's attributable to the Cowboys running quicker and shorter underneath routes to help their inept cast of backup QBs in 2015.

Beasley's catch rate also went down to 69% in 2015 from 76% in 2014.

In Week 1 this season, the Giants clearly sold out on stopping the run and shifting coverage to account for Dez and trying to make a rookie QB beat them underneath with Witten (not a big YAC guy) and Beasley who had 26 targets combined (14 for Witten; 12 for Beasley; the most for either player this season).
 
Last edited:
Daillest88

Daillest88

Well-Known Member
Messages
13,598
Reaction score
15,487
Beckham Jr almost caused 2 ints today ( got stripped on one) and dropped 3 other passes. Dez was lights out vs the eagles, he had a bad game today on the stat sheet but his presence made it so much easier for Beasley and witten today
 
haleyrules

haleyrules

Well-Known Member
Messages
16,060
Reaction score
42,877
T-RO said:
I can't speak for all fans here.

He's definitely matured in terms of demanding the ball. I suspect fans here would love to love Dez. That starts with more realistic expectations.

He's not going to catch 90 balls again. I doubt he posts 1,000 yards again. He won't produce value commensurate with the salary.

But the salary is water under the bridge. Jerry Jones is the one who gave him the money.

I'd be happy with Dez if he really dedicates himself to knowing his assignments without exception, tightening up his routes and playing hard every play. Even if he only catches 45-50% of balls his ways...if he can give us some home runs...blocks hard...he's playing a positive role.
Click to expand...
Nice. The problem is thats not Dez. He can be an asset and other clubs must scheme for him...luckily, the time as finally come when the offense doesn't need him to win. In an odd way, it makes him more valuable. I am curious to see if the FO will try and move his salary in the off season! Its a great time to be a Cowboy fan. There are SB's heading our way.
 
CATCH17

CATCH17

1st Round Pick
Messages
67,722
Reaction score
86,326
Kaiser said:
He should have been crying. He had four targets and one catch, but on two of the targets the DB did hold him without drawing a flag. It isn't crying if you are right about a missed call.
Click to expand...


A lot of people look past the fact he was being arm barred.


Whatever though.. He is physical enough to break through that and make a play.


He'all get it going eventually.

When we needed him last week he stepped up.
 
T-RO

T-RO

Well-Known Member
Messages
15,089
Reaction score
16,861
CalPolyTechnique said:
"Catch-rate" is crappy statistic because it provides no context. It doesn't account for dropped passes, passes overthrown, passes defended, et cetera, which leaves huge grey areas when trying to draw any meaningful conclusion from it.
Click to expand...

If you want to belittle catch rate...you have to belittle a Quarterback's completion percentage. Both statistics are cut from the same cloth. They include plenty of statistical noise but also provide valuable information. 41% this year and 43% last year does tell us something.

We can definitively say that over the last 17 games--with a variety of quarterbacks--throwing the ball to Dez can result in big plays...but has been a low percentage proposition.

If we want to be a methodical ball-control offense we will be throwing the ball less to Dez. Passes to Dez will be sprinkled in as seasoning and for the occasional home-run...when risks make sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top