Will Dez ever be elite again?

[CalPolyTechnique]

You can be snarky all you want but it doesn't make you right... I already said that I would go back and look at the game but I don't remember him doing anything special.

So you were watching the game late in the 4th QTR, blinked and said "oh, lookie there?!? The games tied now?"

 

[mattjames2010]

Why is Dak generally quite accurate when throwing to other receivers, but not so much when throwing to Dez?

He wasn't "generally quite accurate" in the Eagles game. He had a few passes that were ducks to Williams and he hardly targeted Witten and Beasley until the end, even one pass to Beasley floated a little too long going to Beasley.

I'm not entirely sure why there is such a weird spin going on here. Let's just go with the simple explanation in the Eagles game: Dak looked like trash for nearly 4 quarters. He was off the mark, throwing the ball high (Even one to Zeke was far too high, but he made an incredible catch)

The same goes for the first Giants game, Dak was off the mark in the second half. As for the rest, Dez has 2 100 games, one 40 yard game (Was out for multiple plays and was injured), and 2 TDs. Dez is doing fine with his limited time this year.

This is such a non-issue.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

You can be snarky all you want but it doesn't make you right... I already said that I would go back and look at the game but I don't remember him doing anything special.

I mean how is that possible? To forget his td catch up and over and through a defender to tie the freaking game. . .

 

[Frozen700]

It's not too early to hit the panic button on Dez. He's a shell of what he was from 2010-2014, and we aren't seeing signs he'll recover to that level. His catch percentage has fallen off a cliff the last two seasons.

His days as a great receiver may be over.

You're just trolling right?

Sure he's not playing at a top 5 level right now, but do you really believe he just lost it?

What do some of you sit at home and think about all day?

 

[Zimmy Lives]

You're just trolling right?

Sure he's not playing at a top 5 level right now, but do you really believe he just lost it?

What do some of you sit at home and think about all day?

This is what I think about...

By the way, he has not lost it, he is just not back to his old self yet.

 

[Proof]

Why is Dak generally quite accurate when throwing to other receivers, but not so much when throwing to Dez?

two fold. first and foremost his throws to Dez are generally longer than the others, and I don't think we need to really break down why a short throw is typically more accurate than a longer one. second, not all of his passes are quite accurate to others either but in the flat or intermediate defenders are usually behind the receiver so there's more opportunity to reach back, turn around, etc so an inaccurate pass is still more catchable.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Threads like these get people worked up on both sides and sometimes benched. Had to learn the hard way. Now I just watch

 

[T-RO]

two fold. first and foremost his throws to Dez are generally longer than the others, and I don't think we need to really break down why a short throw is typically more accurate than a longer one. second, not all of his passes are quite accurate to others either but in the flat or intermediate defenders are usually behind the receiver so there's more opportunity to reach back, turn around, etc so an inaccurate pass is still more catchable.

It's certainly true that longer throws--for a number of reasons--are more prone to be incomplete. But the numbers speak to something more. So far Dak as been acutely inaccurate when throwing to Dez.

But anyway...I've already explained myself on this...no need repeating.

Maybe their chemistry will improve. Maybe Dez will tighten his routes. If those two can work together with even 50% efficiency...this offense goes over the top.

 

[Proof]

It's certainly true that longer throws--for a number of reasons--are more prone to be incomplete. But the numbers speak to something more. So far Dak as been acutely inaccurate when throwing to Dez.

But anyway...I've already explained myself on this...no need repeating.

Maybe their chemistry will improve. Maybe Dez will tighten his routes. If those two can work together with even 50% efficiency...this offense goes over the top.

Agreed.

I believe it's a chemistry thing, a Dez not quite back in form thing, and an accuracy thing. Sometimes the Balls are catchable, sometimes they aren't and sometimes they're old Dez catchable. I don't remember the breakdown.

Also sometimes the defender makes a good play on the ball. My biggest takeaway is that Dak having a higher completion percentage to short yardage targets isn't a total indictment on Dez

 

[Diehardblues]

Good news is we can win without him.

But I'm so tired of his crap and whining out there on the field. Just shut up and catch the firkin ball.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I've seen people say it doesn't matter if he's elite as long as we're winning and he's drawing double teams. Sure, we're better off with Dez than without him. That's not the question. The question is, is he someone we need to keep by any means? You don't let Dak go, you don't let Zeke go, you don't let the 3 All Pros on the O-line go, you don't let Bailey go. There are a few others you can make the argument for. But is it worth paying elite WR money to a guy who's good at drawing double teams but doesn't put up numbers like the other elite WRs in the league? Could those resources be used in other places like fixing our holes or retaining our stars? I think those are the real questions.

 

[Blackspider214]

He wasn't "generally quite accurate" in the Eagles game. He had a few passes that were ducks to Williams and he hardly targeted Witten and Beasley until the end, even one pass to Beasley floated a little too long going to Beasley.

I'm not entirely sure why there is such a weird spin going on here. Let's just go with the simple explanation in the Eagles game: Dak looked like trash for nearly 4 quarters. He was off the mark, throwing the ball high (Even one to Zeke was far too high, but he made an incredible catch)

The same goes for the first Giants game, Dak was off the mark in the second half. As for the rest, Dez has 2 100 games, one 40 yard game (Was out for multiple plays and was injured), and 2 TDs. Dez is doing fine with his limited time this year.

This is such a non-issue.

Lol. You are delusional. So many excuses for a top paid WR who has not did anything since his contract extension. He was god awful yesterday.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

Lol. You are delusional. So many excuses for a top paid WR who has not did anything since his contract extension. He was god awful yesterday.

The receiver is only half of the equation, the QB needs to put it in the right spot. Fix one botched end zone throw and one pass interference and Dez would have had 3 touchdowns on Sunday,,, 3.

 

[Blackspider214]

I've seen people say it doesn't matter if he's elite as long as we're winning and he's drawing double teams. Sure, we're better off with Dez than without him. That's not the question. The question is, is he someone we need to keep by any means? You don't let Dak go, you don't let Zeke go, you don't let the 3 All Pros on the O-line go, you don't let Bailey go. There are a few others you can make the argument for. But is it worth paying elite WR money to a guy who's good at drawing double teams but doesn't put up numbers like the other elite WRs in the league? Could those resources be used in other places like fixing our holes or retaining our stars? I think those are the real questions.

Didn't want him back when we had to make the decision 2 seasons ago and don't want him now. He's a net negative to this offense. He's a distraction that isn't worth it. For the money we are paying, our return on investment is in the red. He's only effective inside the red zone. Inside the 20s, he's non existent. He's becoming a beating week in and week out. Sure, he will give you some TD catches here and there but anyone else on this team can get you TDs.

He's a poor route runner, has limited use of the route tree, bad hands, has trouble getting off the line when played physically, mentally checks out too much, jogs/loafes too often if his feelings are hurt. We've seen it over and over. Remember when the Detroit game a few years ago? People were actually justifying him leaving the game early because he was mad at the defense. That's the game when Witten finally lost it dealing with that immature brat and got in his face.

Dez is a Romo guy. It's why he keeps giving us Romo updates when no one is asking for them. He's not a fan of Dak. Because he feels he can't get him the ball how he wants. Yet every other WR is contributing.

We could draft a solid WR this draft, insert him and get rid of Dez and this offense would be fine. I mean, this offense was a finely tuned machine without Dez in there. He stops down this offense so often with his antics and dropped passes.

I'm done with him.

 

[ksadler1]

Maybe I haven't been paying attention these past couple years, but do players get named to the all-pro team, or make the pro bowl by being the decoy that allows other players to get wide open for TD's? You can't keep making excuses for Dez because of what he's done in the PAST. Dez will have one good game out of every 4 or 5. That's not elite folks. Elite WR's do not disappear in games. Michael Irvin didn't. And why were guys replacing Dez making more plays than Dez does now? As for Beas, he has more than proven that he does not need Dez to help him make plays. Stop with the Dez excuses already. He's getting paid waaaaay too much for what he's doing.....

 

[Cowboysfan917]

I said in another thread, I played some QB in high school and recreationally. There's 3 types of receivers for a QB:

1)guys you just have a natural feel for. You kind of think similar and see things the same way. My best friend played tight end and we were this way. I could always just trust where he was.

2)guys who take some work together to jive but don't have much instant chemistry.

3) guys who never get one another


I think Romo and Dez are the first. I think Dez and Dak are the second option because they're going to work on it but I think they just need time together.

 

[Nightman]

I mean how is that possible? To forget his td catch up and over and through a defender to tie the freaking game. . .

How about a 50 yd bomb to stretch out the D when they wanted to creep up and stop the run?

 

[Redball Express]

It's not too early to hit the panic button on Dez. He's a shell of what he was from 2010-2014, and we aren't seeing signs he'll recover to that level. His catch percentage has fallen off a cliff the last two seasons.

His days as a great receiver may be over.

Premature.

He missed most of last year with two significant injuries.

he's now had another broken bone in his wheels.

He has to heal and then he will be very productive again.

He's nowhere finished.

 

[fairviewfarmer]

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.

I can not argue with your points at all. I'm guessing Dez's cap number and lack of production will be dealt with somehow after the season. Meanwhile, we are 7-1!

 

[Joe Realist]

It's not too early to hit the panic button on Dez. He's a shell of what he was from 2010-2014, and we aren't seeing signs he'll recover to that level. His catch percentage has fallen off a cliff the last two seasons.

His days as a great receiver may be over.

I don't think he will ever have 2014 numbers again, but except this year, I could see 1100 to 1200 yards and 8-9 tds