WR is going to be an interesting battle

[Manwiththeplan]

If he is going to be your return ace, he needs to do both.

I agree, which is why I am not as optimistic as you. Now maybe he has been working on that while he has bounced around the league, but it will be an uphill battle for him when these other guys are experienced punt returners.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree, which is why I am not as optimistic as you. Now maybe he has been working on that while he has bounced around the league, but it will be an uphill battle for him when these other guys are experienced punt returners.

I think you've come to the conclusion that I am optimistic, when I never suggested that.

 

[jjktkk]

Not that interesting if you ask me. The 1,2and 3 on the WR depth chart are locked and Jason Witten is another locked position. Essentially the top 4 passing options are locked.

You might want to rethink this. Dallas needs to find a new punt and kick returner from this group of wr candidates.

 

[Galian Beast]

I think they like Farmer but he probably needs a year on the PS because of how little college experience he had due to injury. He lost 1 year due to concussion. He lost a chunk of another year from a spider bite. He lost another year due to ACL injury. Finally his redshirt Sr year he was just buried on the depth chart. He had only 30ish receptions in his college career.

He has rare size and speed (6-1, 215 lbs, 4.35 40 on grass at Pro day, ran a legit 10.4 100m as a HS Sr) and decent hands. He is just too raw right now to play in games. Maybe he'll end up being like Miles Austin and stay on the roster all year but not actually play WR. I really hope he flashes on ST and makes the roster because I think they can make something out of him if given a bit of time and health. His injuries sound more like bad luck rather than lack of durability. He does have family pedigree on his side too as his father played in the NFL back in the 90s.

I'm not too high on any of the others, TBH. They look like TC fodder but maybe someone like Goodley will surprise.

Well the thing about the 5th WR that might play in his favor is that there really isn't much chance of him playing anyways.

 

[tyke1doe]

Who knows, he's really small, and I'm not sure how many teams keep a special teams returner on their 53 who really can't do anything else in terms of special teams coverage or playing WR.

Got it. I was searching for his size but didn't see it in your original post listing the height and weight of the other receivers. That makes sense. He may be dynamic, but too fragile.

How tall and how much does he weigh, BTW?

 

[USMarineVet]

This is the one time where I can honestly say I'm glad Dez isn't on the field. I'm liking the idea of all of these guys getting more reps for the 4 & 5 spots.

When Dez signs his tag and is back on the field, he's not gonna miss a beat anyways. By then we should have a pretty good idea who gets the majority of reps for the last 2 spots in TC.

 

[xwalker]

I like to think that I follow the Dallas Cowboys pretty closely, but I have no idea who this Reggie Dunn is. But if you think he'd be our 6th receiver (if we kept that many, which I doubt we will), maybe I need to look into him more.

Reggie Dunn is a small guy but he ran a 4.22 forty. He was a terrific Kick Returner in college but I don't think he returned Punts.

 

[xwalker]

Just a few things to consider.

I don't think it is a case of people being as high on Street as it is the talk of WR Coach Dooley being high on Street and therefore members here trying to read the tea leaves and figuring he has a good chance to stick.

Dunn has been an intriguing prospect that was on the practice squad and he very well may wind up being the man.

However I think they want Lucky Whitehead to win the competition and I also think they want Farmer to somehow stick.

I am not sure who Dooley thought they were going to draft in the 7th round but they were at one point seriously considering drafting a WR in the 7th and and brought Dooley in and he sat in the chair that the other position coaches sat in previously and talked to the drafted rookies on the phone. He was in that seat and in the war room for a few minutes in the 7th and after a short time he moved out of the chair and the room and LB Coach Matt Eberflus (sp?) came in and started talking on the phone after they made that first pick in the 7th round.

After the draft was over they brought in a number of WRs to compete for the possible Return job and one of the highest paid of those guys at WR was Farmer so I imagine it had to be Farmer or Whitehead that Dooley thought the team was going to draft with that 7th round pick as I recall someone saying later that he still got the player he thought he was going to get in the 7th round but I don't remember who said that.

If Whitehead does not stick and Dunn beats him out, I have a feeling (at this time as anything can change in the coming days) that they want Farmer to stick in some capacity even if the can manage to squirrel him away on the practice squad.

I think Whitehead will be in the lead to be the returner.

 

[Frozen700]

Hopefully we have a new #2 by the start of pre season.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I think we all were excited about a few prospects last year in training camp, but ultimately no one made the roster after Harris and Street.

First thing to note is how high people seem to be on Street. I wasn't impressed with him what the snaps he got during the season, but these were a pretty small sample size. I think with Dez out of OTAs he has a real opportunity to shine. I hope that we get to see what people are so excited about.

But that brings me to this WR battle, the battle for a 5th and maybe even a 6th spot (though I'm not sure how likely that is).

I think the player who can be most valuable in the return game will help themselves the most, but there are a lot of guys to be excited for (especially when they dropped last year's "winner" in boyd right off the bat).

Those two points brings me to an unheralded player who isn't quite new. WR Reggie Dunn, who was added to the practice squad in september last year. If we kept a 6th guy specifically for kick returns, I think it would be this kid.

But there are a lot of players who are vying for spots here that I think a lot of us are excited about.

- George Farmer, 6-1 220
- Antwan Goodley, 5-11 220
- Deontay Greenberry, 6-3 200
- Nick Harwell, 6-1 193
- AJ Jenkins, 6-0 200
- Lucky Whitehead 5-10 163(180)?

I'm excited about Farmer given how highly touted he was coming out of high school, but I don't know if that's going to mean anything for him here. The Cowboys gave him a big UDFA bonus, but I think he is behind the gun.

AJ Jenkins similarly to Farmer obviously has the pedigree, but has also failed on not one but two teams. He was traded for another 1st round bust in Jon Baldwin. I just don't think you can count these players out. Sometimes all it takes is the right system, scheme, and players around you to turn your career around. We saw it with Laurent Robinson who played for the Falcons, Rams (and was on San Diego during training camp) and never amounted to anything. In 4 years he had 4 touchdowns and only 89 catches. You kind of want to see players like this given time and opportunities.

I'll admit I'm not enamored with Goodley, he seems like a fast guy that has never really developed as a rounded receiver. I'd love to add some real speed to this offense, but I still want a player who will reliably catch the ball.

Greenberry is another guy who I don't think has a real future here. Scouting report notes that he was tied for second in FBS with 11 drops, and notes that he struggled to make contest catches... in college... Going to be even worse in the NFL. A possession receiver who doesn't have great speed or hands or route running....

Not expecting much out of Nick Harwell either.

Whitehead I'm more excited about. I think he has the speed, and is adding the strength. I think he has a lot of potential, and could fill a lot of roles in the 5th corner spot. Could be a return man and give us a speed element in the future.

So for those WR spots I'd say I'm rooting for

1. George Farmer
2. AJ Jenkins
3. Lucky Whitehead
4. Reggie Dunn

I think Farmer will almost certainly need the practice squad. I think Jenkins is going to have to really perform well to stick around. I think ultimately Whitehead comes out as the 5th corner, and if we keep a 6th it would be Dunn. Not sure if we're going to be able to sneak Farmer onto the PS. Some team without WR depth would probably pick him up.

interesting post. you are right, there will some battles and I figure couple of them will end up on PS

I think we all agree the top 4 are set, with Dez, Williams, Street, Beasly.

I believe we will go 6 WRs, specially because Williams is in his last year, we should have a long term outlook and prepare for his departure specially since the market tends to overpay these days. so is Street his heir apparent? and if yes, who will be Street's heir apparent?

the fact that these guys went undrafted means they need development and they have to have a specific role they play. Frankly I think Farmer is going to stick, mostly because of his measurables. you have to give the guy a chance, evaluate for a year or two and sometimes they just don't get it.

the other guy who I think might stick is goodly. he is a WR in RB body so he can be a good return candidate and some plays where we get him the ball in space or even run it with him. the few plays that you can put a player's skills to use here and there.....

AJ Jenkins is a Parcells' type of signing. if somebody thought he is worth a 1st round pick, lets kick the tires. as you said you never know if the light goes on all of a sudden. but I doubt it.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Our 3rd and 4th WRs are really the 5th and 6th receiving option.

Romo likes his TEs and our RBs catch a lot of balls out the backfield.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Hopefully we have a new #2 by the start of pre season.

lol.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

I believe we will go 6 WRs, specially because Williams is in his last year, we should have a long term outlook and prepare for his departure specially since the market tends to overpay these days. so is Street his heir apparent? and if yes, who will be Street's heir apparent?

Don't see it numbers wise for all the roster spots. Unless they want to carry just 2 qb's.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Hopefully we have a new #2 by the start of pre season.

Prepare for disappointment.

 

[USMarineVet]

Don't understand the TWill negativity. The guy was really good last season. Really good!

8 TDs is nothing to thumb your nose at from a 2nd year player. Especially when you have a guy named Dez Bryant on the field with you.

 

[Frozen700]

Prepare for disappointment.

If the right guy does not get what he deserves due to feelings.......

Injuries could always happen.

Example: Miles Austin and LR

 

[Galian Beast]

Got it. I was searching for his size but didn't see it in your original post listing the height and weight of the other receivers. That makes sense. He may be dynamic, but too fragile.

How tall and how much does he weigh, BTW?

5'9 180

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Don't see it numbers wise for all the roster spots. Unless they want to carry just 2 qb's.

Well there are other areas that we can go lighter perhaps, but I think we will only carry 2 QBs and we might take a risk on Vaughn if he shows enough in preseason. He is by no means ready to carry a team, but neither is weeden. if Romo goes down, we are screwed, but more than half the teams in the league are in the same boat. what we have done in the past is sign a veteran off the street in case of injuries.

 

[XxTDxX]

We are gonna have to cut some good players at the WR spot.. Thats for sure

 

[USMarineVet]

I would much rather have a 6th WR than a 3rd QB and I'm hoping that's the case. I don't see Weeden making the team this year. If Romo goes down it's pick your poison anyway. I'd rather put all my chips in with a youthful Vaughn who has more upside.

I see the Cowboys drafting a QB next year and only then would I go back to 3 QBs on the squad. There's a lot of talent in this WR group and IMO more beneficial to hang onto one of them than a QB who is unlikely to be with us much longer.