Watkins: Cowboys have best receivers in NFC East

[Cotton]

Cowboys have best receivers in NFC East
April, 10, 2014

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

DeSean Jackson joining Pierre Garcon in Washington brings up this question: Which team has the best receiver combination in the NFC East?

Jackson and Garcon are clearly a potent duo to deal with twice a year within the division. But don't forget about the Dallas Cowboys.

Against division opponents, Dez Bryant had three games with more than seven catches -- including eight for 110 yards game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Terrance Williams, as a rookie, had a four-game stretch with at least one receiving touchdown and his speed makes him a big-play threat.

The leaders in the division are Bryant and Jackson. In 21 career games against the NFC East, Bryant has 12 touchdowns and 1,577 yards. In comparison, Jackson has 10 touchdowns and 2,077 yards in 32 games.

But last year the Cowboys defense limited Jackson to just six catches and zero touchdowns. Bryant had 209 combined yards on 16 catches and a score against the Eagles last season.

Maybe things will change against DeAngelo Hall and the Washington Redskins in 2014, considering he snagged nine passes in two games. But you have to like the upside the Cowboys receivers will provide new play caller Scott Linehan in 2014.

This isn't anything against the receivers left in Philadelphia, but Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin aren't as scary when you compare them to what the Cowboys and Redskins have. Victor Cruz is still a dangerous receiver for the New York Giants and he's got the emerging talent in Rueben Randle alongside him.

I'd take what Washington and Dallas have in terms of beating defenses on a consistent basis.

Cowboys officials have said this offseason there's no fear in leaving Williams next to Bryant on the first-team offense. Quarterback Tony Romo didn't have any hesitation in targeting Williams inside the red zone last year. Before the season began, the Cowboys figured defenses would take out Bryant and tight end Jason Witten, leaving Williams to beat defenses on deep passes. Williams had touchdown passes of 82 and 60 yards last season in addition to nine pass plays of 25 or more yards.

Romo has never been a quarterback to target just one receiver for an entire game, so that means a player such as Williams can thrive in this offense under Linehan.

In Washington you can't expect new coach Jay Gruden to get Jackson back to his career-high numbers of 82 catches and 1,332 yards he had with Chip Kelly and the Eagles last season.

Bryant and Williams are an emerging force that's going to be difficult to stop on a consistent basis within the division.

Which group of receivers do you like within the NFC East?

 

[Genghis Khan]

Nah.

Probably Washington. As of right now.

 

[boozeman]

Nah.

Probably Washington. As of right now.

A team that has Cole Beasley a turned ankle away from a starting job is not the best in this division.

 

[Simpleton]

I'd take Bryant/Williams over Garcon/Jaccson if given the choice, although I'd take Roberts as a 3 over what we have.

 

[Genghis Khan]

I'd take Bryant/Williams over Garcon/Jaccson if given the choice, although I'd take Roberts as a 3 over what we have.

Maybe in a year or two I'd agree, but I haven't seen enough from Williams yet.

 

[Genghis Khan]

A team that has Cole Beasley a turned ankle away from a starting job is not the best in this division.

Exactly. Even in a division that doesn't have any particularly great receiving corps at the moment.

 

[Simpleton]

Maybe in a year or two I'd agree, but I haven't seen enough from Williams yet.

I look at it like this, Dez is the best WR of the four and while Williams is currently the worst of the 4 I'd rather take a risk on him continuing to improve after a very nice rookie year rather than take a risk on DeSean not being an idiot.

 

[Genghis Khan]

It's hard to say what will happen with Jackson because his prior two years before last season he had like 900 yards and 700 yards. Less than impressive.

Suddenly Chip Kelly comes along, and in his 6th or whatever season Jackson blows up for 80 catches and 1300 yards. And even at that , much of those yards came in a handful of games.

I'm guessing he will look way worse with RGIII and without Chip Kelly's offense.

 

[NoDak]

It's hard to say what will happen with Jackson because his prior two years before last season he had like 900 yards and 700 yards. Less than impressive.

Suddenly Chip Kelly comes along, and in his 6th or whatever season Jackson blows up for 80 catches and 1300 yards. And even at that , much of those yards came in a handful of games.

I'm guessing he will look way worse with RGIII and without Chip Kelly's offense.

I agree. He was having those lesser years with a QB that liked to pull it down and run. Last year with a guy that would stand in and throw it, he had a good year. Now he's back with a guy that likes to run, and he won't even be the main receiving threat. I'll be surprised if he breaks 1k yards this year. Or if he does, it'll be because Garcon is hurt and not playing.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

I look at it like this, Dez is the best WR of the four and while Williams is currently the worst of the 4 I'd rather take a risk on him continuing to improve after a very nice rookie year rather than take a risk on DeSean not being an idiot.

I would take Williams over Rueben Randle as a #2 and I don't think he is far behind either of the Eagles starting WR's. Right now I think the best combo has to be the Redskins but I wouldn't say that Dallas is far behind. I'd also take Dez over any of the WR's in the division. He is certainly the most talented. Numbers can fluctuate based on system and opportunities but I think you plug Dez in anywhere in the NFL and he is super productive.

 

[Simpleton]

It's hard to say what will happen with Jackson because his prior two years before last season he had like 900 yards and 700 yards. Less than impressive.

Suddenly Chip Kelly comes along, and in his 6th or whatever season Jackson blows up for 80 catches and 1300 yards. And even at that , much of those yards came in a handful of games.

I'm guessing he will look way worse with RGIII and without Chip Kelly's offense.

I agree, I think the Eagles passing game stats were inflated/flukey last year, I have to see their passing game do it again for me to really believe/fear them.

I mean honestly, Nick Foles had like 25 TD's and 4 picks, Riley Cooper had around 900 yards and 9 TD's after barely having that in several seasons combined, so I think their passing game was inflated/highly productive across the board and at this point I'm not ready to say it was anything other than a fluke.