Graziano: Debate time - Best NFC East WR tandems

[lostxn]

Yeah...pretty stout duo right there. Julio is a beast.

Didn't Bruce Carter run him down from behind?

 

[Carp]

Despite Carter catching him he did catch 10 TDs and 1200 yards.

 

[Texas Ace]

Honestly...at this point I pretty much take Dez and another warm body over everyone else in the division. He is the best WR in the division and it is not really even that close.

Yea, I think one of the few positives to come from the 2013 season will be Dez cementing himself as a top 3 receiver in all of football.

 

[NoDak]

So saying we have the best WRs in the NFC east while the Giants have won two superbowls with thiers isn't stupid?

Funny way of looking at things you have.

Who has said that? What a stupid comparison. If all it took was two WR to win superbowls, I'd say we have a hell of a good shot this year.

 

[boozeman]

Who has said that? What a stupid comparison. If all it took was two WR to win superbowls, I'd say we have a hell of a good shot this year.

Whoa, whoa. Hold on.

You didn't know that the teams with the best WRs win the Super Bowls?

I am still scratching my head on how the Patriots and Ravens have won with their average WR corps in recent years. They must have been lucky or something.

 

[ravidubey]

I think it's a tossup between us and the Giants.

In 2012 this was true, but at full strength the Giants are better. Nicks when healthy is in Bryant's class and Cruz adds a dimension of speed Dallas just doesn't have. Manning also has the arm to take advantage of their abilities. Throwing windows across the middle exist for about a microsecond in the NFL, and Manning and Nicks are well-suited for gunning passes across the middle that gain tons of YAC. Cruz OTOH can straight up outrun safeties that have angles on him and Manning again can throw hard enough to lead him up the field.

Dallas lacks either dimension and relies on more of an intermediate passing game. Over time that makes it easier for Dallas to turn the ball over and it takes longer for Dallas to come back. Most Superbowl winning offenses are explosive and can produce big plays when they need to and especially in pressure situations. Superbowl-winning teams are never out of it and can score multiple times in a quarter with just their offense.

Dallas' offense can't do that consistently.

 

[Cotton]

In 2012 this was true, but at full strength the Giants are better. Nicks when healthy is in Bryant's class and Cruz adds a dimension of speed Dallas just doesn't have. Manning also has the arm to take advantage of their abilities. Throwing windows across the middle exist for about a microsecond in the NFL, and Manning and Nicks are well-suited for gunning passes across the middle that gain tons of YAC. Cruz OTOH can straight up outrun safeties that have angles on him and Manning again can throw hard enough to lead him up the field.

Dallas lacks either dimension and relies on more of an intermediate passing game. Over time that makes it easier for Dallas to turn the ball over and it takes longer for Dallas to come back. Most Superbowl winning offenses are explosive and can produce big plays when they need to and especially in pressure situations. Superbowl-winning teams are never out of it and can score multiple times in a quarter with just their offense.

Dallas' offense can't do that consistently.

I disagree. I think if both units are at full strength it's pretty much a toss-up. And, I don't believe you get to factor in the QB in this comparison. I'm fairly sure it's against the rules.

 

[Carp]

Nicks is not in Bryant's class.

I'd say the guys that are in Dez's class are Cal, AJ Green, and Fitz.

 

[ravidubey]

I disagree. I think if both units are at full strength it's pretty much a toss-up. And, I don't believe you get to factor in the QB in this comparison. I'm fairly sure it's against the rules.

Well then IF you had a QB with real arm strength, then Cruz and a healthy Nicks could take full advantage of it, while Bryant and a healthy Austin could not. How about that?

New York can stretch the field, Dallas can't, and both the WR's and QB are at fault.

 

[ravidubey]

Nicks is not in Bryant's class.

I'd say the guys that are in Dez's class are Cal, AJ Green, and Fitz.

First three seasons:

Dez Bryant: 43 games 200 catches from 313 targets for 2,871 yards, 14.4 YPC, long of 85, and 27 TDs
Hakeem Nicks: 42 games 202 catches from 336 targets for 3.034 yards, 15.02 YPC, long of 68, and 24 TDs

I'd say that's the same class of player, if not darned near identical (of course not counting 28 catches for 444 yards and 4 TDs in 4 playoff games including 10 catches for 109 yards in the Superbowl from Nicks).

 

[Carp]

I get that the stats are similiar, but just the eyeball test alone tells me that Dez is more talented.

 

[Cotton]

I get that the stats are similiar, but just the eyeball test alone tells me that Dez is more talented.

Much more talented. Dez is just now coming into true form. He will continue to get even better with his route running and I believe in the next year or so be in the conversation for best in the league.

 

[ravidubey]

I get that the stats are similiar, but just the eyeball test alone tells me that Dez is more talented.

No doubt Dez is better, but you're saying Nicks isn't in his class and that's not true. Nicks is smoother across the middle and a faster player. That relative lack of speed has Bryant seeking contact while Nicks has the knack and speed to find open lanes before they close. Overall Dez is the better weapon, but how long is he going to last in this league the way he punishes his body?

Until Dez solidified himself somewhat last year, Nicks was far and away the class of the division.

 

[Carp]

It is true, I gave you my list of players I think are in his class...you can say otherwise.

 

[ravidubey]

It is true, I gave you my list of players I think are in his class...you can say otherwise.

I say otherwise only as far as Nicks is concerned.