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Cole Beasley out to prove size doesn't matter as No. 1 receiver
7:00 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- Cole Beasley does not look like a traditional No. 1 receiver.
A year ago, seven of the top 10 receivers in yardage were at least 6-foot-1, 198 pounds. Beasley is 5-8, 180 pounds.
While the Dallas Cowboys profess they will go with a committee approach at receiver as they look to replace Dez Bryant, Beasley has been the leader of that committee at least as training camp has progressed.
“My old high school coach Fred Highland used to say, 'When they get off the bus don't look at the big guys. The big guys are playing because they are big. Look at the little guys. The little guys are playing because they are good,’” Garrett said of his coach at University Heights High School outside Cleveland. “So we have a few little guys on our team who are pretty good. A lot of teams around the league have those guys too.”
Sizing up the top receivers
While most of the top receivers from last season were over 6-0, 200 pounds, Antonio Brown proved it's not always about size.
The Cowboys will not ask Beasley to do what the Atlanta Falcons ask of Julio Jones (6-3, 220). The same with Michael Thomas (6-3, 212) of the New Orleans Saints.
Antonio Brown is considered the best receiver in the game and he is just 5-10, 180 pounds, but his frame is thicker than Beasley's. Tyreek Hill (5-10, 185) had 75 catches for 1,183 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs a year ago. Brandin Cooks (5-10, 183) caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns for the New England Patriots but was traded in the offseason.
The Patriots have made do with undersized receivers over the years, from Troy Brown (5-10, 196) to Wes Welker (5-9, 190) to Julian Edelman (5-10, 198) and Danny Amendola (5-11, 190). Of course, they have Tom Brady at quarterback.
Since Jerry Jones has owned the Cowboys, the No. 1 receivers have looked like Michael Irvin (6-2, 207), Keyshawn Johnson (6-4, 212), Terrell Owens (6-3, 226), Miles Austin (6-3, 215) and Bryant (6-2, 220). The Cowboys’ biggest free-agent pickup, Allen Hurns is 6-1, 208. Their highest drafted receiver, Michael Gallup, is 6-1, 205.
“I mean, I don’t think it matters," Beasley said. "How everybody plays is different out there anyway. I’ll have my own strengths and weaknesses out there, just like everybody else.”
Beasley has been fighting perceptions since he joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012. It doesn’t matter that he might be able to win a dunk contest against his bigger teammates. He has always been viewed through a slot-receiver prism.
He has excelled there. In 2016, Beasley led the Cowboys with 75 catches for 833 yards. He added five touchdown catches. His numbers dropped drastically in 2017 -- 36 catches, 314 yards and four touchdowns -- but the entire passing game slumped last season.
In training camp, the Cowboys have moved Beasley all over the field, and for the first time appear willing to give him a legitimate chance to be an outside receiver and expand the type of routes he runs.
“How big is Antonio Brown, 5-10? But he doesn’t win with physicality, he wins with elite quickness and speed and savvy, right?” receivers coach Sanjay Lal said. “He’s a really good releaser. He’s really good at everything. He’s one I’d point to who’s not 6-1 and you have no problem with him outside or anywhere.”
The fear of being swallowed up by the bigger corners outside at the snap played a part in the reluctance to use Beasley more outside. Plus, in the slot, he has been a difficult matchup. His numbers were down last year in part because of the extra attention he received from defenses. They knew Dak Prescott favored him in certain situations and felt comfortable in leaving one on one coverage outside more than in the past.
“He’s just a different matchup for people,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said of using Beasley outside. “Cole, we’ve got to be able to get over the top with him when he’s out there and he’s got that sneaky speed.”
The biggest adjustment Beasley has had to make this summer has little to do with dealing with bigger corners. It’s all the running he has to do now.
“Definitely worn out, man,” Beasley said. “And we’ve had some receivers go down too, so it’s been a struggle. A lot more reps. … So I just have to find a way to recover and get everything back right and keep going.”
If the lack of ideal size is a concern for the offense, there has to be an advantage for Beasley outside. Lal said Beasley’s quickness is an advantage because the bigger corners do not react as well.
“It seems like there’s a lot of space out there, man,” Beasley said. “I like it. So if I can get a DB running, I feel like I can stop faster than him and transition better than DBs do. The ones outside are usually bigger, too, so it’s even more so out there.”
7:00 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. -- Cole Beasley does not look like a traditional No. 1 receiver.
A year ago, seven of the top 10 receivers in yardage were at least 6-foot-1, 198 pounds. Beasley is 5-8, 180 pounds.
While the Dallas Cowboys profess they will go with a committee approach at receiver as they look to replace Dez Bryant, Beasley has been the leader of that committee at least as training camp has progressed.
“My old high school coach Fred Highland used to say, 'When they get off the bus don't look at the big guys. The big guys are playing because they are big. Look at the little guys. The little guys are playing because they are good,’” Garrett said of his coach at University Heights High School outside Cleveland. “So we have a few little guys on our team who are pretty good. A lot of teams around the league have those guys too.”
Sizing up the top receivers
While most of the top receivers from last season were over 6-0, 200 pounds, Antonio Brown proved it's not always about size.
The Cowboys will not ask Beasley to do what the Atlanta Falcons ask of Julio Jones (6-3, 220). The same with Michael Thomas (6-3, 212) of the New Orleans Saints.
Antonio Brown is considered the best receiver in the game and he is just 5-10, 180 pounds, but his frame is thicker than Beasley's. Tyreek Hill (5-10, 185) had 75 catches for 1,183 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs a year ago. Brandin Cooks (5-10, 183) caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns for the New England Patriots but was traded in the offseason.
The Patriots have made do with undersized receivers over the years, from Troy Brown (5-10, 196) to Wes Welker (5-9, 190) to Julian Edelman (5-10, 198) and Danny Amendola (5-11, 190). Of course, they have Tom Brady at quarterback.
Since Jerry Jones has owned the Cowboys, the No. 1 receivers have looked like Michael Irvin (6-2, 207), Keyshawn Johnson (6-4, 212), Terrell Owens (6-3, 226), Miles Austin (6-3, 215) and Bryant (6-2, 220). The Cowboys’ biggest free-agent pickup, Allen Hurns is 6-1, 208. Their highest drafted receiver, Michael Gallup, is 6-1, 205.
“I mean, I don’t think it matters," Beasley said. "How everybody plays is different out there anyway. I’ll have my own strengths and weaknesses out there, just like everybody else.”
Beasley has been fighting perceptions since he joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012. It doesn’t matter that he might be able to win a dunk contest against his bigger teammates. He has always been viewed through a slot-receiver prism.
He has excelled there. In 2016, Beasley led the Cowboys with 75 catches for 833 yards. He added five touchdown catches. His numbers dropped drastically in 2017 -- 36 catches, 314 yards and four touchdowns -- but the entire passing game slumped last season.
In training camp, the Cowboys have moved Beasley all over the field, and for the first time appear willing to give him a legitimate chance to be an outside receiver and expand the type of routes he runs.
“How big is Antonio Brown, 5-10? But he doesn’t win with physicality, he wins with elite quickness and speed and savvy, right?” receivers coach Sanjay Lal said. “He’s a really good releaser. He’s really good at everything. He’s one I’d point to who’s not 6-1 and you have no problem with him outside or anywhere.”
The fear of being swallowed up by the bigger corners outside at the snap played a part in the reluctance to use Beasley more outside. Plus, in the slot, he has been a difficult matchup. His numbers were down last year in part because of the extra attention he received from defenses. They knew Dak Prescott favored him in certain situations and felt comfortable in leaving one on one coverage outside more than in the past.
“He’s just a different matchup for people,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said of using Beasley outside. “Cole, we’ve got to be able to get over the top with him when he’s out there and he’s got that sneaky speed.”
The biggest adjustment Beasley has had to make this summer has little to do with dealing with bigger corners. It’s all the running he has to do now.
“Definitely worn out, man,” Beasley said. “And we’ve had some receivers go down too, so it’s been a struggle. A lot more reps. … So I just have to find a way to recover and get everything back right and keep going.”
If the lack of ideal size is a concern for the offense, there has to be an advantage for Beasley outside. Lal said Beasley’s quickness is an advantage because the bigger corners do not react as well.
“It seems like there’s a lot of space out there, man,” Beasley said. “I like it. So if I can get a DB running, I feel like I can stop faster than him and transition better than DBs do. The ones outside are usually bigger, too, so it’s even more so out there.”
