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The Cowboys don’t have an elite receiver anymore. How much does that matter?
By Calvin Watkins Jun 21, 2018 11
The Cowboys will attempt to contend for a playoff berth without an elite receiver.
Do they really need one?
The Eagles won the Super Bowl last year without a true #1 wideout, utilizing a rising young quarterback and the NFL’s new trend, the Run-Pass Option – and when he got hurt, leaning on a strong defense. Can the Cowboys do the same?
Dak Prescott should use the RPO more often in 2018 – but we don’t yet know if they are part of Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan’s gameplan.
It wouldn’t be hard to utilize RPOs given Zeke Elliott’s ability to run power and off the edges for 16 games. The Cowboys also have the most expensive offensive line in the history of the game so employing RPOs is something they can do. It also gives Prescott so many options. He can use it to hand off to Elliott, throw quick slants to Cole Beasley or the newly-acquired Tavon Austin.
Prescott can drop back and throw deep to Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams, or Michael Gallup.
In other words, the Cowboys have options.
But are they ready to compete without an elite receiver?
“I think our group will pick up the slack,” Linehan said. “I guess what’s considered a true No. 1, I think guys will be No. 1 in specific roles based on plays that we have called and utilize guys’ strengths that way. And have good balances the targeting of our skill players in the passing game.”
For decades through the franchise’s history, the Cowboys employed a No. 1 receiver on their teams and saw Super Bowls. Dallas won three titles with Michael Irvin, who used his big frame to protect his quarterback on occasional bad throws and emerged as a big-play threat in a game where bump-and-run coverage was commonplace.
Alvin Harper and Jay Novacek were just the cherries on top for the passing game. Having Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman didn’t hurt either. And before the dominant 90’s group, the Cowboys leaned on ‘Bullet’ Bob Hayes and Drew Pearson, legends in their own right.
That’s the past and it seems the Cowboys live in the past too much around here. As they morph toward training camp in Oxnard, history hovers over this organization like a black cloud.
If the Cowboys want to move forward with Prescott, he’ll need help from his receivers = and the front office needs to forget about having No. 1 wideouts.
Having an elite receiver isn’t necessary. The Eagles won without one last year, and they’re far from the only organization to do so. Since the 2011 season, only one Super Bowl champion has dedicated more than 8% of its cap to a receiver – the 2015 Broncos, who paid Demaryius Thomas $13.2 million (9.1% of the cap) that year.
Philadelphia’s leading receiver, Nelson Agholor, worked out of the slot and averaged 3.9 receptions per game with eight touchdowns and a team-leading 62 catches. He caught 65.3 percent of passes thrown his way, a far higher number than Dez Bryant did.
Bryant, the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver last season, was targeted 132 times but only caught 52.3 percent of his passes with six touchdowns. Optimally, you would like a receiver’s catch rate to be at least 60%.
The Cowboys expected more from Bryant considering his massive contract, but health and his attitude got in the way of greatness.
The Eagles had players with great attitudes such as Alshon Jeffery, who scored nine touchdowns. Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz led the team with 824 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Eagles’ receiving group in 2018 will have Jeffery, Agholor, Ertz and Mike Wallace.
Is that better than what the Cowboys will display on Sundays?
Yes.
If you listen to Linehan, it appears he believes Austin could turn into a No. 1 threat, with Beasley taking on some of those characteristics too. He can run smoke routes, slants and get the ball out of the backfield. In other words, Austin will provide a little extra juice. The duo caught a combined 49 passes last year, but Linehan believes they are ready for a step up.
“He’s Tavon, that’s what he is. He’s Tavon,” Linehan said. “He can line up anywhere at any time or place. He moves around the meeting rooms upstairs. Sometimes he’s going to be in the backfield, sometimes he’s going to be a receiver. We’re working a lot of situations right now, where we need the depth at receiver, more so than at running back because we work a lot of stuff, third-down situations, you might see. He’s going to be in a lot of unpredictable spots, to be honest with you.”
The Cowboys don’t have a No. 1 receiver on the roster. It seems strange seeing how they’ve employed Joey Galloway, Miles Austin, Terrell Owens and Bryant.
For over a decade now, somebody was the No. 1 guy.
Now a bunch of twos and threes will get their opportunity to move up.
By Calvin Watkins Jun 21, 2018 11
The Cowboys will attempt to contend for a playoff berth without an elite receiver.
Do they really need one?
The Eagles won the Super Bowl last year without a true #1 wideout, utilizing a rising young quarterback and the NFL’s new trend, the Run-Pass Option – and when he got hurt, leaning on a strong defense. Can the Cowboys do the same?
Dak Prescott should use the RPO more often in 2018 – but we don’t yet know if they are part of Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan’s gameplan.
It wouldn’t be hard to utilize RPOs given Zeke Elliott’s ability to run power and off the edges for 16 games. The Cowboys also have the most expensive offensive line in the history of the game so employing RPOs is something they can do. It also gives Prescott so many options. He can use it to hand off to Elliott, throw quick slants to Cole Beasley or the newly-acquired Tavon Austin.
Prescott can drop back and throw deep to Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams, or Michael Gallup.
In other words, the Cowboys have options.
But are they ready to compete without an elite receiver?
“I think our group will pick up the slack,” Linehan said. “I guess what’s considered a true No. 1, I think guys will be No. 1 in specific roles based on plays that we have called and utilize guys’ strengths that way. And have good balances the targeting of our skill players in the passing game.”
For decades through the franchise’s history, the Cowboys employed a No. 1 receiver on their teams and saw Super Bowls. Dallas won three titles with Michael Irvin, who used his big frame to protect his quarterback on occasional bad throws and emerged as a big-play threat in a game where bump-and-run coverage was commonplace.
Alvin Harper and Jay Novacek were just the cherries on top for the passing game. Having Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman didn’t hurt either. And before the dominant 90’s group, the Cowboys leaned on ‘Bullet’ Bob Hayes and Drew Pearson, legends in their own right.
That’s the past and it seems the Cowboys live in the past too much around here. As they morph toward training camp in Oxnard, history hovers over this organization like a black cloud.
If the Cowboys want to move forward with Prescott, he’ll need help from his receivers = and the front office needs to forget about having No. 1 wideouts.
Having an elite receiver isn’t necessary. The Eagles won without one last year, and they’re far from the only organization to do so. Since the 2011 season, only one Super Bowl champion has dedicated more than 8% of its cap to a receiver – the 2015 Broncos, who paid Demaryius Thomas $13.2 million (9.1% of the cap) that year.
Philadelphia’s leading receiver, Nelson Agholor, worked out of the slot and averaged 3.9 receptions per game with eight touchdowns and a team-leading 62 catches. He caught 65.3 percent of passes thrown his way, a far higher number than Dez Bryant did.
Bryant, the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver last season, was targeted 132 times but only caught 52.3 percent of his passes with six touchdowns. Optimally, you would like a receiver’s catch rate to be at least 60%.
The Cowboys expected more from Bryant considering his massive contract, but health and his attitude got in the way of greatness.
The Eagles had players with great attitudes such as Alshon Jeffery, who scored nine touchdowns. Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz led the team with 824 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Eagles’ receiving group in 2018 will have Jeffery, Agholor, Ertz and Mike Wallace.
Is that better than what the Cowboys will display on Sundays?
Yes.
If you listen to Linehan, it appears he believes Austin could turn into a No. 1 threat, with Beasley taking on some of those characteristics too. He can run smoke routes, slants and get the ball out of the backfield. In other words, Austin will provide a little extra juice. The duo caught a combined 49 passes last year, but Linehan believes they are ready for a step up.
“He’s Tavon, that’s what he is. He’s Tavon,” Linehan said. “He can line up anywhere at any time or place. He moves around the meeting rooms upstairs. Sometimes he’s going to be in the backfield, sometimes he’s going to be a receiver. We’re working a lot of situations right now, where we need the depth at receiver, more so than at running back because we work a lot of stuff, third-down situations, you might see. He’s going to be in a lot of unpredictable spots, to be honest with you.”
The Cowboys don’t have a No. 1 receiver on the roster. It seems strange seeing how they’ve employed Joey Galloway, Miles Austin, Terrell Owens and Bryant.
For over a decade now, somebody was the No. 1 guy.
Now a bunch of twos and threes will get their opportunity to move up.