Catching Up
As a fellow human being, I'm glad T.O. is still with us, as I would never wish harm upon anyone. If, indeed, he has issues, I hope he can work them out.
In the off season, I was a big proponent of signing T.O. with the caveat that if anything went wrong, then the Boys should cut ties with him, so after the latest incident, I think it's time for the Boys to look to the future - a future without T.O. on the team.
I'm not arguing his value to the team - I like having T.O. as a TRUE #1 WR, because it opens up the offense and benefits other players like Glenn, Jones, Witten, et. al., but I think with his fragile ego and possible fragile mental state, it's just a matter of time before Parcells goes to Jerry and says, "him-or-me."
The Cowboys should focus on finally acquiring a DEPENDABLE, (mental and physical) YOUNG stud #1 WR (someone like Calvin Johnson, above), because Glenn and T.O. are in their 30's. Crayton has skills and is a potential starting #2, but I'm not sure he's a #1. That said, I hope the Boys have all of their scouts scouring the college ranks for the next stud WR.
Might Hurd or Austin develop as a #1? It would be great, because it means saving a high pick for another position, but the odds are long that the young guys will become the Cowboys next true WR. Drew Pearson, Rod Smith and Steve Largent are a few examples of non-drafted #1 WR's, but they are definitely the exception and not the rule. I feel it's time to invest a high pick on a WR.
I am wary of the teams past inability to develop WRs in the Jerry Jones era. Irvin was a stud. Alvin Harper and Kevin WIlliams, and Patrick Crayton were/are solid complimentary players, but that's it for drafted WRs. Not so good.
Hopefully, Jeff Ireland and crew can find a good one — one without the baggage.
-M
posted by Shawn @ 11:18 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
I love Calvin Johnson too, but there is no way we are getting this guy. After a freakshow of a combine, he will shoot to the #1 pick in the draft.
I know our chances of getting Johnson are nil, but I just want the Boys to get someone of his ilk, the elusive primary receiver. Irvin, afterall, was a mid-first round pick.
I read a recent article by Len Pasquarelli (maybe it was John Clayton) which went to great lengths to show how first-round WR's generally fail to live-up to the expectations of the teams that draft them.
There are exceptions, tho very few (see: Moss, Randy).
This article listed many WR's taken in the first round who never flourished until they were traded, usually for a lower-round pick.
The author attributed this trend to overly high expectations placed on very young players thrust into new systems with new teammates, with the additional pressure of continuing their production right where they left-off in college.
The author continued to say that their ultimate 3-5 year production was generally no better than WR’s drafted in later rounds of the same draft. He attributed this to the learning curve, for which most teams and fans have so little patience. Add to this the inevitable rookie-training-camp holdouts and time lost therein, and you have a recipe for disaster. So a team will trade the player once patience is exhausted (and/or the rookie contract nears expiration).
Usually I dismiss writer’s opinions simply because they’re just that – OPINIONS.
But this writer made such a good case and cited so many examples that his conclusion was almost iron-clad: Teams will do better to use high picks on other positions, and look later in the draft for a WR (see: Lions, Detroit).
Conversely, if a team sees such potential in a player's upside
AND has the patience to let the player develop
AND is willing to wait for the LONG-TERM benefits
AND has the stability of coaching staff to do so,
only then is it a good idea to spend a high #1 pick on such a potentially fragile position.
But Pittsburgh (and perhaps Tennessee) notwithstanding, which team meets these qualifications?
No team keeps a coaching staff or an offensive philosophy more than 4-5 years any more.
Seems the smart thing to do is to pick up (via free agency or trade) a 4-5 year veteran who has already learned the ropes and can contribute immediately. Keep the stable fresh by repeating this every 2-3 years.
That said, I agree with the author.
I’d much rather have 2 solid, reliable, dependable WR’s who combine for 16 TDs per year than an overwhelmed 22-year old prima donna who has nothing but potential.
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