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How Dez Bryant's debut stacked up to others in Cowboys' history
Posted at 9:02 AM on Tue., Sep. 14, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
Dez Bryant's debut was only OK even if he tied a Cowboys' rookie record with eight catches.
The eight grabs went for only 56 yards. He was big on the last drive with catches of 15 and 13 yards to get it going. Tony Romo threw him several "smoke" throws, which come when the corner is playing off coverage, but he couldn't shake the tacklers.
He was targeted a team-high 12 times. After missing the entire preseason, did it seem a little odd that they were going to Bryant that often? I didn't think so. Neither did Wade Phillips.
"His reads took him to Dez," Phillips said. "I think he caught eight passes. The guy, I thought, performed well for his first game for almost two years (actually one) ... I think he was just a part of the game and it wasn't too big for him and Tony thought he was open and threw to him."
Now on to the eight catches. Bob Hayes had eight against Philadelphia on Oct. 10, 1965 and Jason Witten had eight against Miami on Nov. 27, 2003. Hayes had 177 yards. Witten had 58.
How did Michael Irvin and Hayes, the team's two Hall of Fame wide receivers, do in their openers?
Irvin - three catches, 73 yards, one touchdown at Pittsburgh, Sept. 4, 1988
Hayes - two catches, 81 yards, one touchdown vs. NY Giants, Sept. 19, 1965
Posted at 9:02 AM on Tue., Sep. 14, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips
Dez Bryant's debut was only OK even if he tied a Cowboys' rookie record with eight catches.
The eight grabs went for only 56 yards. He was big on the last drive with catches of 15 and 13 yards to get it going. Tony Romo threw him several "smoke" throws, which come when the corner is playing off coverage, but he couldn't shake the tacklers.
He was targeted a team-high 12 times. After missing the entire preseason, did it seem a little odd that they were going to Bryant that often? I didn't think so. Neither did Wade Phillips.
"His reads took him to Dez," Phillips said. "I think he caught eight passes. The guy, I thought, performed well for his first game for almost two years (actually one) ... I think he was just a part of the game and it wasn't too big for him and Tony thought he was open and threw to him."
Now on to the eight catches. Bob Hayes had eight against Philadelphia on Oct. 10, 1965 and Jason Witten had eight against Miami on Nov. 27, 2003. Hayes had 177 yards. Witten had 58.
How did Michael Irvin and Hayes, the team's two Hall of Fame wide receivers, do in their openers?
Irvin - three catches, 73 yards, one touchdown at Pittsburgh, Sept. 4, 1988
Hayes - two catches, 81 yards, one touchdown vs. NY Giants, Sept. 19, 1965
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