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Cowboys need Dez Bryant to be Dez Bryant in 2016
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
With the Dallas Cowboys set to open training camp practices Saturday, here is the first of a position-by-position look at their roster:
WIDE RECEIVERS
Returning players: Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler, Lucky Whitehead, Devin Street, Rodney Smith (practice squad), Vince Mayle (practice squad).
Gone from last season: None.
New this season: Chris Brown (undrafted free agent), Andy Jones (undrafted free agent), Ed Eagan (undrafted free agent).
Position coach: Derek Dooley (sixth year as Cowboys wide receivers coach).
Dez Bryant had just three touchdown catches in the nine games he played last year. Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire
Biggest issue: The Cowboys need Bryant to be Bryant again. He had just three touchdown catches in the nine games he played last year. In 2014, he led the NFL with 16 touchdown catches. The Cowboys have no fear that Bryant’s surgically repaired foot will be an issue in 2016. Bryant has no doubt he will once again be one of the NFL’s top receivers. But he needs the work in practice this summer. Dooley estimated Bryant and Tony Romo have had about 10 practices together since the 2014 playoff loss because of injuries and absences to both players. While the Cowboys believe they will be able to run the ball with the best of them, points come out of the passing game and Bryant is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the sport. He has to return to his top form.
Player to watch: Williams was given a lot of grief for what he didn’t do in Bryant’s absence last year, but he had career highs in catches (52) and yards (840) last year. He is entering the final year of his contract and while it might be difficult for the Cowboys to find the cap space necessary to keep him in 2017 and beyond, he can find a big payday with a productive season. Having Bryant on the field will help him, as it would help any receiver. Perhaps Butler could push Williams for the No. 2 spot, but Williams has never missed a game in his career and can run all day.
Medical report: Bryant’s foot should be ready to go for camp but he could be eased into practice after not taking any team snaps in the spring. The Cowboys wanted to ease Bryant in last year after he missed the offseason in a contract dispute and suffered a hamstring strain early in camp that limited his work the rest of the summer. Bryant has preached patience and he could need to keep that mindset as well.
Play it out: Do the Cowboys keep five receivers or six? It will depend on the health and depth of other positions, but Street, a fifth rounder in 2014, could find himself on the bubble, especially if Butler can show some consistency. Whitehead’s return ability helps his case, but the Cowboys like what they have seen from Jones, too. There’s also the future to think about with Williams and Butler set to be free agents after the season.
Notable number: 123. Romo and Bryant were on the field for only 123 of the Cowboys’ 969 offensive snaps last season, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. That’s just 12.7 percent of the plays. They started and finished only one game together all season because of injuries.
Quote board: “Timing and everything is going to be fine. It’s really more about him just getting back to feeling normal, running 10 straight routes at full speed versus press, having to use his hands to get off and keep your feet when there’s very small space because the DB now has his arm on your right shoulder and you’ve got to cut. Your feet are in the wrong position. Can you get back to a square base and then cut? And then still keep your balance and then the ball’s on its way? Now you’ve got to get your hands, he needs to contest the catch at the point. Can you be strong? Those are all the little things it takes coming back, more so than timing, with me. It’s just a matter of him feeling comfortable with the nuances of the game that really separate someone like a Dez Bryant from others. I think that he understands the only way to get that is to practice and that’s why he’s going as hard as he has been.” -- Romo on Bryant.
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
With the Dallas Cowboys set to open training camp practices Saturday, here is the first of a position-by-position look at their roster:
WIDE RECEIVERS
Returning players: Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, Brice Butler, Lucky Whitehead, Devin Street, Rodney Smith (practice squad), Vince Mayle (practice squad).
Gone from last season: None.
New this season: Chris Brown (undrafted free agent), Andy Jones (undrafted free agent), Ed Eagan (undrafted free agent).
Position coach: Derek Dooley (sixth year as Cowboys wide receivers coach).
Dez Bryant had just three touchdown catches in the nine games he played last year. Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire
Biggest issue: The Cowboys need Bryant to be Bryant again. He had just three touchdown catches in the nine games he played last year. In 2014, he led the NFL with 16 touchdown catches. The Cowboys have no fear that Bryant’s surgically repaired foot will be an issue in 2016. Bryant has no doubt he will once again be one of the NFL’s top receivers. But he needs the work in practice this summer. Dooley estimated Bryant and Tony Romo have had about 10 practices together since the 2014 playoff loss because of injuries and absences to both players. While the Cowboys believe they will be able to run the ball with the best of them, points come out of the passing game and Bryant is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the sport. He has to return to his top form.
Player to watch: Williams was given a lot of grief for what he didn’t do in Bryant’s absence last year, but he had career highs in catches (52) and yards (840) last year. He is entering the final year of his contract and while it might be difficult for the Cowboys to find the cap space necessary to keep him in 2017 and beyond, he can find a big payday with a productive season. Having Bryant on the field will help him, as it would help any receiver. Perhaps Butler could push Williams for the No. 2 spot, but Williams has never missed a game in his career and can run all day.
Medical report: Bryant’s foot should be ready to go for camp but he could be eased into practice after not taking any team snaps in the spring. The Cowboys wanted to ease Bryant in last year after he missed the offseason in a contract dispute and suffered a hamstring strain early in camp that limited his work the rest of the summer. Bryant has preached patience and he could need to keep that mindset as well.
Play it out: Do the Cowboys keep five receivers or six? It will depend on the health and depth of other positions, but Street, a fifth rounder in 2014, could find himself on the bubble, especially if Butler can show some consistency. Whitehead’s return ability helps his case, but the Cowboys like what they have seen from Jones, too. There’s also the future to think about with Williams and Butler set to be free agents after the season.
Notable number: 123. Romo and Bryant were on the field for only 123 of the Cowboys’ 969 offensive snaps last season, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. That’s just 12.7 percent of the plays. They started and finished only one game together all season because of injuries.
Quote board: “Timing and everything is going to be fine. It’s really more about him just getting back to feeling normal, running 10 straight routes at full speed versus press, having to use his hands to get off and keep your feet when there’s very small space because the DB now has his arm on your right shoulder and you’ve got to cut. Your feet are in the wrong position. Can you get back to a square base and then cut? And then still keep your balance and then the ball’s on its way? Now you’ve got to get your hands, he needs to contest the catch at the point. Can you be strong? Those are all the little things it takes coming back, more so than timing, with me. It’s just a matter of him feeling comfortable with the nuances of the game that really separate someone like a Dez Bryant from others. I think that he understands the only way to get that is to practice and that’s why he’s going as hard as he has been.” -- Romo on Bryant.