In focus: Patrick Crayton, Cowboys WR
DMN - In focus: Patrick Crayton, Cowboys WR
In focus: Patrick Crayton, Cowboys WR
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
Staff Writer Todd Archer breaks down the Cowboys' hard-to-tackle receiver
Why him?
With Terrell Owens out at least two weeks with a fractured fourth metacarpal on his right hand, Crayton will have to become more of a factor in the offense. He had a touchdown catch vs. Washington on Sunday and did a decent job of blocking downfield. After catching 18 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the first five games last year, he suffered a severe right ankle injury that knocked him out of five games and limited his effectiveness the rest of the season.
How he does it
Crayton is not a speed receiver, but he can be effective with his ability to break tackles after the catch. He is not as explosive as Terrell Owens because he has some power in his 6-0, 205-pound frame. His best assets are his hands, which may be the best on the team. He can grab even the hardest throws from Drew Bledsoe with ease. He runs upright and is difficult for cornerbacks to read his routes. By the time they adjust he can create some separation.
How to stop him
Cornerbacks do not have to worry about him as a deep threat as much as Terrell Owens, and it might be in their best interest to lay off the line of scrimmage. Crayton can beat press coverage because he has a strong upper body, so corners should play off and then react. Players in the secondary must be sure tacklers because he can rip through arm tackles, like he did last year at Oakland for a 63-yard score.
What about him?
He grew up in DeSoto, and his stock soared on Dallas day in 2004 when the Cowboys bring in local players before the draft. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma State, where he saw time at punt returner, kickoff returner, quarterback and receiver. In four years he amassed 5,688 all-purpose yards and became the first player in NAIA history to score touchdowns on receptions, rushes and punt and kickoff returns in a season. The Cowboys drafted him in the seventh round.
In focus: Patrick Crayton, Cowboys WR
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
Staff Writer Todd Archer breaks down the Cowboys' hard-to-tackle receiver
Why him?
With Terrell Owens out at least two weeks with a fractured fourth metacarpal on his right hand, Crayton will have to become more of a factor in the offense. He had a touchdown catch vs. Washington on Sunday and did a decent job of blocking downfield. After catching 18 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the first five games last year, he suffered a severe right ankle injury that knocked him out of five games and limited his effectiveness the rest of the season.
How he does it
Crayton is not a speed receiver, but he can be effective with his ability to break tackles after the catch. He is not as explosive as Terrell Owens because he has some power in his 6-0, 205-pound frame. His best assets are his hands, which may be the best on the team. He can grab even the hardest throws from Drew Bledsoe with ease. He runs upright and is difficult for cornerbacks to read his routes. By the time they adjust he can create some separation.
How to stop him
Cornerbacks do not have to worry about him as a deep threat as much as Terrell Owens, and it might be in their best interest to lay off the line of scrimmage. Crayton can beat press coverage because he has a strong upper body, so corners should play off and then react. Players in the secondary must be sure tacklers because he can rip through arm tackles, like he did last year at Oakland for a 63-yard score.
What about him?
He grew up in DeSoto, and his stock soared on Dallas day in 2004 when the Cowboys bring in local players before the draft. He attended Northwestern Oklahoma State, where he saw time at punt returner, kickoff returner, quarterback and receiver. In four years he amassed 5,688 all-purpose yards and became the first player in NAIA history to score touchdowns on receptions, rushes and punt and kickoff returns in a season. The Cowboys drafted him in the seventh round.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:09 AM
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