I’m back… hopefully Terry Glenn follows suit
By will.parchman
Hey guys, it’s me, Will, the guy that started the Roundup way back when we were still pining for a real QB (bye Drew), a consistent RB (hi, Marion), and a coach with on-field tactics that weren’t crusted over by the sands of NFL time (what’s up, Red Ball?). I return to you with experience within the organization — I’ve been in the Texas Stadium press box, I’ve interviewed DeMarcus Ware and Tony Romo (or, if you follow the holy tradition of leaving out vowels of the “most high” of names, TNY RM)… so trust me. I knew this stuff and I still do. I’m not sure how long my second stay here will be, but I’ll try to make it as long as I can, at least up through training camp. I’m a bonafide professional sports writer now, so hopefully that adds some punch to the Roundup.
I’d like to quickly touch on some things I’ve seen over the past month to set up where we go from here. It’s easy to look around this team and see, unequivocally, the positions that make the Cowboys a chic pick for the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl — TO has become the talent without attitude, MBIII has become the Barbarian nobody knew he was, Ware is a monster (remember that Seattle preseason game during his rookie year where he picked off Hasselbeck? Who knew that was the start of our own little LT?)… there are Pro Bowlers at nearly every position, as we’re painfully reminded of each week alongside highlights of Romo’s final INT against the Gints. It’s easy to see that. It’s not so easy to look at the things on the roster that make us wince. And they exist.
In the coming weeks, I’ll intermittently profile a position, player or area that needs improved play, strategic tweaking or outright replacement in lieu of the approaching training camp. We only have to assume that the guys that need to produce will be the guys that do produce. Aside from them, it’s all up for grabs. First up on the block, it’s the No. 2 receiver slot.
I love Terry Glenn. The guy has been a key player in an offense that has historically been skewed away from his best talent: separation and speed. When Bledsoe was slinging, not only did he have a stone statue throwing behind center, but the guys blocking were doing a pitiful job. Any time Rob Pettiti gets a start, you’re in trouble. Glenn isn’t a dink-and-dunk kind of guy. He’s best when you can hit him on those quick slants, deep posts or his fave, the ubiquitous go-route that Lito Sheppard remembers all too well, I’m sure. But he’s frail. Parcells famously referred to him as a woman. So it was unfortunate that last season the offense finally was tailored to suit his skills, and he missed the entire season. The offensive line was easily up to its Erik Williams/LA/Tuinei days, and he had a QB in Romo that was able to create time to give Glenn that ever-important separation. Only he never got to see any of it first hand.
So where does that leave us now? Glenn’s painful bickering over that infamous $500,000 injury settlement and the uncertainty about his knee surrounding his decision to decline that microfracture surgery (which, I’m told, will likely end his career after this season regardless), has left Patty Crayton in the default No. 2 role should Glenn’s injury prove uglier than originally thought, which I think it is. And man, where do we start with that kid…
If you search back in the archives of this blog, I’ve long loved Patty. At one time, I would have loved to have his hands bronzed and put in the Valley Ranch hall along with the posters of the Manster and Bob Lilly. Those things were PRIZED. He never dropped a pass in a game in his first two seasons. He was reliable, steady and quiet. Now it seems as if he’s none of the above.
Dispelling the myths about Mr. Crayton, reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. Crayton’s average yards per attempt last season was 5.4 against so called “red corners,” or cornerbacks who allow, on average, less than 7 yards per attempt… not great, but these are against the Champ Baileys of the league, and the Cowboys faced some talented ones. But against KC Joyner’s “green” and “yellow” corners, or the guys who allow over 7 YPA, Crayton was above 9, which was in the top 10 of the league among receivers.
I don’t necessarily buy into the idea that just because of the touches TO and Witten and the backs are sure to get, the No. 2 receiver’s role is unnecessary. That’s the beauty of Garrett’s offense, the unpredictability. By admitting that the team doesn’t have a reliable threat behind TO, they’re effectively taking a bullet out of the chamber. Crayton is slow, but his hands haven’t left him completely. The guy can still catch, he just choked when it mattered, partially because he couldn’t back up his loud mouth. If he can return to form, we’re talking about the second most dangerous O in the league… easy.
If Terry comes back, this is all moot. But what are the chances that a frail, sub-6-foot receiver well into his 30’s will make a full recovery from an injury that has probably killed his career? On the other hand, don’t forget that Terence Newman, my pick as the best corner in the league, said not too long ago (and subtly echoed these hints during the team’s last mini-camp) that Glenn was the hardest wide out he’s ever had to cover. That’s not lip service. Miles Austin has apparently come on pretty well, and his deceptive speed has reportedly been giving the team corners fits. Don’t take that lightly. Look at the 40 times of the team’s projected top starters (sorry Antny — your disgruntlement is probably warranted — you’re on your last legs):
4.37 Newman
4.38 Jenkins
4.36 Scandrick
4.3 Jones
I don’t know what’s more impressive, honestly. But haven’t we been hearing this mess since Austin left Monmouth? Same with Hurd. I’ll believe all these ruminations on these two when I see them finally bear out (consistently) in the regular season. Until then, I’m not optimistic. Between those two, Austin has the shorter path to take. He’s already got the speed, he just needed the hands and the polished route-running. Those can be developed, and as we’ve learned, you can’t teach speed. We’ll probably see plenty of him in HBO’s upcoming Hard Knocks through following training camp in Oxnard. If one of these guys steps up, the offense is going to be absolutely scary. Hideously scary.
Anyway, the No. 2 spot is important. Don’t think it’s not just because there are weapons elsewhere. It’s even more important because we’re having to throw our youth support at the position behind a couple undrafted, unproven guys. It’d be nice to have a Hardy or a Thomas to follow through training camp, but beggars can’t be choosers. You just gotta have faith.
Hey guys, it’s me, Will, the guy that started the Roundup way back when we were still pining for a real QB (bye Drew), a consistent RB (hi, Marion), and a coach with on-field tactics that weren’t crusted over by the sands of NFL time (what’s up, Red Ball?). I return to you with experience within the organization — I’ve been in the Texas Stadium press box, I’ve interviewed DeMarcus Ware and Tony Romo (or, if you follow the holy tradition of leaving out vowels of the “most high” of names, TNY RM)… so trust me. I knew this stuff and I still do. I’m not sure how long my second stay here will be, but I’ll try to make it as long as I can, at least up through training camp. I’m a bonafide professional sports writer now, so hopefully that adds some punch to the Roundup.
I’d like to quickly touch on some things I’ve seen over the past month to set up where we go from here. It’s easy to look around this team and see, unequivocally, the positions that make the Cowboys a chic pick for the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl — TO has become the talent without attitude, MBIII has become the Barbarian nobody knew he was, Ware is a monster (remember that Seattle preseason game during his rookie year where he picked off Hasselbeck? Who knew that was the start of our own little LT?)… there are Pro Bowlers at nearly every position, as we’re painfully reminded of each week alongside highlights of Romo’s final INT against the Gints. It’s easy to see that. It’s not so easy to look at the things on the roster that make us wince. And they exist.
In the coming weeks, I’ll intermittently profile a position, player or area that needs improved play, strategic tweaking or outright replacement in lieu of the approaching training camp. We only have to assume that the guys that need to produce will be the guys that do produce. Aside from them, it’s all up for grabs. First up on the block, it’s the No. 2 receiver slot.
I love Terry Glenn. The guy has been a key player in an offense that has historically been skewed away from his best talent: separation and speed. When Bledsoe was slinging, not only did he have a stone statue throwing behind center, but the guys blocking were doing a pitiful job. Any time Rob Pettiti gets a start, you’re in trouble. Glenn isn’t a dink-and-dunk kind of guy. He’s best when you can hit him on those quick slants, deep posts or his fave, the ubiquitous go-route that Lito Sheppard remembers all too well, I’m sure. But he’s frail. Parcells famously referred to him as a woman. So it was unfortunate that last season the offense finally was tailored to suit his skills, and he missed the entire season. The offensive line was easily up to its Erik Williams/LA/Tuinei days, and he had a QB in Romo that was able to create time to give Glenn that ever-important separation. Only he never got to see any of it first hand.
So where does that leave us now? Glenn’s painful bickering over that infamous $500,000 injury settlement and the uncertainty about his knee surrounding his decision to decline that microfracture surgery (which, I’m told, will likely end his career after this season regardless), has left Patty Crayton in the default No. 2 role should Glenn’s injury prove uglier than originally thought, which I think it is. And man, where do we start with that kid…
If you search back in the archives of this blog, I’ve long loved Patty. At one time, I would have loved to have his hands bronzed and put in the Valley Ranch hall along with the posters of the Manster and Bob Lilly. Those things were PRIZED. He never dropped a pass in a game in his first two seasons. He was reliable, steady and quiet. Now it seems as if he’s none of the above.
Dispelling the myths about Mr. Crayton, reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. Crayton’s average yards per attempt last season was 5.4 against so called “red corners,” or cornerbacks who allow, on average, less than 7 yards per attempt… not great, but these are against the Champ Baileys of the league, and the Cowboys faced some talented ones. But against KC Joyner’s “green” and “yellow” corners, or the guys who allow over 7 YPA, Crayton was above 9, which was in the top 10 of the league among receivers.
I don’t necessarily buy into the idea that just because of the touches TO and Witten and the backs are sure to get, the No. 2 receiver’s role is unnecessary. That’s the beauty of Garrett’s offense, the unpredictability. By admitting that the team doesn’t have a reliable threat behind TO, they’re effectively taking a bullet out of the chamber. Crayton is slow, but his hands haven’t left him completely. The guy can still catch, he just choked when it mattered, partially because he couldn’t back up his loud mouth. If he can return to form, we’re talking about the second most dangerous O in the league… easy.
If Terry comes back, this is all moot. But what are the chances that a frail, sub-6-foot receiver well into his 30’s will make a full recovery from an injury that has probably killed his career? On the other hand, don’t forget that Terence Newman, my pick as the best corner in the league, said not too long ago (and subtly echoed these hints during the team’s last mini-camp) that Glenn was the hardest wide out he’s ever had to cover. That’s not lip service. Miles Austin has apparently come on pretty well, and his deceptive speed has reportedly been giving the team corners fits. Don’t take that lightly. Look at the 40 times of the team’s projected top starters (sorry Antny — your disgruntlement is probably warranted — you’re on your last legs):
4.37 Newman
4.38 Jenkins
4.36 Scandrick
4.3 Jones
I don’t know what’s more impressive, honestly. But haven’t we been hearing this mess since Austin left Monmouth? Same with Hurd. I’ll believe all these ruminations on these two when I see them finally bear out (consistently) in the regular season. Until then, I’m not optimistic. Between those two, Austin has the shorter path to take. He’s already got the speed, he just needed the hands and the polished route-running. Those can be developed, and as we’ve learned, you can’t teach speed. We’ll probably see plenty of him in HBO’s upcoming Hard Knocks through following training camp in Oxnard. If one of these guys steps up, the offense is going to be absolutely scary. Hideously scary.
Anyway, the No. 2 spot is important. Don’t think it’s not just because there are weapons elsewhere. It’s even more important because we’re having to throw our youth support at the position behind a couple undrafted, unproven guys. It’d be nice to have a Hardy or a Thomas to follow through training camp, but beggars can’t be choosers. You just gotta have faith.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:54 AM
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