Have the Dallas Cowboys already replaced Dez Bryant?
Even though Tavon Austin will play more of a third-down receiving back role for the team, he still fits the bill as a specialized gadget player that gives the offense a dynamic threat they haven’t had in years.
Cedrick Wilson‘s role with the team next year figures to be as a potential fourth or fifth wide receiver used mostly for his down the field receiving ability. In his final season at Boise State, Wilson averaged 19.0 yards per catch. In 2017, PFF had Wilson tallying 694 yards on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield, second-most among draft-eligible wide outs.
In the future though, look for Wilson to be an integral part of the receiving core despite his sixth-round selection. Oddly enough, he and Terrance Williams have an eerily similar playing style. The biggest difference being Wilson’s proclivity to use his hands to catch the ball rather than his body.
Add Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Deonte Thompson, and Noah Brown and by the time the dust settles, the team should be comfortable going into the season with whatever six receivers win the job.
Three things that caused these schematic changes are Dak’s comfort in a read and react passing scheme designed to go through a quick progression and hit the open man. Dez Bryant’s inability to run crisp well-timed routes, and the greatness of the running game affording the team the opportunity to make such a schematic shift.
The Cowboys simply do not need a passing game carried by a worldly receiver talent. With the offensive line and running game in tow, they simply need guys who can win one on one and play specific roles.
Though the coaching staff is not a unit to have confidence in when it comes to creativity and mixing things up, there is hope that with this realization and a whole off-season of work they can make the change successfully.
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On paper, it seems as though Hurns, Gallup, Beasley, Wilson, and Austin can do their job of winning one on ones and playing a specialized role. This is all the Cowboys need in order to have an effective passing game.
We won’t know for sure until the September, but it looks as if the plan just might work.