Sorry to about missing the Day 3 deadline, but here it is. Enjoy!
It is day three of my investigation of Monday night’s division showdown between the Eagles and Cowboys. To this point, I’ve weighed in on both team’s running backs and quarterbacks. Today, I will finish out the offensive side of the ball, and scrutinize the wide receivers, and tight ends, and who’s the got the advantage. Here are the depth charts for Philadelphia and Dallas [NFL.com].
Dallas Cowboys:
Tight End: Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Tony Curtis
Jason Witten is a big target (6-5, 262lbs), and one of the NFL’s elite tight ends. Witten has come in to his own, over the past few years, with last year being his best to date (96 Rec, 1,145 yards, 7 TDs). He’s tough, and a good blocker. Jason Witten is a great red zone target, but he will receive looks anywhere on the field. Jason Witten, in his 6th season, is at the top of his game, will remain there for a few more years.
Martellus Bennett is a rookie out of Texas A&M. Like Witten, Bennett is a big target (6-6, 265lbs). I followed the HBO series “Hard Knocks”, and he appears to be a work in progress. Bennett has raw talent, but it needs to refined and polished. He’ll be out there on special teams, but I don’t know how much time he will see in the offense.
Tony Curtis is in his 3rd year with the Dallas Cowboys. As third man on the depth chart, I expect that most of his contributions will be on special teams, but he does get some offensive looks. In 2007, Tony caught 3 passes, all for touchdowns.
Wide Receiver: Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Isaiah Stanback, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin
Terrell Owens is one of the best receivers in the game. He’s the best option that Dallas has at wide receiver, and rightfully so. He’s physical receiver, with good size (6-3, 218lbs), and great speed. At 34, Owens doesn’t show any signs of losing a step. He’s gone over 1,100 yards the past 2 seasons that he has been with the Cowboys. Owens will draw the focus of every coordinator in the league, and more times than not, “The Player” wins.
Sam Hurd is listed on this week’s injury report for Dallas with a high ankle sprain. Hurd was expected to do some running at Wednesday’s practice, but according the injury report on the Eagles website, he didn’t participate. He’s not expected to play in Monday night’s game in Dallas either. I will exclude him from further reference.
Miles Austin is another 3rd year play on this Dallas team. He will be the number 2 receiver behind Terrell Owens (replacing Sam Hurd). Austin is on Dallas’ injury report with a sprained left knee, but he may be available for the game on Monday night. There is little to no body of work to judge him at the position. Austin is a big receiver (6-3, 216lbs), which is always a positive.
Patrick Crayton is a solid wide receiver, but is a big drop-off in talent from T.O. Crayton has dropped some key balls in the past, but is looking to change all of that. He’s got decent size (6-0, 203lbs), but no real advantage.
Isaiah Stanback is a converted quarterback, and is Patrick Crayton’s backup. At 6-2, and 208lbs, he’s another good sized receiver, and the Cowboys have high expectations for him. He’s coming off a preseason shoulder injury, and had 2 catches for 24 yards against Cleveland.
Note: Dallascowboys.com’s injury report was last updated Monday, September 8th.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Tight End: L.J. Smith, Brent Celek, Matt Schobel
L.J. Smith is looking to have a come back season. In 2007 he was hampered (to say the least) by a sports hernia injury. At 6-3, and 258lbs, Smith provides a good target in the middle of the field, and in the red zone. Smith has good hands, but needs to be more consistent.
Brent Celek is in his 2nd season out of Cincinnati. He’s got good size (6-4, 255lbs). Brent Celek is a solid player that will contribute, but his contributions need to increase.
Matt Schobel is in 7th season, will take Celek’s place from time-to-time, when the Eagles are in a 2 tight end set. Like Celek he’s able to contribute, but there’s definitely room for improvement.
Wide Receiver: Reggie Brown, DeSean Jackson, Greg Lewis, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett
Reggie Brown is entering his 4th season with the Eagles, and is currently hampered by a hamstring injury. Reggie Brown has been a slow starter for the Eagles, and tends to come on strong as the season progresses. Brown is a good receiver, with decent size (6-1, 197lbs). He’s not going to blow by defensive backs with any consistency, but is a good possession receiver. He needs to have a breakout performance this year. Hamstring injuries are nagging, and you can expect that it will hinder any chances of him starting off this season any different from his past three.
DeSean Jackson is a rookie out of Cal, who has exceeded all expectation to this point. Jackson was expected to come in, and contribute in the return game, and see some time as the slot receiver. With the injuries sustained to Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis, DeSean was thrust into a more primary role. Jackson is an undersized (5-10, 175lbs) speedster, that has drawn comparisons to Steve Smith. DeSean has shown a knack for creating space between himself, and his defender. He was impressive against the Rams with 6 catches for 106 yards.
Greg Lewis is a 6th year veteran of the Eagles. He’s a good enough receiver. Lewis isn’t going to dominate any defenses, but he does seem to come through with some timely catches. Greg Lewis will contribute, but he’s not going to get many hundred yard games.
Kevin Curtis statistically, is the Eagles best receiver. He had career numbers last year for the Eagles, but is out indefinitely after suffering a sports hernia injury. He hasn’t been placed on IR, but he’s not going to be a factor no earlier than week 8.
Jason Avant is a 3rd year Eagle. He’s one the biggest Eagles receivers at 6-0, 212lbs. He’s a good possession receiver for us. Avant will get those short yardage pass plays, and enable to the Eagles to keep moving the chains.
Hank Baskett is the Eagles’ biggest receiver (6-4, 220lbs), and is entering his 3rd season. Baskett is a deep threat receiver. His size gives him a distinct advantage over most defensive backs. He is a work in progress, but he will make big plays throughout the season.
When looking at the Eagles’ and Cowboys’ wide receivers/tight ends, the initial reaction is that the Cowboys have a decisive advantage. They’ve got T.O and Witten. Owens and Witten are the two best players in this discussion. The will both be relied upon heavily in the passing game. However, once you move past those two players, the Cowboys have several guys that are playing with injuries, learning the system, and just don’t get as many looks. On the other hand, the Eagles don’t have any superstars (yet), but have guys that know the system, and will contribute on game-to-game basis. So the receiver tight end matchup is a push.
Am I wrong?
Dallas Cowboys:
Tight End: Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Tony Curtis
Jason Witten is a big target (6-5, 262lbs), and one of the NFL’s elite tight ends. Witten has come in to his own, over the past few years, with last year being his best to date (96 Rec, 1,145 yards, 7 TDs). He’s tough, and a good blocker. Jason Witten is a great red zone target, but he will receive looks anywhere on the field. Jason Witten, in his 6th season, is at the top of his game, will remain there for a few more years.
Martellus Bennett is a rookie out of Texas A&M. Like Witten, Bennett is a big target (6-6, 265lbs). I followed the HBO series “Hard Knocks”, and he appears to be a work in progress. Bennett has raw talent, but it needs to refined and polished. He’ll be out there on special teams, but I don’t know how much time he will see in the offense.
Tony Curtis is in his 3rd year with the Dallas Cowboys. As third man on the depth chart, I expect that most of his contributions will be on special teams, but he does get some offensive looks. In 2007, Tony caught 3 passes, all for touchdowns.
Wide Receiver: Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Isaiah Stanback, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin
Terrell Owens is one of the best receivers in the game. He’s the best option that Dallas has at wide receiver, and rightfully so. He’s physical receiver, with good size (6-3, 218lbs), and great speed. At 34, Owens doesn’t show any signs of losing a step. He’s gone over 1,100 yards the past 2 seasons that he has been with the Cowboys. Owens will draw the focus of every coordinator in the league, and more times than not, “The Player” wins.
Sam Hurd is listed on this week’s injury report for Dallas with a high ankle sprain. Hurd was expected to do some running at Wednesday’s practice, but according the injury report on the Eagles website, he didn’t participate. He’s not expected to play in Monday night’s game in Dallas either. I will exclude him from further reference.
Miles Austin is another 3rd year play on this Dallas team. He will be the number 2 receiver behind Terrell Owens (replacing Sam Hurd). Austin is on Dallas’ injury report with a sprained left knee, but he may be available for the game on Monday night. There is little to no body of work to judge him at the position. Austin is a big receiver (6-3, 216lbs), which is always a positive.
Patrick Crayton is a solid wide receiver, but is a big drop-off in talent from T.O. Crayton has dropped some key balls in the past, but is looking to change all of that. He’s got decent size (6-0, 203lbs), but no real advantage.
Isaiah Stanback is a converted quarterback, and is Patrick Crayton’s backup. At 6-2, and 208lbs, he’s another good sized receiver, and the Cowboys have high expectations for him. He’s coming off a preseason shoulder injury, and had 2 catches for 24 yards against Cleveland.
Note: Dallascowboys.com’s injury report was last updated Monday, September 8th.
Philadelphia Eagles:
Tight End: L.J. Smith, Brent Celek, Matt Schobel
L.J. Smith is looking to have a come back season. In 2007 he was hampered (to say the least) by a sports hernia injury. At 6-3, and 258lbs, Smith provides a good target in the middle of the field, and in the red zone. Smith has good hands, but needs to be more consistent.
Brent Celek is in his 2nd season out of Cincinnati. He’s got good size (6-4, 255lbs). Brent Celek is a solid player that will contribute, but his contributions need to increase.
Matt Schobel is in 7th season, will take Celek’s place from time-to-time, when the Eagles are in a 2 tight end set. Like Celek he’s able to contribute, but there’s definitely room for improvement.
Wide Receiver: Reggie Brown, DeSean Jackson, Greg Lewis, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett
Reggie Brown is entering his 4th season with the Eagles, and is currently hampered by a hamstring injury. Reggie Brown has been a slow starter for the Eagles, and tends to come on strong as the season progresses. Brown is a good receiver, with decent size (6-1, 197lbs). He’s not going to blow by defensive backs with any consistency, but is a good possession receiver. He needs to have a breakout performance this year. Hamstring injuries are nagging, and you can expect that it will hinder any chances of him starting off this season any different from his past three.
DeSean Jackson is a rookie out of Cal, who has exceeded all expectation to this point. Jackson was expected to come in, and contribute in the return game, and see some time as the slot receiver. With the injuries sustained to Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis, DeSean was thrust into a more primary role. Jackson is an undersized (5-10, 175lbs) speedster, that has drawn comparisons to Steve Smith. DeSean has shown a knack for creating space between himself, and his defender. He was impressive against the Rams with 6 catches for 106 yards.
Greg Lewis is a 6th year veteran of the Eagles. He’s a good enough receiver. Lewis isn’t going to dominate any defenses, but he does seem to come through with some timely catches. Greg Lewis will contribute, but he’s not going to get many hundred yard games.
Kevin Curtis statistically, is the Eagles best receiver. He had career numbers last year for the Eagles, but is out indefinitely after suffering a sports hernia injury. He hasn’t been placed on IR, but he’s not going to be a factor no earlier than week 8.
Jason Avant is a 3rd year Eagle. He’s one the biggest Eagles receivers at 6-0, 212lbs. He’s a good possession receiver for us. Avant will get those short yardage pass plays, and enable to the Eagles to keep moving the chains.
Hank Baskett is the Eagles’ biggest receiver (6-4, 220lbs), and is entering his 3rd season. Baskett is a deep threat receiver. His size gives him a distinct advantage over most defensive backs. He is a work in progress, but he will make big plays throughout the season.
When looking at the Eagles’ and Cowboys’ wide receivers/tight ends, the initial reaction is that the Cowboys have a decisive advantage. They’ve got T.O and Witten. Owens and Witten are the two best players in this discussion. The will both be relied upon heavily in the passing game. However, once you move past those two players, the Cowboys have several guys that are playing with injuries, learning the system, and just don’t get as many looks. On the other hand, the Eagles don’t have any superstars (yet), but have guys that know the system, and will contribute on game-to-game basis. So the receiver tight end matchup is a push.
Am I wrong?
GO BIRDS!!!!
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