Street tries to make his case

[Doomsday]

Cowboys WR Devin Street: I want to be a dominating force | | Dallas Morning News

Devin Street didn’t get many opportunities to work with Tony Romo during the wide receiver’s rookie season. With Romo being limited because of his back and Street buried on the depth chart behind Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley and Dwayne Harris, the reps just weren’t there during practice.

But this offseason has been different. With Harris now in New York and Bryant not participating in organized team activities and minicamp because of his contract situation, Street has been getting looks with the first-team offense.

“We didn’t really get any reps together [last year], so it’s definitely been beneficial going forward and in the OTAs,” Street said of his work with Romo. “I’m learning what he likes, what he sees. Me being accountable to him, him having that confidence in me to go out and make plays for him and this offense and this team.”

Street, a fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, played in every game last year, totaling two receptions on seven targets for 18 yards.

“Devin did a really good job,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He played a lot of different spots for us, didn’t have a lot of production for us. But he was up virtually every week and was able to handle all of the different spots, both outside positions and inside positions, and go into games and handle his work well.

“Again, not a lot of opportunities but he was doing the right things. I do think he has grown physically over the last year. He’s stronger, he’s quicker, he’s faster. Those are all measurable things we have seen in our strength and conditioning program. And that stuff is starting to show up on the field.”

Street called Bryant’s absence bittersweet because it subtracts an experienced Pro Bowl player from the group, but it also gives Street more chances to show the coaching staff his abilities with the starting group.

“It’s really not going to deter me from my work ethic, how I prepare or anything like that,” Street said of Bryant not participating in the offseason program. “To a certain extent, he’s a dominating force out there, but at the same time, I want to be a dominating force out there, too. So I can’t really get deterred from that or get distracted. I have to go out there and execute to the best of my ability to help this offense and help this team.”

So, barring severe injuries and assuming Dez doesn't do something really boneheaded and against his own best interests - like refusing to sign the tag tender and sitting out next season - here's who I project making the final 53 roster at receiver for Dallas:

1.) Dez Bryant

2.) Terrance Williams

3.) Cole Beasley

4.) Devin Street

5.) Lucky Whitehead

and if they carry six:

6.) Antwan Goodley

I don't see a problem in a diversified offense with the top four guys getting their share of thrown-ats, and I include the last two purely speculatively based on their speed and kickoff/punt return abilities. But I can really see a situation like we have at TE right now where people are basically sitting on the roster not getting used.

Street getting first team reps is good news in any event. Might make him more of a go-to guy in certain situations, like Austin used to be for us. One more poison for the opponent to pick.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

"Dominating Force"

How about you just become something better than our fourth best WR for a start.

 

[Doomsday]

"Dominating Force"

How about you just become something better than our fourth best WR for a start.

It's good he aims high though. Pygmalion Effect!

 

[Sheik]

Hey, if we all pull together and think he will, he might become a dominating force! It's science. Kind of.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Even with Dez Bryant in the lineup the wide receiver depth is weak.

They were very fortunate last season to have no injuries at that position.

Street is a complete unknown, the kid did practically nothing in his first season.

 

[ZeroClub]

Early on, before he did much of anything, it seemed that the team wanted to give Beasley extra time to develop.

Same thing with Dunbar. They think they see something in him.

(It worked with Beasley. Jury is still out with Dunbar.)

Seems like Street is being viewed in a similar way ... and that he's going to get extra time to develop into something.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

I see Beasley as having rare skills, though - that quickness in space that no one can keep up with.

Street is like the most generic WR ever. Average at everything, no special qualities.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Even with Dez Bryant in the lineup the wide receiver depth is weak.

They were very fortunate last season to have no injuries at that position.

Street is a complete unknown, the kid did practically nothing in his first season.

I think this can be characterized by most teams' depth at WR.

 

[Midswat]

wut?

 

[Midswat]

Also loved Garrett verbally blowing a dude who went 2/18 on 7 attempts.

Friggin dipshit

 

[ZeroClub]

I see Beasley as having rare skills, though - that quickness in space that no one can keep up with.

Street is like the most generic WR ever. Average at everything, no special qualities.

I don't see what they see in Street either. There must be something, but it isn't obvious.

Precise route running?

I remember hearing that he bulked up some this off season, so is he becoming somewhat of a physical presence?

Got me.

But I do get the impression that the Cowboys will give Street more than the normal amount of time to develop. ... that for some reason Street is held in higher regard as a prospect than fans would expect.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

I don't think there necessarily is anything special about him. He's just a sophomore 5th rounder who hasn't been around long enough to be replaced.

Garrett's generic positives don't really mean anything -- he's talked up plenty of spares who are no longer around. (I'm not saying he should trash them, because he shouldn't.) Neither do the DFW flowery media stories making every single thing the team does right now seem like a success.

I'm not saying the guy can't contribute anything, just that it's extremely unlikely he's anything noteworthy. Booze had a great comparison -- maybe he can be Sam Hurd, hopefully minus the drug kingpinnery.

 

[Midswat]

Just wait... The flowery media stories will only get worse through training camp as every fuckin schlub undrafted free agent gets profiled and made out to be an All Pro who only went undrafted because (insert childhood traumatic story like his dad was murdered and his mother supported him and his 12 siblings and oh yeah his best friend was a gangbanger and died in his arms but schlub udfa steered clear of trouble)

And all the idiot zones will eat that shit up and want to put the player in the ring of honor because they made a good catch or tackle against another teams 5th stringers in August and FuzzyDumbkins will break down film of the schlub that just oozes with compliments and potential.

Then the schlub doesn't get past the first round of cuts.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Yep

But don't forget Coach Garrett getting credit for their "success."

 

[ZeroClub]

Sam Hurd probably is a good comparison.

The thing about Street that surprised me last year was that he got as much playing time as he did. He was active for all 16 games and his snaps weren't limited to special teams. It strikes me as strange that he was on the field as much as he was.

That's what leads me to think that the Cowboys see some sort of potential in him. I certainly could be wrong ....

Yeah, training camp is always loaded with flowery hype stories.

 

[Midswat]

Pretty sure I remember reading that Dooley loves Street.

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Sam Hurd probably is a good comparison.

The thing about Street that surprised me last year was that he got as much playing time as he did. He was active for all 16 games and his snaps weren't limited to special teams. It strikes me as strange that he was on the field as much as he was.

That's what leads me to think that the Cowboys see some sort of potential in him. I certainly could be wrong ....

Yeah, training camp is always loaded with flowery hype stories.

He looks like he has good hands, more like a possession type receiver. There is an adjustment period that these young wide receivers have to go through. Not only to the pro game, but to Romo and they way he runs the offense. Hopefully he can make a bigger impact this season.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

5.) Lucky Whitehead

I will quit being a Cowboy fan if they keep that little douche on the roster.

I hope they keep Nick Harwell instead. Or Deontay Greenberry.

 

[ZeroClub]

If Lucky Whitehead can be a quality kickoff and punt returner, that would be great news for the team.

It sounded like Greenberry had a good couple of weeks catching the ball in shorts. Too early to mean much, though.

 

[Omegasupreme]

Just wait... The flowery media stories will only get worse through training camp as every fuckin schlub undrafted free agent gets profiled and made out to be an All Pro who only went undrafted because (insert childhood traumatic story like his dad was murdered and his mother supported him and his 12 siblings and oh yeah his best friend was a gangbanger and died in his arms but schlub udfa steered clear of trouble)

And all the idiot zones will eat that shit up and want to put the player in the ring of honor because they made a good catch or tackle against another teams 5th stringers in August and FuzzyDumbkins will break down film of the schlub that just oozes with compliments and potential.

Then the schlub doesn't get past the first round of cuts.

DC.com has Brian Broaddus do a "Scouts Take" on players who get signed for a week: Kyle Knox. Broaddus often has a sentence that says "when I was a scout" which is the same as Matt Millen giving GM advice because "when he was a GM for the Lions"

I remember Garrett and Dooley praising the Streets pick bc he knew all the routes. Jerry saying that Streets needs more strength. To borrow the Parcells terms, they need more gazelles and less giraffes. Streets does not know the routes, he doesn't have the awareness. If they need him for a short pass game them great, I am sure he would be a minor asset but that is not the scheme that Jason runs. Here is the pre draft write up from NFL.com on Streets.

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Has excellent length and room for added bulk. Chews up ground with long strides. Is a big target underneath with a sizable catch radius. Shows natural receiving skills to track, concentrate and adjust. Soft, dependable hands to extend and pull in a throw off his body. Uses his big frame to post up defensive backs. Nice field awareness. Lined up outside and inside. Solid personal and football character. Productive, 40-game starter. Team captain.
WEAKNESSES Has a thin build and could stand to pack on body armor -- durability could be an issue. Needs to get stronger, particularly to improve his release vs. the jam. Builds to speed and is not a threat to take the top off. Leggy and fairly straight-linish -- does not pop out of breaks or separate with quickness. Inconsistent route runner. Not aggressive or physical as a blocker. Can be more cognizant of ball security -- carries loosely and swings the ball away from his body. Limited special-teams utility.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 4-5
BOTTOM LINE Pitt's all-time leading pass catcher, Street is a narrowly built, long-levered, smooth-muscled receiver whose best assets are his length and hands. Needs to incorporate more physicality into his overall game, but has the ability to be an effective zone beater and red-zone target.

He also got trucked and knocked out of a game while trying to tackle a defensive player (post turnover).

Dez is UFC. Streets is amateur ballet.