Sam Hurd (1 Viewer)

[crazy8]

Wasn't he the #3 receiver and pushing Crayton before getting injured ?

Is there a chance he could be in their plans again this year.

 

[Tick]

Miles Austin really came on last season, and appears to have more upside than Hurd. I agree that Hurd is mostly overlooked given the floating WR depth chart there. I just worry that it could be a little like New Orleans the past few seasons - great stats by the QB every week, but you never know if it'll be Devery Henderson, Robert Meacham, David Patten, Terrence Copper, or Lance Moore that will have the long TD that week. The Cowboys could be similar, particularly if Stanback comes on. Don't forget that Witten is likely to be their top receiver this season.

 

[Andy Herron]

Patrick Crayton is more the one you want to keep an eye on from a sleeper standpoint. Crayton has known all of the receiver positions for a few years now and has benefitted from it as he has been moved around so much in recent years. He can be enormously productive from the slot position, which is the position that suits him best. I think this is part of the reason the Cowboys are so determined to get Miles Austin on the field and on the outside opposite Roy Williams. Crayton, a former college quarterback, also has built a very good rapport and chemistry with Romo over the years. Crayton has the best hands on the team, and Romo not only realizes that but trusts him. Crayton has also improved his speed this offseason. With T.O. gone Crayton will see plenty of balls this season, and the OTAs have already demonstrated as much.

ETA: Crayton could very well be the one who benefits most from a receivers' standpoint with T.O. gone.

For more on Crayton, have a look here:

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm...0F5B6022CE35E6F

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Hurd's main value to the team is special teams. I want to say I've seen him make some horrendous drops - wide open with no one around him kind of drops. He's 4th in the pecking order unless Crayton or Austin get hurt. Stanback is hurt again, and I'm worried he won't make the team this year.

Stanback's injury could open the door for Travis Wilson - immensely talented from a physical standpoint, but inconsistent, so much so that he couldn't even get a shot with the WR hungry Browns over the last few years. There are a couple of rookie to watch too - Manny Johnson, the 7th round pick who is a quick/fast/small receiver, raw in his route running, but he could be a slot type if Crayton ends up lined up outside, and Kevin Ogletree, a long-framed WR with good speed who fell out of the draft because he came out too early. These are all names to remember simply because the Cowboys don't have a proven #2, and Austin and Crayton were just as unlikely to be long term contributors when they became Cowboys.

Crayton may catch 50-60 balls as the slot guy, but I would only expect modest YPC and TD numbers - think Steve Smith (Giants) from last year. If he has the best hands on the team, you couldn't tell in the playoff loss to the Giants at the end of the 07 season, he had some key drops that really took the air out of the Cowboys sails in that game.

If there's going to be anyone other than Witten and Williams that has fantasy value, it's got to be Austin. He's got the deep speed to get behind the safeties and harness Romo's ability to improvise and he can also take quick slants and other fast paced timing throws to the house. He's definitely talented enough to do it, and he was showing signs of having much better hands and ball skills last year than he had when he came in the league. He had pretty much passed Crayton before he got hurt.

Of course, Matt Jones could sign with the Cowboys and blow this all up. If he does I think he could even pass Williams as the #1 WR in this offense (but behind Witten in the pecking order of course)

 

[Couch Potato]

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+W...tm?mode=nfceast

Pro Football Weekly's "The Way We Hear It":

May 21, 2009 By Eric Edholm

Forgotten receivers also competing for roles in Cowboys’ passing game

Most of the attention paid to the Cowboys’ wide receivers this offseason has gone to two men, Roy Williams and Miles Austin, and for good reason. Williams is attempting to step up after doing next to nothing in 10 games in Dallas last season following his trade from Detroit, and the release of Terrell Owens ramps up the pressure on Williams even more. And Austin is attempting to nail down a starting spot after showing intriguing downfield speed in his first few abbreviated seasons.

But there are a few other faces worth paying attention to at the position, as well. Sam Hurd, somewhat of a forgotten man in the picture, reportedly has looked very good catching the ball in minicamps. At one point he was considered the more polished wideout between him and Austin, but Hurd has fallen behind. Still, he will get a chance to win the No. 4 job, assuming Patrick Crayton lands as the primary slot guy. And this also is a crucial season for Isaiah Stanback, who not only must contribute on special teams but also make strides as a wide receiver. In order to make the team, Stanback might need to be the fifth wideout and contribute something on offense — not just make the team as a return specialist.

 

[texasbirdfan]

if Vegas had a line on Matt Jones (cleared by NFL NOT to miss games in 2009 recently) becoming a 'Boy in 2009, I would place a bet....so all the Hurd/ Austin stuff goes on hold until Jerry passes on his Alma maters' old QB

 

[crazy8]

Great feedback fella's..thanks

Watch out Bennett the back-up TE this year also as a threat

I think they are going to move Witten around enough at HB, FB, TE

that this kid will be on the field alot so he may sneak up as the #3 or #4 option

 

[Patoons]

Great feedback fella's..thanksWatch out Bennett the back-up TE this year also as a threatI think they are going to move Witten around enough at HB, FB, TEthat this kid will be on the field alot so he may sneak up as the #3 or #4 option

I'm a fan of Bennett as well, but I really think his upside is limited with Witten there barring injury. The basketball background and athleticism makes me think of him like a potential Gates.

 

[Manster]

Martellus Bennett WILL get the ball. he obviously has limited value with Witten there. but the Cowboys will use Bennett and he is the heir apparent to Witten.

i'm also looking for Austin to step up. he wont have a ton of FF value, but is worth a look imo.

 

[Bankerguy]

Some good discussions here. I'll jot down a couple of opinions as well.

-I don't see much coming from Hurd this year. Will be a ST and 4th Wide Receiver. He is a capable 4th option which is good. Fantasy wise, I would't expect much.

-Andy is right on the money that Crayton is best in the slot with his slow foot speed and Austin is deserving of the WR2 spot based on his skill set.

-I differ in that I don't see big numbers for either Crayton or Austin. I think they will water down the stats of the WR2 spot and increase the WR3 average. So, Crayton is the better pick for Fantasy purposes imo.

-I like Bennett in TD heavy league's with his 6'7 frame in the red zone. 5-7 TD's would not shock me at all.

-There will be no Matt Jones in Dallas.