Of all the things to happen, why’d Deon Anderson have to land himself a gun related charge? Seriously, as if Plaxico Burress didn’t make that point crystal clear for the league.
To me it seems like there are just too many dynamics in play to try to figure out what will happen with him should he be convicted, and even if he’s not. I say too many because one of the key dynamics is the amount of change in Jerry Jones regarding his players and personal conduct.
We all remember the 90’s—it was ugly as far as personal conduct.
But then Adam “Pacman” Jones was able to test and tread the waters before eventually sinking at the hands of Jerry Jones. And who can forget Terrell Owens, given that anyone believes the decision to release him last year was even slightly about team chemistry and “The Player’s” attitude.
Jerry has possibly demonstrated a change in his own policies for dealing with players who cause and get into trouble. I use possibly because while things were really heating up with Pacman and T.O., Anthony Spencer got into some trouble and barely received a slap on the wrist.
So what will Jerry do with Deon, regardless of if he is eventually convicted or not? It’s hard to say.
T.O. had become more of a problem than a producer, and Pacman could never stay out of trouble long enough to start producing in Dallas. But Spencer was viewed as the next starting OLB ready for the soon-after release of Greg Ellis.
Deon Anderson had one catch for five yards in 2009. That’s it. That was all of his involvement.
It seems to me that the axe would fall swiftly if it even looked like he was facing jail time. But a guy that touches the ball only once in a whole season plus two playoff games should be very worried no matter what.
So you guys tell me what you think, should he be cut and under what circumstances? Answer in the comments.
[poll id=”19″]
I think he should be released but not simply because of the charges, but because of production or lack there of on the field. He doesn't seem like an effective lead blocker and as was stated had only one catch out of the backfield this past season. I think the team needs to move on and try to find the next “Moose”, a fullback who excels in blocking and can contribute by catching the ball out of the backfield..
I disagree with bigkat in regards to lead blocker or just Deon's blocking ability in general. There was a chart somewhere comparing Deon and J. Phillips and we were more successful in all areas with Deon in the game. I don't want to see him cut because I really like his attitude in games and he is a great blocking fb. I hope JJ keeps him, but we never know what JJ is thinking or is going to do.
Edit: And he might have only had one catch but that is not what J Garrett is using him for, and on top of that we have so many OTHER threats on the field that can handle the catches.
In his three years, he gets 4 touches, mixed run and pass, each year. In '09 he had one catch and no runs. You're right, he's not used as a weapon with the ball, but as a weapon to keep the ball moving.
The problem is that when your sole function is to be an extra blocker, like a fullback, you don't have a lot of value. Guys who can block are easier to find than guys who can catch and run.
I remember hearing about that stat comparing the blocking of Anderson and John Phillips. It's a nice stat, but being that Phillips was a rookie third string TE with more of a receiving style, the stat doesn't tell us much. A fullback of any caliber should be able to block better than him. When a TE was used in the backfield to block, it was Witten more times than not, even when Phillips was on the field. Not easy to call this one.
True but honestly when you look around the league at the other teams how many of them are actually utilizing their fb's as both blocker and potential receiver/runner? Reason I like Deon is cuz he plays smash mouth blocking and that's harder then you think to replace. But like I said if we can find someone of equal or higher potential in the draft or via free agent then so be it.
And that's really what I'm hoping for, to find a replacement via the draft. I've always been sort of the partial to the idea of cutting Anderson. Remember that I'm young enough that my first year as a Cowboys fan was Smith's first Super Bowl, which means it was Moose at fullback. Maybe it's an unfair model to hold him up to, but I don't think Anderson fits in the mold of a Moose.
Most teams use the fullback position for blocking, some use it for running and a couple use it for passing. A lot of teams use a TE at FB though, and the Cowboys are one of those more and more each year. That tells me they might be losing confidence in Anderson anyway.
Yeah but the game has changed from back in those days. I think the FB as itself is slowly getting faded out anyway, because like you said people are figuring out that TE's just fit better with what teams are trying to do. I think only FB that is still like the old school FB's is the Ravens FB McClain. I see your point though, i'm fully for sticking a TE like Witten and Phillips back their on occasion, I think Garrett could come up with some crafty plays (hopefully) with that formation. Here's to hoping big things in 2010!
I disagree with bigkat in regards to lead blocker or just Deon's blocking ability in general. There was a chart somewhere comparing Deon and J. Phillips and we were more successful in all areas with Deon in the game. I don't want to see him cut because I really like his attitude in games and he is a great blocking fb. I hope JJ keeps him, but we never know what JJ is thinking or is going to do.
Edit: And he might have only had one catch but that is not what J Garrett is using him for, and on top of that we have so many OTHER threats on the field that can handle the catches.
In his three years, he gets 4 touches, mixed run and pass, each year. In '09 he had one catch and no runs. You're right, he's not used as a weapon with the ball, but as a weapon to keep the ball moving.
The problem is that when your sole function is to be an extra blocker, like a fullback, you don't have a lot of value. Guys who can block are easier to find than guys who can catch and run.
I remember hearing about that stat comparing the blocking of Anderson and John Phillips. It's a nice stat, but being that Phillips was a rookie third string TE with more of a receiving style, the stat doesn't tell us much. A fullback of any caliber should be able to block better than him. When a TE was used in the backfield to block, it was Witten more times than not, even when Phillips was on the field. Not easy to call this one.
True but honestly when you look around the league at the other teams how many of them are actually utilizing their fb's as both blocker and potential receiver/runner? Reason I like Deon is cuz he plays smash mouth blocking and that's harder then you think to replace. But like I said if we can find someone of equal or higher potential in the draft or via free agent then so be it.
And that's really what I'm hoping for, to find a replacement via the draft. I've always been sort of the partial to the idea of cutting Anderson. Remember that I'm young enough that my first year as a Cowboys fan was Smith's first Super Bowl, which means it was Moose at fullback. Maybe it's an unfair model to hold him up to, but I don't think Anderson fits in the mold of a Moose.
Most teams use the fullback position for blocking, some use it for running and a couple use it for passing. A lot of teams use a TE at FB though, and the Cowboys are one of those more and more each year. That tells me they might be losing confidence in Anderson anyway.
Yeah but the game has changed from back in those days. I think the FB as itself is slowly getting faded out anyway, because like you said people are figuring out that TE's just fit better with what teams are trying to do. I think only FB that is still like the old school FB's is the Ravens FB McClain. I see your point though, i'm fully for sticking a TE like Witten and Phillips back their on occasion, I think Garrett could come up with some crafty plays (hopefully) with that formation. Here's to hoping big things in 2010!