Trained by "The Playmaker" to be "A Playmaker"

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 12:31 AM CDT

Now it is just a phrase and I won't even begin to compare Jesse Holley to Michael Irvin. But, you have to admit, it looks like a little bit of the playmaker has rubbed off onto Jesse "Hollywood" Holley. I watched the entire preseason hoping that at some point this boy would be able to come in and make a play, he had shown some flashes, but hadn't made a REAL play until tonight against the Vikings.

Personally I believe that Holley deserves a spot over Isaiah Stanback. Stanback may be very athletic, yes, but he hasn't made any plays. The only place they might use him is in the Return game, but face it, Felix Jones and Miles Austin are ahead of him on that and I think Kevin Ogletree looked better on kickoff returns as well. He hadn't made any plays making catches either. However, Holley on the other hand, made sure to make at least something happen or just come down with the ball EVERY time it came his way, which was only 4 times. And here they are:

1st play - Vs. Titans - A Titans defender tips a pass which then bounces into Holley's helmet and then up in the air. A herd of defenders is swarming around the ball but somehow, amongst all of the commotion, Holley still manages to come up with the ball, turning a potential interception into a positive gain.

2nd play - Vs. Vikings - Holley makes a nice leaping grab for a first down to move the chains forward.

3rd play - Vs. Vikings - Holley receives a lateral pass and makes the first guy miss to get a decent 7 yard gain.

4th play - Vs. Vikings - Holley makes the defense pay for their mistake of not stopping the ball from moving back upfield by grabbing it and returning it 82 yards to the house. This is potentially one of the greatest/rarest plays in football history as it doesn't often occur that someone gets to return a punt for a touchdown to take the lead and win the game. This was the play I had waited all season for out of Holley and it happened at the very end.

I think that this justifies Holley getting a position ahead of Isaiah Stanback on the Cowboys final 53-man roster. I will be real though that he still has his mistakes and if you didn't notice, Holley was a part of BOTH punt returns for touchdowns that game as Holley missed the initial hit but failed to bring down the Vikings' returner on the Punt that they returned for a touchdown. He still has some work to do but he has made some nice tackles in other games. No one is perfect. Also Manny Johnson makes a very interesting case for making the team as he has had his fair share of great catches in camp and in games to showcase his great hands.

I have stated my case that I believe Holley is worth seeing over Stanback but I also want to see what all of you think. So please, make a vote on the poll. Another fact to keep in mind is that Holley was pushed harder in 4th and Long than any player is ever pushed by their coaches in the NFL and came through with no injuries as well as making it through the entire preseason without missing a single moment because of injury. Thus far he has proved much more durable and tougher than Stanback.

Nothing against Stanback, I wish the best for him, but you must pick the more productive player and Holley thus far has proved to be much more promising than keeping Stanback in my eyes. It seems that some of "The Playmaker" has rubbed off onto Jesse Holley, although he still has a lot to learn and do. Giving him a roster spot and a chance to do more is what he needs and deserves.

Poll

Does Jesse Holley deserve a spot on the roster more than Isaiah Stanback?

Yes

91 votes

No

26 votes

117 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I voted no

Mainly because I dont think either of them deserve a roster spot. If we keep 6 WRs, Matt Jones should be the 6th.

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by aussie_cowboy on Sep 5, 2009 1:42 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think he makes the team

But boy did he run fast.

by Alexcomestokill on Sep 5, 2009 1:43 AM CDT reply actions

I believe he should...

Jesse would be a positive addition to the team in my opinion. It would not only add a player suggested by “The Playmaker” for what that’s worth but it would also add some fire and tenacity to the team to remind him that guys like him are hungry. The have that fire, that eye of the tiger (lol) or that furious neccesity to be something that it should lift the moral of others. I think Romo did it and is a continueing to be an example but everyone may be complacent (maybe). He’d bring along with him the constant coaching of Michael Irvin which also may further inspire the team because I’m sure Mike doesn’t want someone with his rep on the line to disgrace him. I think he’d progress a lot faster than any other WR prospect at that spot because of Mike’s influence. We maybe looking at a diamond in the rough here and I think we should keep em for awhile to see what we’ve got…

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by CodeNamedG on Sep 5, 2009 2:54 AM CDT reply actions

neither do

4 plays don’t justify squat.

Ogletree has justified a spot because he burned nate clements, a legit nfl cb two weeks ago and has been very consistant. Neither Stanback or Holley have come close to that

by foyesboys on Sep 5, 2009 2:55 AM CDT reply actions

Maybe doesn't justify

Maybe it doesn’t justify anything, but its quality, not quantity, and the quality of Holley’s plays are greater than anything that stanback has done over the last 2 years he has been a cowboy. And even more so, Jesse has made many more plays than Stanback this preseason as well of course on top of that.

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by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 3:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Therefor

Take the best man available, and no one I can see has shown more upside on the roster “BUBBLE” than Holley, except for maybe making an arguement for Manny Johnson, but he hasn’t really shown it in a game situation like Holley has in the few plays that he has had.

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 3:11 AM CDT up reply actions

over Stanback I voted yes

but not sure if Holley makes the squad maybe ps. The one thing Stanback has going for him is his speed, No one can return kickoffs and meet the coverage team at the 18 yd line faster.

by ziggy19 on Sep 5, 2009 5:45 AM CDT reply actions

Small sample size

Holley had a couple of decent game against other practice squadders. This does not make him NFL material.
Whatever fire, grit, or other silly intangibles he may possess, Holley doesn’t have the skills to be a wide receiver in this league. I don’t believe that Stanback does, either, but he has a greater chance of becoming something one day than Holley simply because he was born with the gift of phenomenal speed.
Of course, if a guy actually shows productivity and some physical skills (Ogletree) I’m all for taking him ahead of Stanback the Spectre.

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by Conjunction on Sep 5, 2009 8:36 AM CDT reply actions

Holley basically did in the 4th Qtr last night....

exactly what he did in the 4th and Long show: Play just a bit better than a bunch of players who will never see real time in the NFL.

Let’s not forget the horrendous attempted tackle he missed that led to a punt return for a touchdown.

And his TD? The players are just standing around, watching the ball bounce and it lands in his hands, and he then proceeds to run faster than a group of players that were already behind him. Was it a great play? Yes….does it give him a roster spot? Hell no.

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by Brandon Worley on Sep 5, 2009 9:04 AM CDT reply actions

Keep in mind

The argument of Stanback is that he is a great athlete and good at a lot of things, but remember there is a saying, If you are good at everything, you’re not great at anything. I would rather have a guy on a football team (where each person takes a specific role to isolate their talents) with great talent in one area rather than a guy that is a decent backup in all areas. Holley with some work could be a potential starter (although maybe not for the cowboys but we’ll see), Stanback though, I can’t say the same.

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 10:54 AM CDT reply actions

After Stanbacks performance last night I don't think we keep 6

If we did and my options were only Stanback and Holley I’d go with Holley for sure. Now if it were between Manny J. and Holley I’d be tempted to keep Manny; it’s close.

by sublimezg on Sep 5, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions

Like I said

Manny makes a great case for making the team but you need to go with the guy that “put it on tape” and that is Holley. Cuz if he put it on tape, that isn’t just your tape but tape for the other 31 teams in the league so the practice squad guys are the guys that you hope no one will pick up so you don’t want to stick anyone out there that has done anything that other teams can look at. Although he has shown some great hands, and even though he didn’t come down in bounds, that was a spectacular one handed grab he made last night. Almost like that amazing one handed spinning touchdown that Marvin Harrison had last year.

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Do you honestly believe

That if Holley were put on the practice squad here, he would be picked up for another team’s 53?

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by Conjunction on Sep 5, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I honestly do

Do I guarantee that he will? No but teams will be looking at him. Cowboys fans aren’t the only ones that watched fourth and long and saw what he did there and everyone saw the vikings game.

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

What did he do in the Vikings game?

He totaled ten receiving yards and got a lucky bounce on a punt return. Let’s not even dwell on the fact that he shouldn’t have been in the area of the punt once it began bouncing around; that his very presence in that area was a liability to the team.

Those who watched fourth and long will tell you that he very arguably wasn’t even the best player on that joke of a sham of an illusion. And how many of his former co-stars played on an NFL team in any capacity this week?

Look, I appreciate the excitement, and respect the fact that you like the guy. It would be a great story if he made it on the team. But people are vastly overreacting to minute events done in a very controlled environment against the weakest level of competition present in this league.

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by Conjunction on Sep 5, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions

i think jerry will put holly on the PS just for

Irvins sake….but a year of training and learning could really help him…but there are a few other WR I stick on the PS as well…in fact my whole PS would be receivers…and rudy carp. I liked his poise even though it was against 3rd stringers he looked smooth and calm, McGee looks awkward and rushed…plus his adams apple makes him look like that turkey trophy they give away on thanksgiving…in fact I’m going to call him mcgobbler from now on..

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by hashishkabob on Sep 5, 2009 12:03 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Not all wide receivers and I forgot crosslin

Crosslin will probably be on there and maybe even take over for Deon Anderson later on, but that is TBD. but there will be multiple receivers on PS, at least 2 but I don’t really see more than that but maybe.

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I loved the performance last night

But, just the fact that Holley is in consideration tells us something about our receiving corps. Look at the WR’s other teams are cutting. Williams is at least a solid #2 in the league. Crayton is at least a solid #3. The rest of our WR corps are bubble guys who may or may not have made any other team. I think, at a minimum, it is time to check the waiver wire for Austin’s replacement – even if he’s not as good, players shouldn’t get comfortable at the bottom of our roster.

by JimmyJohnson on Sep 5, 2009 12:08 PM CDT reply actions

Don't be so quick to number them

For the sake of Roy Williams lets take a look at some T.O. Stats that you might not know and they WONT TELL YOU. T.O. had 1 touchdown in 4 games in 2006, then came in Tony Romo and T.O. finished with 13 Touchdowns, then we know 15 next year and 10 the next. It wasn’t until Romo came in that T.O. became as productive as he was scoring a touchdown in all but 3 games the rest of the 2006 season. So don’t be so quick to not call Williams a number 1. That all depends on his chemistry with Romo and what those two do together. He hasn’t had a Pro Bowl QB throwing him the ball until now in his career. So please lets stop with the labels right now and don’t forget we went 13-3 with glenn out for the season and patrick crayton as our #2.

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Does anybody know if he is really under consideration?

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by Seanrude on Sep 5, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know if he really was or not but I would bank on it

I was right though, Isaiah Stanback didn’t deserve a spot over him as both were cut and put on the waiver wire. We’ll find out this weekend if they sign one of them to the practice squad, which I hope holley gets.

by ProBowlFactory on Sep 5, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I think

There are some guys that are lucky and the ball just finds them. Holley was like that at chapel hill. and that was with some crappy teams. And so far it seems to be the way here. I know its early. But Holley may not have had the wr skill of ogletree or reid for that matter, but that man has heart. and a little bit of speed to go along with that heart can go a long way. The man doesnt want to go back to working 2 jobs so he has busted his asz off and he’s here. Awesome Job Jess, we are proud of you here in NC

by Capn B on Sep 6, 2009 11:14 PM CDT reply actions