Cowboys news: Allen Hurns tries to clarify his comments that were perceived as shots at Dak Prescott

Allen Hurns on criticism of Cowboys WRs: ‘The majority of the snaps, we’re creating separation’ - Jon Machota, SportsDay

After the Texans game, Allen Hurns made some comments that were taken by some as throwing shade toward his QB, Dak Prescott.

Hurns was asked after the game about those who say the production from the Cowboys wide receivers is lacking.

”They don’t understand it,” Hurns said. “If you’re just going by stat line, of course you can say that. If you really watch film, you cannot say that.”

Where are the receivers doing well on film?

”If you want to go back and watch film,” Hurns said, ”it comes down to on a majority of snaps, of course not every snap you’re going to win across the board, but are you creating separation? As far as today, of course we left some plays out there. I’m not saying we’re always perfect, we’re always open. That’s not the case. But I feel like for the majority of the snaps, we’re creating separation. If I’m not open, [Cole Beasley] is open. It rotates. It’s not always where all three receivers are not getting open.”

Cowboys WR Allen Hurns isn’t blaming Dak Prescott -Stefan Stevenson- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Today, Hurns wanted everyone to understand that he wasn’t blaming Dak.

“When me and Cole came out and said receivers are getting separation that wasn’t a shot at any one,” Hurns said. “We just want to let people know that it’s something that goes on across the board. It’s not just Dak making the throw. Sometimes it’s protection issues. Sometimes it is him giving us an opportunity and we don’t come down with it. That’s the game of football. Everything is not going to be flawless.”

This comes on the heels of similar comments made recently by Cole Beasley.

Look elsewhere if you want to find blame for the Dallas Cowboys offensive struggles.

That’s according to Cole Beasley and the Cowboys receivers, who point to the game tape to show they’re getting open. They’re not pointing the finger at quarterback Dak Prescott, but are clearly not comfortable with taking the blame for the Cowboys’ 435 combined passing yards through three games, which is the second-fewest in the league.

“We’re just getting open. That’s all we can do,” Cole Beasley said. “If you watch the tape, that’s all you’ve got to do. A lot of people aren’t watching the tape. They’re just assuming. That’s fine.”

Is there just something wrong with Cowboys QB Dak Prescott’s confidence? | SportsDay
The DMN crew examine what is happening to the Cowboys quarterback and if he has a confidence issue.

David Moore: Not sure that Prescott suffers from a lack of confidence. It appears to me that remains in place. What he suffers from is poor execution, his own and those around him. His accuracy has been erratic. Is that all on Prescott or the fact the offensive line has had more breakdowns this season and he doesn’t have as much time to set his feet? Are his receivers not getting open, or is the quarterback’s reluctance to throw into tight windows the problem? Let’s say it’s Prescott’s reluctance to throw into a tight window. That’s not a lack of confidence. That’s a difference in perception. That’s a lack of faith or trust in the receiver because the two haven’t worked together long enough for that trust to develop. Those are the sort of issues that are going on in my mind, not an erosion of confidence. Now, for the bigger question. Can that be turned around this season? I can see incremental improvement, but I’m not sure that will satisfy the definition of a turnaround.

Still Searching To Solve The Passing Game- David Helman- Dallas Cowboys
Whether it’s the QB, the receivers, or some combination, one thing is certain. After five games, the passing game isn’t a work in progress, it’s just not working.

The stats speak for themselves. The Cowboys are currently ranked 30th in the league in passing offense, averaging just 172 yards per game. Dak Prescott has yet to hit the 1,000-yard mark on the year, and his quarterback rating of 81.4 is 27th-best in the NFL. The Cowboys only have two receivers with 10 or more receptions, and they have yet to see a receiver top the 200-yard mark.

The Cowboys have known since the spring that opponents would sell out to slow down their highly-touted run game. But the inability to complement that ground attack with the pass has been surprising.

Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones hasn’t had No. 1 receiver in years-Clarence Hill- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The Cowboys released Dez Bryant in April and it's clear that the owner no longer had reason to believe Dez could be a true number one receiver.

“We, first of all, a true No. 1, you saw one the other night and you see Julio Jones (of the Atlanta Falcons), you see players like that,” Jones said on his radio show in 105.3 The Fan Tuesday. “Those guys that can absolutely change the ballgame with where they are. And that hasn’t been our case for several years here that we’ve had a true No. 1, not a true No. 1. And those guys are -- would like to have one, would have liked to have had one, but we haven’t.”

Jerry Jones says Cowboys haven't had No. 1 WR in years, shot at Dez? -Todd Archer- ESPN
As if it wasn't already closed, Jerry Jones put the padlock on the door for a Dez Bryant return when he omitted his name from the WR1 conversation.

“I’m basically giving you my definition of a No. 1 receiver, and it is Julio Jones. It is the guy we played the other night [DeAndre Hopkins],” Jones told the station. “Those are the guys. There’s not but about a handful of those in the NFL.”

Jerry Jones isn't wrong, the Cowboys haven't had the prototypical top receiver- RJ Ochoa-Blogging The Boys
When Jerry Jones talks, he usually says something crazy but today, he made sense. The Cowboys haven't had a number one receivers since 2014.

Dez Bryant was a fantastic wide receiver across the whole of his career with the Cowboys, but is it really fair to say that he was a “No. 1” receiver over the last few seasons? Of course not.

What Dez did in 2016 was generally underrated as far as things go, and to his credit he dealt with his own injury and a quarterback change; however, the point remains that Dez never re-gained the form he had from 2012-2014 after he signed his contract extension in 2015.

That’s about it.

Dez Bryant, Jerry Jones continue to exchange barbs as Cowboys' offensive woes continue -Kevin Skiver- CBSSports.com
Dez Bryant responds to Jerry Jones comments by saying the Cowboys offense did him no favors.

For his part, Bryant actually appeared to agree with that assessment.

While this is under the guise of honest critique, Bryant is definitely harboring some not-so-great feelings about his time with the Cowboys here. He hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2014, and this implies that he doesn’t think it’s because of any kind of drop off on his part. Last year, Bryant had 69 catches for 838 yards, good for first on the team in both categories -- but he seems to think he’s capable of more.

Crunching stats: The numbers say the Cowboys-Texans game wasn’t close -Tom Ryle- Blogging The Boys
A little digging tells you Dallas was beaten across the board by the Texans.

6 for 16

Here are the completions and targets for all wide receivers. It is simply pitiful. The blame is on just about everyone, the quarterback who had too many off-target throws, the receivers who dropped too many chances when the ball did get to them, and Linehan, who didn’t have a way to get more out of his admittedly limited weapons. While we’re at it, let’s also dump a bit on the GM and the members of his staff who came up with this wide receiver by committee mess. The committee is obviously way too light on talent and ability.

3 & Out: Why The Road/Home Gulf On Offense?- Rob Phillips- Dallas Cowboys
How does this team give you so much hope at home only to fall apart on the road?

At home, the point totals haven’t been electric – 20 and 26 points in wins over the Giants and Lions – but the offense has played cleaner, more efficient football. Protection for Dak Prescott has been better, the running game has been more effective, the third down percentage has been higher. Numbers aside, there’s just a better tempo and rhythm to their approach and execution.

On the road, the offense has totaled 37 points in three losses. Three NFL teams topped that in Week 5 alone: the Patriots (38), Steelers (41) and Saints (43).

What’s the main difference? While it’s flat wrong to highlight only one area – from the playcalling to the players’ execution – the offensive line has been the foundation of this team’s success for the last several years. Everything starts up front, and they’ve acknowledged that first and foremost they must do a better job controlling the line of scrimmage away from the comfort of AT&T Stadium.

Jason Garrett's future as Cowboys head coach on the line - Todd Archer- ESPN
Could Jason Garrett go out the same way he came in the middle of the season?

Would Jerry make an in-season move?

He has made one in-season coaching change since becoming the owner and general manager in 1989, elevating Garrett from offensive coordinator to take over for Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start to the 2010 season.

Garrett was viewed as a head-coach-in-waiting before Jones even hired Phillips as head coach in 2007.

Secondary coach and passing game coordinator Kris Richard would be the most obvious candidate to take over if Jones made that kind of move. Richard has interviewed for head coaching vacancies in recent years while he was the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator, but how would that help the offense?