Cowboys WR Randall Cobb: “I’m here to win a championship”

A lot of the coverage surrounding Cowboys training camp has been centered around All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott. When will the star back end his holdout? Will Jerry Jones give him a big deal? Will there be any difficulties for Kellen Moore to teach the offense without 21 in camp?

As we debate those questions, and how important the running back position is in today’s NFL, the rest of the team is in Oxnard preparing for the 2019 season. That includes free agent acquisition Randall Cobb.

Cobb comes to Dallas after an eight-season stint with the Green Bay Packers. There, Cobb became one of the better slot receivers in the game as he burned defenses in multiple ways. The Cowboys are hoping that the 28-year-old receiver still has some gas left in the tank to hurt opponents in 2019.

Dak Prescott, Jason Garrett, and the Dallas Cowboys are entering an important season: will Dak raise his game? Can Dallas take the next step in the playoffs? There are reasons for both optimism and skepticism, but Cobb believes the Cowboys have a roster that can compete.

Not only compete, but perhaps even take home the ultimate prize. Cobb told reporters on Tuesday that he is “here to win a championship”:

That is a pretty bold statement to say, but Cobb has been around some winning football in his career alongside Aaron Rodgers and company up in Wisconsin. There are more than a few that believe that Cobb is an upgrade over the departed Cole Beasley, which would be a good thing for Prescott and Moore. BTB’s Matt Holleran wrote a piece asking if Cobb is better for Dallas than Beasley was.

Beasley was always a guy who, despite being able to get open, was pretty pedestrian when it came to yards after the catch. Cobb is a different animal in that regard. He has made a career of making big things happen after he catches the football. As for replacing his production on third down, Cobb actually has been better in his career, catching 129 passes for 1,832 yards, 17 touchdowns, and a 14.2 yards per reception average.

The big question mark for Cobb is health. If he is able to stay on the field, he is a clear upgrade over Beasley. His ability to make things happen after the catch, and versatility to runt he ball occasionally make him extremely valuable to Dallas. Now we just have to see if he can stay on the field.

Injuries are a legit concern for the veteran receiver, but he does have big play ability when on the field, evidenced by his 75-yard game-winning touchdown to beat the Bears in week one last season.

Bryan Broaddus of The Mothership also noted that Kellen Moore is finding ways to get Cobb in space, where the former Kentucky star can flourish.

I like the wrinkle from Kellen Moore of using receivers on waggles and boots instead of the tight ends. Guys like Randall Cobb and Tavon Austin have a better feel for how to get quickly across the formation and get into space. When guys like Cobb have a chance to catch the ball on the move and turn up field, the potential for a big play is generally the result because the defender is out of position.

If Prescott and Cobb can build chemistry, a trio of receivers of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and the former Packer isn’t too shabby.