Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett spoke realistically about first round draft pick Dez Bryant on Sirius Radio recently, reminding us all that the honeymoon, which began last month when he was selected 24th overall and continued after an impressive showing at rookie mini-camp, can't last forever.
“We were certainly very impressed with him on tape; his career at Oklahoma State as a receiver was productive," Garrett said, per the Dallas Morning News. "He’s a very impressive guy, he’s one of those guys that really jumps off the tape at you. And then when we got a chance to visit with him, at the combine and when he came to Dallas, and we really got to know him more, we were really impressed by him as a person as well."
BUT...
"He’s a rookie, a young guy and particularly at that position," Garrett said, "it’s hard to transition into the league as a receiver. There are a number of guys who’ve been drafted high and it’s taken them a couple of years to get themselves acclimated to the NFL game. He’ll have a transition like a lot of other people but we’re certainly excited about what we saw on the field and about kind of person he is.”
Garrett has a valid point here, obviously. But before we move on, to a more strictly objective period of the offseason, we'll indulge a bit more in the (maybe) premature mountains of praise being lobbed at Bryant from all sides at Valley Ranch. Miles Austin recently spoke on the team's newest receiver, joining Michael Irvin, Wade Phillips and Ray Sherman as those impressed by the new No. 88.
"He's got some serious skills," Austin said. "Ball skills, catching the ball, route running, just natural skills that some people take time to develop, he kind of already has those right now. Hopefully, we can put those things in play and get rolling."
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