With all of the unknown at the wide receiver position, it’s good to know the Dallas Cowboys have someone like Cole Beasley to lean on. No, he’s not the biggest or fastest WR on the roster, but he is without a doubt the most reliable and has been for some years now.
When asked earlier this offseason, Quarterback Dak Prescott stated that “Beasley is his No. 1 receiver” and it should come to no surprise. The two hit it off immediately in the Prescott’s rookie season in 2016, which just so happened to be Beasley’s most productive. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as well in 2017 when opposing defenses decided to take #11 out of the equation by bracketing him in coverage.
I know I’m not alone here, but last season I was completely baffled that Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan didn’t do a better job of scheming ways to help Cole Beasley get open more on a regular basis. Fortunately, it’s looking as if he has learned from his mistake and that’s exactly what he’s going to in 2018.
One of the best things I’ve heard this offseason from the Dallas Cowboys is that they are planning to expand Cole Beasley’s route tree. That may not seem like it’s that big of a deal, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict that it will make him uncoverable.
Yes, you read that right…UNCOVERABLE!
I may be a little biased since I am a huge Cole Beasley fan, but I think he’s going to have an amazing 2018 season. If opposing defenses try to bracket him in coverage like they did last year, he is going to make them pay.
Unfortunately, since Beasley didn’t play in the first two preseason games we haven’t been able to see him utilized in his new offensive role much. But, we did get a small glimpse of it last week against the Arizona Cardinals.
This was a GREAT route by Cole Beasley, but a BAD throw by QB Cooper Rush, who started the game in place of Dak Prescott. It should’ve resulted in a touchdown, not an incompletion.
In years past, defensive backs around the NFL pretty much knew that Beasley wasn’t going to run a route down the field. He was going to run the short to intermediate routes, but now they are going to have to carry him all over the field. This is good news for the Cowboys, but bad news for everybody else.
I believe Cole Beasley will continue to be Prescott’s best friend in the passing game. But now, they have the entire field to work with. If you need a mental image of what this will look like, think how the New England Patriots and Tom Brady utilize Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola.
Beasley’s ability to create separation on his own due to his precision route running and quickness is exactly what the Cowboys offense needs this season, which is why I believe he will be leaned on heavily in 2018. If this does indeed come to fruition, remember… you heard it here first!
