Randall Cobb: The Unknown of the Dallas Cowboys

Football IQ

The Cowboys love Cobb’s football IQ. Sorry… I mean LOVE.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Cobb’s football intelligence should come as no surprise as he was once a quarterback for his high school team, but how does it help him as a receiver?

Position flexibility:

When a player has the flexibility to play various positions on the field it means two things. Either said player has the size to play different positions and/or said player understands the different nuances at each position.

Cobb possesses both. Standing at a modest 5’10” and 192 pounds, Cobb has the size to play the Cowboys “F” receiver and has shown the ability to line up in the backfield and take carries as a runner.

Quick side point: NFL teams like to organize their receivers into the letters X, Y, Z, and F. The X and the Z are your “outside receivers” or the receivers that line up the hash marks on a consistent basis. The Y receiver is generally a tight end and the F receiver is the receiver who lines up anywhere else in between the X and Z on a general basis.

The Z or X receiver can line up in the slot and the F can line up outside. This does not change the designation of who plays what position, it simply is just a different formation or front. Let’s continue

With Kellen Moore as the new offensive coordinator and play caller, the Cowboys will look to change the ways of the past. We have different looks, an amended strategy, and a lot of misdirection. This new age Cowboys offense could play into the strengths of Cobb.

Cobb played wide receiver and running back in college. In Green Bay, he spent many snaps at the slot receiver position while splitting some reps at running back.

The Randall Cobb’s stats speak for themselves even in an offense that was “old school” in an article by Bleacher Report. In 2017, Cobb had 66 receptions, 653 yards, 4 TDs, and averaged 9.9 yards per reception. In an injury shortened 2018, Cobb had proportional stats with 38 receptions, 383 yards, 2 TDs, and averaged 10.1 yards per reception.

Are these numbers eye-popping? No, but do they suggest the Packers utilized Cobb in a fashion we should expect from the Cowboys. Yes. For someone as experienced and intelligent as Cobb, we should expect similar, if not better production at the wide receiver #3 position.

Getting open in scramble drill:

This trait is extremely important for receivers. This trait is extremely important when playing with Aaron Rodgers. For how often Aaron Rodgers leaves the pocket, it should come as no surprise that these receivers are good at the scramble drill.

This stands out with Cobb. I can think of several plays, many against the Bears, where Cobb played the scramble drill correctly and was able to score touchdowns. Week 1 of the 2018 season, Cobb scored a touchdown with over 3 minutes left. Week 17 of the 2013 season, Cobb caught a 48 yard touchdown with 46 seconds left.

You might remember early in the 2017 Cowboys season, Brice Butler experienced some success with Dak. The big reason they stated was Butler’s ability to get open during the scramble drill. No matter what changes in the NFL, a receiver’s ability to get open on a scramble drill will always be extremely valuable.

Cobb’s success in the scramble drill can be attributed to his instincts and understanding of where he is on the field. Hopefully, this skill will come in handy for Dak such that Cobb becomes a security blanket for him.

That is if we don’t experience this issue.