Dallas Cowboys Dez Bryant was "main guy" Ja'Marr Chase looked at
Super Bowl week has arrived! That means in the lead-up to the game we'll get all sorts of interesting stories from players involved in "The Big One." That includes a particular wide receiver that's at the top of the world shouting out a Dallas Cowboys' former star receiver. We're talking about the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase […]
Super Bowl week has arrived! That means in the lead-up to the game we'll get all sorts of interesting stories from players involved in "The Big One." That includes a particular wide receiver that's at the top of the world shouting out a Dallas Cowboys' former star receiver.
We're talking about the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase talking about how he models his game after some wide receivers, including Stefon Diggs. But the main person Chase looked at?
Dallas Cowboys All-Time receiving touchdown leader, Dez Bryant.
If you think about it, it makes plenty of sense. Chase is killing it as a rookie in the NFL for a lot of reasons, but some of his biggest strengths are similar to Bryant's. Although his frame isn't the largest, Ja'Marr Chase is very strong and physical. If there's one thing that stands out from Chase is how tough he plays.
Many would say Ja'Marr Chase will have a brighter career than the Cowboys' former wide receiver and they will likely be proven right in time. However, it's easy to forget how dominant Bryant was throughout his first five years in the NFL.
From 2011 to 2014, these are Dez Bryant's average stats per year with the Dallas Cowboys, per PFR.com:
- 84 catches, 1,216 yards, 12.5 touchdowns, 14.5 yards per reception.
Dez Bryant was truly elite for multiple seasons with the Cowboys with Tony Romo throwing him the football. His production decline starting in 2015 is hard to ignore and injuries cost him a long career in the NFL. But for a while, he was one of the most dominant receivers in the game.
Just like Chase, plenty of other young wide receivers in the league likely modeled their games after that version of #88 that thew up the X so many times wearing the Star. To be specific, 73 times.
As for the Bengals receiver, his stat line as a rookie is equally impressive.
- 81 catches, 1,4555 yards, 13 touchdowns, 18 yards per reception.
Featured image via Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sport
