Vital to implement TE Jake Ferguson back into this offense

[sbark]

Keep track of Sphan Ford...

 

[Rayman70]

Keep track of Sphan Ford...

He's got upside but we heard the same thing last off-season about Ford. He was nothing special. Decent blocker, hands are questionable. But his traits ,size are hard to find. The complete TE might be Fairweather from Auburn. Or the Virginia kid.

 

[blueblood70]

As a 4th round pick rookie, Jake Ferguson flashed athleticism and big play run after catch skills (the patent leap frog jump plays)

- In 2023, he was clearly gaining a rapport with Dak Prescott, ( and it's only with Dak ) ..do i think Fergy will/could be a stand out. Based off those promising flashes i thought Fergy could eventually be a Pro Bowl TE.

- With Cooper Rush subbing for an injured Dak, McCarthy's under-utlizing him, and a wicked concussion in week 11, that could've had that much more ill effect on him, Ferguson really took a major step back in '24.
Zero TDs in 2024, isn't a ringing endorsement.

- Oddly, even after his promising, display rookie year it was wide spread that the rumor the Cowboys were looking for a new starting TE ..thus the whispering rumors of draft interest in TEs Dalton Kincaid,(Bills) ..and Sam Laporta (Lions) ..before settling on drafting 2nd rd. bust TE Luke Schoonmaker..

- To this day, That Luke pick still burns at me.
But to me, it is vital to implement Ferguson back into this offense. With Opposing defenses having to defend and focus on both Lamb & Pickens, things should open up opportunity for Fergy in 2025.

I disagree with schoonmaker you being upset and you think he's a bust

i'm telling you he's not and other people are going to come on here and tell you he's a very solid number two that every time they've asked him to throw the ball even bad balls in traffic he catches them I might start calling him the glove or the vacuum the man has obviously big hands and he can catch with people around him hanging on him how is that a bust??

Yes, he was over drafted he should not have been a number two, maybe feel better if he was late 3rd or 4th, as far as that goes,

BUT that does not make him a bust I bet if you throw him to Ball more he'll make more plays the the problem you're right mike Mccartney just wrote out the tight end position most of last year I don't get it they were all I guess being kept in for blocking and they weren't good at that either they literally were trying to protect both tackles on both sides and they were keeping everyone in just to create what Rico got on the ground which is also a little bit of a mirage they literally were using a goal line short yardage type offense to try to create runs and it took away from the rest of the teams ability to get the tight ends out in actual routes..


I think he could be a steady vital number two tight end and you're calling him a bust... So yes a little bit was Ferguson was injured not just with the concussion he was also hurt he had another injury but this was Mike Mccarthy mistake and that's why he's gone just about everything he did last year was wrong.. He didn't get creative or try to do anything until the season was already pretty much over you know around week 10 he starts getting creative and starting to get the ball out to turpin and everyone else that this is really unlike Mccarthy...

 

[blueblood70]

He's got upside but we heard the same thing last off-season about Ford. He was nothing special. Decent blocker, hands are questionable. But his traits ,size are hard to find. The complete TE might be Fairweather from Auburn. Or the Virginia kid.

I think you can throw out all of what happened last year with the offense in the tight ends especially I believe Mike mccarthy's philosophy was they can't run with just the five offensive lineman,

so they had to bring in two to three tight ends and create a run game a very sluggish run game and the TES were also staying in the block and they weren't even very good blockers at that, to help protect the two tackles they kind of was a cluster they literally just forgot to use the tight ends in any way shape or form as weapons....

I realized Ferguson was hurt but just going by memory and just thinking back on it all and the only way they had a run game at all was pretty much lining up almost in a short yardage run at the red zone type scheme that's the only way that Rico is successful is they were bringing everybody in to block and then when it was past plays they were bringing everybody in the block to protect the 2 tackles it just was it was bad that's why they all say it starts into trenches well that's part of it is the tight ends are over there trying to help the offensive line and they just were forgotten as far as targets I bet they had a sad number of targets to the tight ends last year I bet if somebody did some research which I don't feel like doing of how many of our targets compared to the rest of the league went to TES last year....​

 

[quickccc]

The drafted Schoonmaker, because they had no idea what they had in Ferguson.

Agreed.

 

[blueblood70]

They didn't miss or pass on anyone. At anytime they could have traded up if they wanted one so bad. They didn't.

Don't remember the draft but if he's talking about choosing Mozzy Smith over Laporta I would say that that was a mistake that whole draft was draft for reach in need they literally made a mistake in this draft at every position except I believe overshown if I remember the draft they could have took Laporta they should have and if I'm trying to get my memory from being unfoggy right now but if they already had Ferguson I don't think they had a tight end in their minds hi enough to want to take one in the first round but again I don't agree with the guy you're arguing with too much but I'd have to say he's right and I know we have hindsight but they absolutely drafted a defensive tackle and a tight end to fill in backup roles in need and reach it was a bad draft it was one of those you never want to see again it was like almost a 2009 special teams draft I mean it was terrible the way they went about it if they would have took BPA the first two rounds would have had different players that's a fact.

I know it's easier in hindsight but yeah we definitely should have took Laporta over Smith... That's what we're doing we're going back and now that we know what both players have done it's definitely was a mistake...

I don't think the first three rounds should ever really be used looking for depth and backup players they need to be looked at as essential areas of the draft that you're looking for starters particularly that could start that year or at least be a larger part your team you can't be reaching grabbing and taking only a player because of their position of need.....

Can we agree BPA at that time and again I'm only using what information you guys are providing laporta would have been the better player even in the draft he had to be rated higher than Mozzy Smith I think that's what people are saying now ,I don't think Schoonmaker's are bust either but he is a backup you drafted a player to be the backup in the second round.....

So it was a misstep it was one of those drafts we want to forget I don't remember the rest of the draft but I only believe I think it was overshown was an absolute hit but outside of that and the fact that he's injured all the time now I don't know that's just a draft I want to forget...

 

[thunderpimp91]

I disagree with schoonmaker you being upset and you think he's a bust

i'm telling you he's not and other people are going to come on here and tell you he's a very solid number two that every time they've asked him to throw the ball even bad balls in traffic he catches them I might start calling him the glove or the vacuum the man has obviously big hands and he can catch with people around him hanging on him how is that a bust??

Yes, he was over drafted he should not have been a number two, maybe feel better if he was late 3rd or 4th, as far as that goes,

BUT that does not make him a bust I bet if you throw him to Ball more he'll make more plays the the problem you're right mike Mccartney just wrote out the tight end position most of last year I don't get it they were all I guess being kept in for blocking and they weren't good at that either they literally were trying to protect both tackles on both sides and they were keeping everyone in just to create what Rico got on the ground which is also a little bit of a mirage they literally were using a goal line short yardage type offense to try to create runs and it took away from the rest of the teams ability to get the tight ends out in actual routes..


I think he could be a steady vital number two tight end and you're calling him a bust... So yes a little bit was Ferguson was injured not just with the concussion he was also hurt he had another injury but this was Mike Mccarthy mistake and that's why he's gone just about everything he did last year was wrong.. He didn't get creative or try to do anything until the season was already pretty much over you know around week 10 he starts getting creative and starting to get the ball out to turpin and everyone else that this is really unlike Mccarthy...

Schoon does catch a lot of balls that go his way, but this bolded part simply isnt accurate. Schoon had 217 pass snaps last year, and only stayed in to block on 20 of those. Over 100 of those snaps he was lined up in the slot or out wide.

Ferg had 81 targets (12th in the NFL), 389 routes (18th in the NFL) despite missing multiple games due to injury. Schoon had 34 targets (39th in the NFL), 179 routes (43rd in the NFL). Not bad for a 2nd TE who only made a couple starts.

Yes these guys stayed in to run block often, but overall the TE usage was among the most in the league in terms of the pass game. Outside of the top tier guys like Bowers/McBride/Kelce the Cowboys TEs were targeted often.

I'd expect a ton of 2TE sets this year on early downs as well between Ferg, Schoon, and Luepke to disguise run/pass. That is very much Schottenheimers brand of football.

 

[quickccc]

Except the Cowboys didn't like him. So they passed.

Actually, eports were that they did like him , nd he was one of the two decision options between he and Mazi...

Go back to the draft war room discussion video per mcclay and jerry in what made the final decision between OG vs 1 tech DT.

 

[Pokes12]

As a 4th round pick rookie, Jake Ferguson flashed athleticism and big play run after catch skills (the patent leap frog jump plays)

- In 2023, he was clearly gaining a rapport with Dak Prescott, ( and it's only with Dak ) ..do i think Fergy will/could be a stand out. Based off those promising flashes i thought Fergy could eventually be a Pro Bowl TE.

- With Cooper Rush subbing for an injured Dak, McCarthy's under-utlizing him, and a wicked concussion in week 11, that could've had that much more ill effect on him, Ferguson really took a major step back in '24.
Zero TDs in 2024, isn't a ringing endorsement.

- Oddly, even after his promising, display rookie year it was wide spread that the rumor the Cowboys were looking for a new starting TE ..thus the whispering rumors of draft interest in TEs Dalton Kincaid,(Bills) ..and Sam Laporta (Lions) ..before settling on drafting 2nd rd. bust TE Luke Schoonmaker..

- To this day, That Luke pick still burns at me.
But to me, it is vital to implement Ferguson back into this offense. With Opposing defenses having to defend and focus on both Lamb & Pickens, things should open up opportunity for Fergy in 2025.

We could have picked Tyler Warren and passed. Akin to passing on Randy Moss. Warren is going to be perennial Pro Bowl player. Booker is not.

 

[SlammedZero]

I haven't given up on Ferguson yet. I think the kid has it in him (to be a good player...not calling him a great). I feel like he has flashed and just needs a good, healthy season. We need to see something next season though, IMO.

 

[Chasing6]

I haven't given up on Ferguson yet. I think the kid has it in him (to be a good player...not calling him a great). I feel like he has flashed and just needs a good, healthy season. We need to see something next season though, IMO.

He is a good player.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I haven't given up on Ferguson yet. I think the kid has it in him (to be a good player...not calling him a great). I feel like he has flashed and just needs a good, healthy season. We need to see something next season though, IMO.

You're absolutely right. The only real downside to Ferg is that he doesn't run great vertical routes and an excessively high amount of his catches are short yardage or even behind the LOS. Could be OK though this year with the Pickens addition to help open up the underneath stuff. Having a legitimate #2 is so important.

 

[Chasing6]

You're absolutely right. The only real downside to Ferg is that he doesn't run great vertical routes and an excessively high amount of his catches are short yardage or even behind the LOS. Could be OK though this year with the Pickens addition to help open up the underneath stuff. Having a legitimate #2 is so important.

When Ferguson is being asked to help pass block, he can only run short routes.

 

[quickccc]

We could have picked Tyler Warren and passed. Akin to passing on Randy Moss. Warren is going to be perennial Pro Bowl player. Booker is not.

I'm not sure I agree with booker not being a eventual pro bowler.

He .may not be as top level athletic as say zack Martin as a 12th overall first rounder.

But there are/have been OGs that have had supposed limited athleticism but yet they still played at a ro bowl level.
(Trey Smith, Marshall yanda, John thuney) and packers have.had a history number of technician types that turn Into pro bowlers, (Chad Clifton Josh sitton, TJ Lang, Bulaga..etc.)

Scheme may play a part on bookers game.
I'll wait this one out on Booker.

 

[Chasing6]

I'm not sure I agree with booker not being a eventual pro bowler.

He .may not be as top level athletic as say zack Martin as a 12th overall first rounder.

But there are/have been OGs that have had supposed limited athleticism but yet they still played at a ro bowl level.
(Trey Smith, Marshall yanda, John thuney) and packers have.had a history number of technician types that turn Into pro bowlers, (Chad Clifton Josh sitton, TJ Lang, Bulaga..etc.)

Scheme may play a part on bookers game.
I'll wait this one out on Booker.

Time will definitely tell.

Once again we had a glaring hole that needed to be filled, with Zach's departure. Especially with both Tackles struggling last season.

 

[Reid1boys]

At all and honestly he probably makes Feeg expendable…..

Of course he does, because Dallas feels Ferguson is solid, but he isnt Travis Kelce. You can only pay solid money to so many positions. Schultz was a very similar player. He walked and signed a 3 year 36 million dollar deal. Not a chance in hell we are doing that. You draft one and start over..... which is what they are doing.

 

[Reid1boys]

Not yet anyway, but he certainly wasn’t worth a 2nd round pick. Don’t see him seeing a second contract.

unless we draft another JW or Kelce tyoe TE, we will never give a 2nd contract to a TE. Schultz, Ferguson.... solid, but replaceable.
You cant pay a QB, WR, DE, OL all top money and then think you are giving 12 million per season to a solid TE.

 

[thunderpimp91]

When Ferguson is being asked to help pass block, he can only run short routes.

Sure but I don’t believe he is chipping guys at a higher rate than most TEs. 60% of his passing snaps last year came from the slot. I just don’t think he is nearly as good running up the seem for deep/intermediate routes as he is finding holes in coverage underneath.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Of course he does, because Dallas feels Ferguson is solid, but he isnt Travis Kelce. You can only pay solid money to so many positions. Schultz was a very similar player. He walked and signed a 3 year 36 million dollar deal. Not a chance in hell we are doing that. You draft one and start over..... which is what they are doing.

Yeah I agree. I made the mistake and thought he had a higher ceiling than he does. He was at his ceiling when he came into the league. They can afford to let him go after this year.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

unless we draft another JW or Kelce tyoe TE, we will never give a 2nd contract to a TE. Schultz, Ferguson.... solid, but replaceable.
You cant pay a QB, WR, DE, OL all top money and then think you are giving 12 million per season to a solid TE.

I don’t think 12 million is his salary though. When I see Ferg I can’t help but think of the prove it small deals that Lewis got or LVE….if the market is 1 year 3 million? I could see it.