Improving Witten's Production

[Verdict]

All we ever really do in using Zeke is to hand the ball to him. I very rarely see him break the LOS and catch a ball in the flats or just over the 1st level in the middle. He doesn't have any weaknesses in terms of pass catching ability. So why aren't we already throwing it to him on a more regular basis out of a run set?

It seems to me that's an element of our offense which still remains untapped. I also believe we can free up old man Witten to get back to 7-10 yard gains by utilizing that additional threat in the passing game.

I do realize that doing this takes away Dak's safety valve in terms of pass pro but a RB can chuck at the line and still turn around in an instant to catch a pass. I need to see more of that wrinkle this year & believe the addition will have a positive effect on Witt's production.

For sure. This is a far underutilized aspect of play calling. They should also throw a halfback pass at least once or twice per game.

 

[Bleu Star]

I'd really like zeke to have a pretty long career with dallas!

15 carries, 10 catches out of the backfield. It's doable.

 

[OmerV]

I could be completely off base here but it does appear that the routes I see nowadays are shorter with less ini terms of YAC. I just think getting Zeke more into that space too creates more space for Witt to operate as defenses now have to game plan that extra wrinkle.

They probably are slightly shorter than when Witten was younger - his ypc isn't as high as it used to be. But it's not as low as some imagine either.

We actually saw Zeke targeted more on passes last year than as a rookie - from 2.6 targets per game to 3.8 - although the completion % was lower. I think some of that has to do with the whole circus around Zeke last year, including the suspension. There should be more stability this year, and I imagine we will see Zeke being more productive in the passing game.

 

[gmoney112]

As far as Zeke, yeah I know what you mean.

Needs more plays where he has an option, stay in to block, or chip and go, or just run a wheel route or something. If they're playing off a bit and don't blitz that down, Zeke would be a great target for a wheel route and let him run over DBs.

 

[3rd_n_inches]

I think Zeke should be the one to wear down the defense then grab a RB in the draft who can manage the dump/screen passes all with having a few mix plays to not give off any indications on which RB is doing what every time. Witten can block so that is a plus and having him get that one on one match up would give Dak a saftey net on a 3rd down play if we need a stretch of yards.

 

[Cmac]

Get the bunions and corns fixed, and quit wearing shoes that are too small.

 

[SoupcanSam]

15 carries, 10 catches out of the backfield. It's doable.

Yeah that is definitly doable but 15 carries!?! That's a tease and if the yards arnt looking great people will complain that the cowboys arnt running the ball enough lol.

 

[cwbyfn88]

Witten is reliable. A safe throw to make as he somehow still gets open at his older age. Unfortunately where he gets open has become the problem. I love witten. But my problem is with the coaching staff and never getting two TE's going. They did the same thing with WRs in the past but got better at it the last few years. We would carry many receivers and just never utilize them Danny Amendola comes to mind. Martellus Bennett had all the talent in the world if they could just work him into the game plan. He performed well in NE and Chicago. Here his opportunities were limited and he never amounted to much with the ones he got. I would love to see swaim get more targets. Start grooming another TE.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Flux Capacitor.

 

[big dog cowboy]

All we ever really do in using Zeke is to hand the ball to him. I very rarely see him break the LOS and catch a ball in the flats or just over the 1st level in the middle. He doesn't have any weaknesses in terms of pass catching ability. So why aren't we already throwing it to him on a more regular basis out of a run set?

That is a great question. Thought it was supposed to happen last year.

 

[OmerV]

15 carries, 10 catches out of the backfield. It's doable.

Do you realize 10 catches is a pace for a 160 catch season, which would be 48 more catches than anyone in the NFL had in 2017?

Besides, you would be wasting Zeke with only 15 carries, not to mention undermining the Cowboys offense. If the Cowboys are going to have a balanced offense with a strong running game, they have to use Elliott more than that as a ball carrier. His receiving abilities are a bonus, but his running abilities are what really drive the offense.

 

[charron]

It seems to me that's an element of our offense which still remains untapped. I also believe we can free up old man Witten to get back to 7-10 yard gains by utilizing that additional threat in the passing game.
.

You do realize he averaged 9 yards per catch last year?

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

All we ever really do in using Zeke is to hand the ball to him. I very rarely see him break the LOS and catch a ball in the flats or just over the 1st level in the middle. He doesn't have any weaknesses in terms of pass catching ability. So why aren't we already throwing it to him on a more regular basis out of a run set?

It seems to me that's an element of our offense which still remains untapped. I also believe we can free up old man Witten to get back to 7-10 yard gains by utilizing that additional threat in the passing game.

I do realize that doing this takes away Dak's safety valve in terms of pass pro but a RB can chuck at the line and still turn around in an instant to catch a pass. I need to see more of that wrinkle this year & believe the addition will have a positive effect on Witt's production.

This is what can happen when we DO throw Zeke the ball, especially in the flats:

 

[Verdict]

Make Witten better? Shoot him full of meth right before game time, just to make it interesting.

 

[dsturgeon]

They should release witten, and move on. Witten was awesome, but it is time to quit being sentimental.

 

[vlad]

Yeah but do you know how often zeke would have to be used in the pass game for teams to really consider him a threat?

For example in 2016 zeke was used alot in the passing game because the coaches intentionally wanted to. But it got to a point where they backed down because zeke was getting close to 25-30 carries a game not including the catches.

They even talked about that experiment. Because of this very situation I don't see the cowboys going back to it. Jerry also had a say in that situation that year, even more reason to believe it won' happen.

Are you saying that they said they stopped using him in the passing game (I'd argue they havent) because they choose to run him too much? Just clarifying not arguing. When did they say this?

 

[Starforever]

Mr. Jones should set up a UFC match between him and Dez; the winner can sit the bench and watch someone better at their position.

 

[Bleu Star]

As far as Zeke, yeah I know what you mean.

Needs more plays where he has an option, stay in to block, or chip and go, or just run a wheel route or something. If they're playing off a bit and don't blitz that down, Zeke would be a great target for a wheel route and let him run over DBs.

Zeke on a wheel route would be scary.

 

[Bleu Star]

Do you realize 10 catches is a pace for a 160 catch season, which would be 48 more catches than anyone in the NFL had in 2017?

Besides, you would be wasting Zeke with only 15 carries, not to mention undermining the Cowboys offense. If the Cowboys are going to have a balanced offense with a strong running game, they have to use Elliott more than that as a ball carrier. His receiving abilities are a bonus, but his running abilities are what really drive the offense.

Or making the Cowboys offense more dynamic?

 

[Bleu Star]

You do realize he averaged 9 yards per catch last year?

Sure didn't seem like it.