News: Rico is gaining weight and hopes to get some playing time

[LocimusPrime]

Rico Gathers gaining weight, hopes to gain some playing time in Dallas
Posted by Michael David Smith on June 11, 2018, 12:02 PM EDT

Getty Images

When the Cowboys spent a sixth-round draft pick on Rico Gathers in 2016, they knew it would take a while for him to develop: Gathers, who played basketball at Baylor, hadn’t played football since middle school.

But after two NFL seasons and zero regular-season games played, it’s time for Gathers to finally show what he can do on the field. Toward that end, Gathers said he is gaining weight to get into the 280-285 range, significantly bigger than the 265 he weighed in at a year ago, when he said he like he was getting pushed around too much in the preseason.

“Last year was a big adjustment,” Gathers said, via the Dallas Morning News. “I was going for more trying to be quicker, trying to be faster. But that hurt me in the blocking gamea lot where I felt like I was just a body, just a body catching a blow.”

A bigger Gathers will, he hopes, be a better Gathers.

“Now coming off, I’m delivering the blow,” Gathers said. “I’m delivering the shot.”

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett seems to like what he sees from Gathers during offseason practices.

“He’s a different player now than he was a couple of years ago when he first showed up,” Garrett said. “But he just needs to play more football.”

Gathers isn’t the tight end who will make people forget Jason Witten, but he’s hoping that he can at least get on the field at a position where the Cowboys are now trying to replace one of the best ever to play it.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...ht-hopes-to-gain-some-playing-time-in-dallas/



Submitted for your reading pleasure and discussion

 

[Tangle_Foot]

Well that's one way for the legend to grow

 

[Captain-Crash]

"The Legend, grows"

 

[Frozen700]

As long as you can still do your thing in the passing game. Go ahead Rico

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

But I was told he is not dedicated to football enough and doesn't care about blocking. . . . .

 

[Hardline]

He is already practically a human giant.
How big do they want him?

 

[exciter]

But I was told he is not dedicated to football enough and doesn't care about blocking. . . . .

Needs to work on learning technque not growing into a undersized tackle!

 

[Aven8]

Smh..........great plan........

 

[T-RO]

He is already practically a human giant.
How big do they want him?

I don’t think it’s the Cowboys idea for him to gain weight...and it contradicts Rico’s self-portrait as an emerging receiving threat.

 

[Risen Star]

Why does he need to be 285 to be able to block? TEs do it lighter all around the league. He's already slow. I can't imagine him 20 lbs heavier. We got another Kendall Watkins on our hands here.

Thank God for Dalton Schultz.

 

[TheSkaven]

He is already practically a human giant.
How big do they want him?

First 300 pound tight end? Guy is a monster.

 

[Hardline]

First 300 pound tight end? Guy is a monster.

He better be careful or he will turn himself into an OT. LOL

 

[jazzcat22]

We are loaded at DE, we need another, or better yet, try him at DT. Since they insist on doing the stupid thing and are moving Crawford back to DE.

 

[Joe Realist]

Why does he need to be 285 to be able to block? TEs do it lighter all around the league. He's already slow. I can't imagine him 20 lbs heavier. We got another Kendall Watkins on our hands here.

Thank God for Dalton Schultz.

He will eventually be a back up gaurd

 

[davidariust24]

Rico Gathers gaining weight, hopes to gain some playing time in Dallas
Posted by Michael David Smith on June 11, 2018, 12:02 PM EDT

Getty Images

When the Cowboys spent a sixth-round draft pick on Rico Gathers in 2016, they knew it would take a while for him to develop: Gathers, who played basketball at Baylor, hadn’t played football since middle school.

But after two NFL seasons and zero regular-season games played, it’s time for Gathers to finally show what he can do on the field. Toward that end, Gathers said he is gaining weight to get into the 280-285 range, significantly bigger than the 265 he weighed in at a year ago, when he said he like he was getting pushed around too much in the preseason.

“Last year was a big adjustment,” Gathers said, via the Dallas Morning News. “I was going for more trying to be quicker, trying to be faster. But that hurt me in the blocking gamea lot where I felt like I was just a body, just a body catching a blow.”

A bigger Gathers will, he hopes, be a better Gathers.

“Now coming off, I’m delivering the blow,” Gathers said. “I’m delivering the shot.”

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett seems to like what he sees from Gathers during offseason practices.

“He’s a different player now than he was a couple of years ago when he first showed up,” Garrett said. “But he just needs to play more football.”

Gathers isn’t the tight end who will make people forget Jason Witten, but he’s hoping that he can at least get on the field at a position where the Cowboys are now trying to replace one of the best ever to play it.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...ht-hopes-to-gain-some-playing-time-in-dallas/



Submitted for your reading pleasure and discussion

I m happy for Rico. He needs to understand if he blocks he is on the 53. Just his blocking! He is 280lbs, he needs to block and learn to block well. Defensive ends are usually 275 or less so he is usually going to be bigger. Blocking gets him on the field. Getting on the field gets him reps and to be available to learn defense s and catch passes. If I were him I'd be a blocking fool. I'd block everyone on the defense of course. Block equals field. You can't be 285 lbs acting weak vs DEs who are usually 265 or so and then go catch a pass vs a 200 lb safety and get up and spike a ball like you did something. You're huge! you're suppose to do that. Using Jimmy Graham as an excuse not to block is weak in my eyesight. Gathers needs to think of himself as a beast and.he needs to block. Just put on some gronkowski film and he will see how it's done

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Why does he need to be 285 to be able to block? TEs do it lighter all around the league. He's already slow. I can't imagine him 20 lbs heavier. We got another Kendall Watkins on our hands here.

Thank God for Dalton Schultz.

I wonder if the coaches want him to be a 1 tech? I think he'd be brilliant there.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

We are loaded at DE, we need another, or better yet, try him at DT. Since they insist on doing the stupid thing and are moving Crawford back to DE.

Hey, I was thinking that same thing! haha

 

[Billyd]

Rico has a habit of trying to convince himself he is better, different every year...id take a blocking tight end in the Nfl that can catch a few balls a game for first downs, and some mismatch tds...five total or more a season..

 

[buybuydandavis]

“Last year was a big adjustment,” Gathers said, via the Dallas Morning News. “I was going for more trying to be quicker, trying to be faster. But that hurt me in the blocking gamea lot where I felt like I was just a body, just a body catching a blow.”

A bigger Gathers will, he hopes, be a better Gathers.

“Now coming off, I’m delivering the blow,” Gathers said. “I’m delivering the shot.”

I'm encouraged by Rico taking blocking more seriously. He's huge, he's strong, he has long arms and soft hands. That's enough for a career if you learn how to block. Should have been his goal from day one.

But I'm also exasperated by this story. Where the hell are the trainers and coaches? They leave 20lb weight swings up to the players?

They should have had a plan for him.
This is the path we see for a career for you.
This is what we need to see to get you on the roster. Active. On the field.
This is what you need to do to get there.

 

[cern]

Rico talks a lot. Mostly about himself. Time to put on the pads and actually do something.