A Steal of a pick from Wisconsin

SacredStar · May 1, 2022

Wisconsin players usually are well rounded people with a great work ethic. I like the pick.

rambo2 · May 1, 2022

Mannix said:
I think he will be very good...too bad he will see no time based on paying Schultz 3x more than he is worth.

He will see a lot of playing time, especially in the redzone. They lucked out in getting him at 129.

blueblood70 · May 1, 2022

big dog cowboy said:
You know something Mel Kiper doesn't?

I believe the mix up in the word blocking ,,hes shaky in pass blocking but very good in run blocking,,two different skill sets.. that what ive determined reading more on it..hes 4th round TE seems like his floor is his ceiling..

he can play right now in the NFL but not going to be the next HOF TE but will be solid. he basically what Dalton schultz is now..so better coming out then Schultz is plus.

Bullflop · May 1, 2022

SFloridaCowboy said:
Look for some awesome tight end blocking from Jake Ferguson from Wisconsin, whose players usually are better in the pros. Jake is an A+ blocker, 4 year starter. He will be the best blocking TE on the Boys ever, not named Billy Joe Dupree and Jason Witten.

He will make an immensely big improvement in the running game. He is a ready to play, all purpose TE, a better blocker than the other TE's in the draft. He needs no learning curve. He will make a big impact from the outset. His slower 4.81 speed kept him from being a 2nd round pick. But he does not have to run longer routes. In addition, although not fast, Jake catches everything, knows how to get open, and is a super smart player on the field. I want him in on all short yardage plays and at goal line snaps.

"A linebacker, receiver, punter, and all-around specialist for Madison Memorial High School, Jake Ferguson entered his tenure at the University of Wisconsin needing time to heal his body and develop into a serviceable tight end over time. He has ended up doing more than that. In a Wisconsin passing game that could best be described as sporadic during his tenure, Ferguson has been the one constant. He’s been a reliable tight end for a multitude of quarterbacks – Alex Hornibrook, Jack Coan, Graham Mertz, and Chase Wolf – and made plays no matter how banged up or bruised he is."

“He makes plays when plays need to be made. He gets open for a pass, he’s making a play. That’s the thing we preach about him is his unselfishness. He doesn’t care how many receptions he’s getting. He cares about winning, and you can see that with the way he works.”

“He’s unselfish in the run game,” Beach said. “He blocks the hell out of guys. It’s so awesome to see that.”

Dalton was drafted as a top blocking TE out of Stanford. But he was a horrible blocker last year. Ferguson has NFL TE blocking skills right now, knowing angles, leveraging and has superior on-field intelligence. In addition, he catches everything thrown his way. Great hands.

Wow -- good stuff here. Obviously Mr. Ferguson has one devoted fan, for sure! I fervently hope he's as good as you believe! :grin:

The Cowboys' staff will make sure to put Jake on a weight regimen and feed him plenty of protein to get his weight up to snuff.

Ken · May 1, 2022

Teague31 said:
Reports are all over the place with this guy. Some say he’s a plus blocker, others say he can’t block at all.

I just watched every offensive snap vs Michigan and Penn St. and here are my takeaways.

-He is a VERY smart football player. Always knows the right angles for blocks and always gets to HIS man on the 2nd level. Being the grandson of Barry Alvarez, i believe this is just in his blood lol
- Definitely struggles with point of attack, drive blocking against bigger defensive ends and LBs. He needs to get stronger, which he will. He just doesn't have the "junk in the trunk" right now for this to be a positive.
- He definitely excels at sealing the backside on running plays and is excellent at trap blocks and open field blocks. I believe the Cowboys will utilize this to its fullest as we know they love using the TE as a lead blocker a lot. There were blocks, in the 2nd half of the Penn St. game, that had me oooooing and ahhhing. lol
-His hands are EVERY BIT as good as advertised. Wow...

IMO, this guy was an absolute steal. Smart, tough, great route runner, hands of a god, plenty of speed IMO, will be even better as a run blocker as he gets stronger.

Pantone282C · May 1, 2022

Whirlwin said:
Technique is right where it needs to be the issue is size. And that can be fixed.

6-5 @ 250#?

manster4ever · May 1, 2022

Cowboysheelsreds053 said:
Loved that Billy Joe.

Michigan State grad...what a player.

tm1119 · May 1, 2022

reddyuta said:
mel kiper says he is a poor blocker,I am beginning to think Mel has gone senile.

“While he gives effort as a blocker, he wasn't a great fit for what Wisconsin asks of their tight ends in the running game and he's likely to be overmatched if asked to take on defensive ends in the NFL. He is a solid receiver and a below-average blocker with TE2/3 potential.“
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jake-ferguson/32004645-5214-6119-2797-33878db83d5a

“He has the mentality needed for blocking duties, but his average play strength and technique will be more pronounced in the NFL. Overall, Ferguson doesn’t have much style, but he has substance because of his above average ball skills and competitiveness as a blocker. He has the upside to be an NFL team’s No. 2 tight end.”
From Brugler’s “The Beast” draft guide

From what I’ve watched…

I will give Ferguson credit for being a willing blocker, and I don’t think he will hurt the team as a blocker…but I definitely don’t see a plus blocker by any measure. He’s not nearly big or strong enough to move DE’s or big LB’s to open holes. But like I said, at least he’s willing to get in the way. Can he get significantly stronger and better as a blocker after 5 years at Wisconsin? Maybe, but not sure it’s something I’d count on…

CalPolyTechnique · May 1, 2022

Folks need to understand the passing game and QB at Wisconsin are atrocious. Look up the QB and team stats. It’s not an exaggeration.

Ferguson has more receiving ability than what he was able to show in college.

eromeopolk · May 1, 2022

He has to be better than all the TEs taken ahead of him and all the TEs drafted behind him. He was drafted one round lower than Jason Witten and the same round as Schultz.

Best blocking TEs in Cowboys history...Dupree, Bennett, Lafluer, Hanna, Roberts, and Galbraith. Honorable mention...Folsom, Campbell, and Watkins.

dsturgeon · May 1, 2022

bennett was a good blocker

Verdict · May 1, 2022

SFloridaCowboy said:
Look for some awesome tight end blocking from Jake Ferguson from Wisconsin, whose players usually are better in the pros. Jake is an A+ blocker, 4 year starter. He will be the best blocking TE on the Boys ever, not named Billy Joe Dupree and Jason Witten.

He will make an immensely big improvement in the running game. He is a ready to play, all purpose TE, a better blocker than the other TE's in the draft. He needs no learning curve. He will make a big impact from the outset. His slower 4.81 speed kept him from being a 2nd round pick. But he does not have to run longer routes. In addition, although not fast, Jake catches everything, knows how to get open, and is a super smart player on the field. I want him in on all short yardage plays and at goal line snaps.

"A linebacker, receiver, punter, and all-around specialist for Madison Memorial High School, Jake Ferguson entered his tenure at the University of Wisconsin needing time to heal his body and develop into a serviceable tight end over time. He has ended up doing more than that. In a Wisconsin passing game that could best be described as sporadic during his tenure, Ferguson has been the one constant. He’s been a reliable tight end for a multitude of quarterbacks – Alex Hornibrook, Jack Coan, Graham Mertz, and Chase Wolf – and made plays no matter how banged up or bruised he is."

“He makes plays when plays need to be made. He gets open for a pass, he’s making a play. That’s the thing we preach about him is his unselfishness. He doesn’t care how many receptions he’s getting. He cares about winning, and you can see that with the way he works.”

“He’s unselfish in the run game,” Beach said. “He blocks the hell out of guys. It’s so awesome to see that.”

Dalton was drafted as a top blocking TE out of Stanford. But he was a horrible blocker last year. Ferguson has NFL TE blocking skills right now, knowing angles, leveraging and has superior on-field intelligence. In addition, he catches everything thrown his way. Great hands.

I know you are using Witten as a favorable example but Witten’s “blocking” if you can call it that, at the end of his career was pathetic.

morat1959 · May 1, 2022

He’ll be an all pro for many years to come. Just ask Jerry. The koolaid’s coming. Gulp it down. Super Bowl bound again…that’ll be the idiots sell…AGAIN!

CATCH17 · May 1, 2022

Reminds me of Jarwin.

Ken · May 1, 2022

Verdict said:
I know you are using Witten as a favorable example but Witten’s “blocking” if you can call it that, at the end of his career was pathetic.

He is similar to Witten's blocking in that it is more positional that overpowering.

He gets in the way all the time.

ghst187 · May 1, 2022

Okay pick, wanted the Iowa St kid.
Think this guy will be fine. He’s a plodder, not going to outrun anyone or get open without perfecting his route running. We’ve done well with a sixth rounder and an UDFA at TE we turned into something competent, imagine we will do the same here.

john van brocklin · May 1, 2022

SFloridaCowboy said:
Look for some awesome tight end blocking from Jake Ferguson from Wisconsin, whose players usually are better in the pros. Jake is an A+ blocker, 4 year starter. He will be the best blocking TE on the Boys ever, not named Billy Joe Dupree and Jason Witten.

He will make an immensely big improvement in the running game. He is a ready to play, all purpose TE, a better blocker than the other TE's in the draft. He needs no learning curve. He will make a big impact from the outset. His slower 4.81 speed kept him from being a 2nd round pick. But he does not have to run longer routes. In addition, although not fast, Jake catches everything, knows how to get open, and is a super smart player on the field. I want him in on all short yardage plays and at goal line snaps.

"A linebacker, receiver, punter, and all-around specialist for Madison Memorial High School, Jake Ferguson entered his tenure at the University of Wisconsin needing time to heal his body and develop into a serviceable tight end over time. He has ended up doing more than that. In a Wisconsin passing game that could best be described as sporadic during his tenure, Ferguson has been the one constant. He’s been a reliable tight end for a multitude of quarterbacks – Alex Hornibrook, Jack Coan, Graham Mertz, and Chase Wolf – and made plays no matter how banged up or bruised he is."

“He makes plays when plays need to be made. He gets open for a pass, he’s making a play. That’s the thing we preach about him is his unselfishness. He doesn’t care how many receptions he’s getting. He cares about winning, and you can see that with the way he works.”

“He’s unselfish in the run game,” Beach said. “He blocks the hell out of guys. It’s so awesome to see that.”

Dalton was drafted as a top blocking TE out of Stanford. But he was a horrible blocker last year. Ferguson has NFL TE blocking skills right now, knowing angles, leveraging and has superior on-field intelligence. In addition, he catches everything thrown his way. Great hands.

Hope you are correct
We need blocking as well as pass receptions from our tight ends.
I talking to you Shultz.

Mcsports · May 1, 2022

Ken said:
I just watched every offensive snap vs Michigan and Penn St. and here are my takeaways.

-He is a VERY smart football player. Always knows the right angles for blocks and always gets to HIS man on the 2nd level. Being the grandson of Barry Alvarez, i believe this is just in his blood lol
- Definitely struggles with point of attack, drive blocking against bigger defensive ends and LBs. He needs to get stronger, which he will. He just doesn't have the "junk in the trunk" right now for this to be a positive.
- He definitely excels at sealing the backside on running plays and is excellent at trap blocks and open field blocks. I believe the Cowboys will utilize this to its fullest as we know they love using the TE as a lead blocker a lot. There were blocks, in the 2nd half of the Penn St. game, that had me oooooing and ahhhing. lol
-His hands are EVERY BIT as good as advertised. Wow...

IMO, this guy was an absolute steal. Smart, tough, great route runner, hands of a god, plenty of speed IMO, will be even better as a run blocker as he gets stronger.

Thanks for the rundown. From
The video I saw (no running plays included) he appears to know how to get open.

Ken · May 1, 2022

Mcsports said:
Thanks for the rundown. From
The video I saw (no running plays included) he appears to know how to get open.

Yes, he does. He was the focal point of their passing game but the QB struggled to get it to him in the games I watched.

I really like the pick and think this guy is immediate and productive 2nd TE and has upside to be a 1 if they choose to go that route with Schultz.

DuncanIso · May 1, 2022

SFloridaCowboy said:
Look for some awesome tight end blocking from Jake Ferguson from Wisconsin, whose players usually are better in the pros. Jake is an A+ blocker, 4 year starter. He will be the best blocking TE on the Boys ever, not named Billy Joe Dupree and Jason Witten.

He will make an immensely big improvement in the running game. He is a ready to play, all purpose TE, a better blocker than the other TE's in the draft. He needs no learning curve. He will make a big impact from the outset. His slower 4.81 speed kept him from being a 2nd round pick. But he does not have to run longer routes. In addition, although not fast, Jake catches everything, knows how to get open, and is a super smart player on the field. I want him in on all short yardage plays and at goal line snaps.

"A linebacker, receiver, punter, and all-around specialist for Madison Memorial High School, Jake Ferguson entered his tenure at the University of Wisconsin needing time to heal his body and develop into a serviceable tight end over time. He has ended up doing more than that. In a Wisconsin passing game that could best be described as sporadic during his tenure, Ferguson has been the one constant. He’s been a reliable tight end for a multitude of quarterbacks – Alex Hornibrook, Jack Coan, Graham Mertz, and Chase Wolf – and made plays no matter how banged up or bruised he is."

“He makes plays when plays need to be made. He gets open for a pass, he’s making a play. That’s the thing we preach about him is his unselfishness. He doesn’t care how many receptions he’s getting. He cares about winning, and you can see that with the way he works.”

“He’s unselfish in the run game,” Beach said. “He blocks the hell out of guys. It’s so awesome to see that.”

Dalton was drafted as a top blocking TE out of Stanford. But he was a horrible blocker last year. Ferguson has NFL TE blocking skills right now, knowing angles, leveraging and has superior on-field intelligence. In addition, he catches everything thrown his way. Great hands.

Good stuff.

Like the pick too.

Will be interesting to see the 2 TE sets. Maybe we could use him a blocking back for Zeke?

IMHO, all of the picks are solid.

Now the coaches need to get to work.

A Steal of a pick from Wisconsin

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