An explosive TE might be the key to unlocking this offense!

Last season Ferguson had a strong season number size, but when you look under the hood, his success was more due to teams worried about our top two receivers. I read recently the Cowboy Offense faced the most shell coverage in the entire league last season. Their goal was to take away the explosive passing plays that the Cowboys offense generates. This allowed Ferguson to feast on all the underneath check down passes. As we know he run after catch has disappeared and looks like the old Witten at the position.

One of the biggest issue I saw with Ferguson was his inability to make those up the seam pass connections. Dak tried over and over again trying to connect with Ferguson but they rarely were successful. This was a huge part of Dak's success with former Cowboy Dalton Shultz.

I don't think Ferguson's job is in trouble as he still serves a purpose in this offense, but the team needs that explosive TE to unlock their offense to new levels. Schoon has proven not to be that guy and is most likley playing somewhere else next season. Spann-Ford is also in his contract season, but his calling card is more as an in line blocker. Could Trigg become that X factor at the position? It is a long shot being an undrafted fa, but he has an opportunity. This might be a sneaky draft need in the team's future.
WE've needed an explosive TE for years!!!! One that can cause match up problems and resemble a WR at times. All we seem to focus on is a TE being able to block and nothing more!!!
 
I understand that, but there were plenty of opportunities that they failed to complete that led the team to stall out drives deep in the opponents zone.
I’m not a Dak basher at all. The only reason this team has a half a shot is because he is here, but I think the red zone stuff might be on him and his happy feet in the pocket.

His lack of success in big moments is probably in his head at this point. I can’t even imagine what’ll be running through his head if and when he is in his next divisional playoff game.

Anyway at TE, Ferguson is going to start because of his contract, that’s how things work in Dallas, but let’s see. Man I’ve drank so much Kool-Aid lately I’m beginning to believe in the next Rico Gathers. Lord help me!
 
I understand that, but there were plenty of opportunities that they failed to complete that led the team to stall out drives deep in the opponents zone.
no you don't understand at all
you are blaming a player that had to stay in to help a failing RT for not doing more
 
If we "unlock" this offense, we can only move up 1 spot.

We ranked #2 in total offense last season

Methinks penalties are where they need to improve most importantly.....and red zone efficiency if we are nitpicking
 
Last season Ferguson had a strong season number size, but when you look under the hood, his success was more due to teams worried about our top two receivers. I read recently the Cowboy Offense faced the most shell coverage in the entire league last season. Their goal was to take away the explosive passing plays that the Cowboys offense generates. This allowed Ferguson to feast on all the underneath check down passes. As we know he run after catch has disappeared and looks like the old Witten at the position.

One of the biggest issue I saw with Ferguson was his inability to make those up the seam pass connections. Dak tried over and over again trying to connect with Ferguson but they rarely were successful. This was a huge part of Dak's success with former Cowboy Dalton Shultz.

I don't think Ferguson's job is in trouble as he still serves a purpose in this offense, but the team needs that explosive TE to unlock their offense to new levels. Schoon has proven not to be that guy and is most likley playing somewhere else next season. Spann-Ford is also in his contract season, but his calling card is more as an in line blocker. Could Trigg become that X factor at the position? It is a long shot being an undrafted fa, but he has an opportunity. This might be a sneaky draft need in the team's future.
As much as I would love to see an explosive TE, I am ok with TEs, for couple of reasons.

I think key is attacking all 9 passing zones and having ability to do that. We have WRs that can go deep anywhere on the field including down the seam. We did see both Pickens and Lamb do that and expect to see Flournoy become a more complete WR, which makes the offense that much better.

I looked at those catches Fergi made as long hand offs, converting first down. An outlet much like we had with Johntson back in the day.

Also, I think the Cowboys didnt really trust the tackles and kept TEs in often to pass block, chip before releasing which didnt allow them to go down field much. Both backup TEs are better blockers than recievers

If we didn’t have the explosive WRs we have, I would worry, but for now, I don't so much mind those.short underneath passes to just move the chains.

With that said, the RAC is a concern and.could improve.

If Guyton improves, and we have to worry less, and Steele is the o ly real liability then we might see TE attacking downfield a little more.
 
I can see this after they move on from Pickens but until then they have enough feature weapons. You don't need a more explosive guy to run the same routes Fergy runs. So unless they want to change how this offense runs they don't need to worry about the TE position just yet.
 
WE've needed an explosive TE for years!!!! One that can cause match up problems and resemble a WR at times. All we seem to focus on is a TE being able to block and nothing more!!!
Have you seen our tackles?
Then you would know why we need blocking TEs.
When we had Smith, we didnt worry about blocking tackles
 
Sounds good on paper but honestly if Pickens is here long term you will only find an explosive TE by "luck" it will not be through premium draft capital. If I had my way, Keep CD, find a lower cost alternative to Pickens the alternative would not be a 1B WR but a true #2 and then maybe go looking for a Athletic TE in the early part of the draft or FA that is behind one of the more established TEs in the league.
 
Possible if they let trig be 1 dimensional but this team wants complete tight ends even if they are flashy in the passing game
 
Last season Ferguson had a strong season number size, but when you look under the hood, his success was more due to teams worried about our top two receivers. I read recently the Cowboy Offense faced the most shell coverage in the entire league last season. Their goal was to take away the explosive passing plays that the Cowboys offense generates. This allowed Ferguson to feast on all the underneath check down passes. As we know he run after catch has disappeared and looks like the old Witten at the position.

One of the biggest issue I saw with Ferguson was his inability to make those up the seam pass connections. Dak tried over and over again trying to connect with Ferguson but they rarely were successful. This was a huge part of Dak's success with former Cowboy Dalton Shultz.

I don't think Ferguson's job is in trouble as he still serves a purpose in this offense, but the team needs that explosive TE to unlock their offense to new levels. Schoon has proven not to be that guy and is most likley playing somewhere else next season. Spann-Ford is also in his contract season, but his calling card is more as an in line blocker. Could Trigg become that X factor at the position? It is a long shot being an undrafted fa, but he has an opportunity. This might be a sneaky draft need in the team's future.
I do think this is a bit like crediting the offensive line for Emmitt's success. Sure, the two outside receivers are going to draw the attention of defenses, but Ferguson still tied for the third-most catches among tight ends last year.

I think the main difference we saw was in how they used him. Because of having those two big-time receivers and often needing Ferguson to provide help for shaky offensive tackles, we turned him into a check-down tight end last year. He became a player who could provide an initial chuck or shove to slow the pass rush and then float out to be an outlet for Dak. This was a critical role in having one of the top offenses in the league, but it left Ferguson mainly making catches where he was facing the quarterback, which are not as conducive to run after catch unless you can fool the defender with your initial spin direction after catching the ball.

Sure, we should want him to make more out of those catches than he did, but our starting tight end is again going to be the guy who provides help to the tackles and gets open as a check-down for the quarterback trying to get the ball in the hands of those two star receivers. Being more explosive wouldn't hurt but is not a prerequisite for what we're asking Ferguson to do.
 
Last season Ferguson had a strong season number size, but when you look under the hood, his success was more due to teams worried about our top two receivers. I read recently the Cowboy Offense faced the most shell coverage in the entire league last season. Their goal was to take away the explosive passing plays that the Cowboys offense generates. This allowed Ferguson to feast on all the underneath check down passes. As we know he run after catch has disappeared and looks like the old Witten at the position.

One of the biggest issue I saw with Ferguson was his inability to make those up the seam pass connections. Dak tried over and over again trying to connect with Ferguson but they rarely were successful. This was a huge part of Dak's success with former Cowboy Dalton Shultz.

I don't think Ferguson's job is in trouble as he still serves a purpose in this offense, but the team needs that explosive TE to unlock their offense to new levels. Schoon has proven not to be that guy and is most likley playing somewhere else next season. Spann-Ford is also in his contract season, but his calling card is more as an in line blocker. Could Trigg become that X factor at the position? It is a long shot being an undrafted fa, but he has an opportunity. This might be a sneaky draft need in the team's future.

Ive been saying this for the longest. For some reason, the Cowboys are infatuated with TEs with basic athleticism and explosion. I think the last TE we had with some form of good athleticism on our roster was Rico Gathers.

The days of the possession style, Witten types aren't going to help us.
 
Listen, not saying spending a 1st rd pick at the position, but adding a legitimate TE to the roster. As you look around the league, teams are starting to implement multiple TE alignments. As I mentioned in another response, just look at the volume just drafted this yr. This suggests that other teams are looking to replicate that Rams attack under McVey.
I just feel like if the offense can’t be unlocked with all this money and first rounders we never will:
 
Ferguson remains an important piece. Teams will not allow him to continue to get easy yardage and will start to adjust, this in turn will open up the outside receivers.
I don't think they will. Defenses have to pick their poison, and they are going to pick allowing Ferguson to get open on short passes over allowing Lamb and Pickens to get open every time. You give up a 6-yard pass to Ferguson and maybe the next down you get a sack or a stop. You give up a 30-yard pass to Pickens and suddenly the offense is in field goal range. We will see a league-high in shell coverage again because teams have to respect those wideouts. Now, there will be some times down the field depending on the call and coverage that Dak and Ferguson need to connect, but he will likely mainly be option C on most pass plays (maybe even D) when Lamb, Pickens and Flournoy/Turpin are covered up.
 
Listen, not saying spending a 1st rd pick at the position, but adding a legitimate TE to the roster. As you look around the league, teams are starting to implement multiple TE alignments. As I mentioned in another response, just look at the volume just drafted this yr. This suggests that other teams are looking to replicate that Rams attack under McVey.
I don't disagree at all with the idea that Dallas should invest in a more explosive TE in on way or another.

The Rams offense, however, works because they have two great WRs. They don't need talent at the TE position to be productive, and they don't ask them to do much. Puka and Davante take all of the coverage.
 
as long as our OTs are shaky we are going to have to use our TEs to help them out a lot
that is a fact

And since we did pretty well last year with Ferg, I see no reason at this time to do any more.

He did pretty well for what he was asked to do
and lets face it:
UNTIL our OTs are better the TE is NOT going to be a big part of our O
 

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