Cards GM talks traditional TE being an endangered species

[CCBoy]

You get back...a GM talking.

On a theoretical level of application - want blocking? Put a mobile guard where the tight end is and pound hard. If he can't move a linebacker or secondary, he needs a new job description.

 

[Craig]

heath miller retiring is the beginning of the end for complete TEs. How many are left? Is it just Witten?

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

heath miller retiring is the beginning of the end for complete TEs. How many are left? Is it just Witten?

Wittenand Gronk. As good as Gronk is at catching he can block too

 

[amame25]

We have the best 9 yard, 1 yard short of a first down guy in the NFL he may be a hall of famer but it make me want scream when he ends up a yard or so short.I mean why run the pattern short of the marker.Can anybody remember back about 10 years when he could run a seem route.It has been awhile.

It drives me crazy when I see people say this. You do realize there is a defense on the field right? The linebackers setup at the first down marker which makes it difficult for a tight end to sit down at the yard marker. He may have slowed down but he is still one of the best in the league, seemingly the last of the true tight ends.

 

[Aven8]

I'd have no problem with Hunter Henry in the second.

Here comes the hate...

So we can have our 1st 2 picks in Wentz and Henry sit for 3-4 more years?

 

[BigStar]

Don't we have 3 of them on the roster right now lol....and your guys would still take one? Goodness......

Diversify the TE role in the offense and raise Escobar's role substantially even 60/40 but let Witten have a niche vet role bc he's an ok blocker (used to be better); he's part of OL in 3rd and short and good PA outlet/hitch routes. Agree there, 4 2nd TEs would be too much to take.

 

[BAT]

If by "insanity" you mean being realistic about the limitations of Jason Garrett's system and realizing how important the roles of certain players are in it. Then realizing that one of the most important roles is filled by an aging vet without much left in the tank... Yeah sure, "insanity." I call it being realistic.

Not what I meant. I meant the colloquial definition of insanity, doing the same thing (in this case drafting and relying on a 2 TE system that has never been implemented successfully under this head coach) and expecting the same results.

 

[Gameover]

We're still holding on to 8 yards and a cloud of dust!

 

[jobberone]

I'd agree w/ that statement....
Even our beloved Jason Witten has completely quit blocking. You just don't see TEs block anymore. The last good blocking TE I can recall was Kyle Brady.....It's been that long since a TE has literally knocked someone on their butt. And really it's sad to see...I'm not sure if it's a product of the times/passing league...or it's just not emphisized like it used to be. I have a hard time believing a 6'5 250lbs man can't block if he puts his mind to it.


Has America become that pussified that TEs can no longer block? Please say it ain't so...

Where do you come up with your nonsense. Witten is a marginal blocker after years of substandard blocking. He has never not tried.

 

[Hoofbite]

Teams don't run as often as they used to and I would just guess that they aren't running from power formations at the same rate that they used to either.

Let the running game have a revival and I bet the blocking TE starts showing up a lot more.

 

[iceberg]

Teams don't run as often as they used to and I would just guess that they aren't running from power formations at the same rate that they used to either.

Let the running game have a revival and I bet the blocking TE starts showing up a lot more.

i was just about to post something along these lines. rb's in general have fallen to 2nd class citizens in the scoring parade and that has made the fullbackasourus extinct as well. but saying ANYTHING is dead is simply dramatics and LOOK AT ME I CALLED IT cause as soon as someone builds a running game and makes it sexy again the rest will follow along and emulate.

 

[CowboysBravesSpurs]

We have the best 9 yard, 1 yard short of a first down guy in the NFL he may be a hall of famer but it make me want scream when he ends up a yard or so short.I mean why run the pattern short of the marker.Can anybody remember back about 10 years when he could run a seem route.It has been awhile.

Running routes shorter than needed are probably dude to the play scheme. Most times curls & short in/out routes pull in players that are running zone, trying to free up other players. "Levels" play scheme

 

[casmith07]

Our do-it-all guy is already on the roster in Geoff Swaim.

Flame on.

 

[Floatyworm]

Where do you come up with your nonsense. Witten is a marginal blocker after years of substandard blocking. He has never not tried.

It's called breaking down tape....Maybe you should try it before critizing someone.

 

[sbark]

So the Cowboys are ahead of the curve..........they have a TE who at 6'7" in Escobar creates a very good mismatch if used with any imagination, they have a TE in Hanna with top end speed for a TE......if used with imagination................If put in position to create mismatches inside a offensive scheme.......
****
then...on the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys are ahead of the curve in defending against this new type of TE....our 1st rounder last year limited both Gronc and Graham very well, the only one that got away from us is the Panthers TE..............now if we also add Ramsey to the mix with the same specs...

 

[jobberone]

It's called breaking down tape....Maybe you should try it before critizing someone.

If you're really looking at tape then I suggest you go back and do it again. Many of your observations run counter to what many other people think. That's not always a bad thing but a bit too often for you.

 

[Blackspider214]

I'd have no problem with Hunter Henry in the second.

Here comes the hate...

Another TE we would waste? No thanks. Obviously we will ride Witten until he retires, which hinders this offense. Escobar and Marty B showed they could stretch the field but we refuse to go away from Witten or reduce his role. Escobar in the 2nd round and then how we have utilized him is a joke. And there are others we have drafted we never use.

 

[Blackspider214]

So the Cowboys are ahead of the curve..........they have a TE who at 6'7" in Escobar creates a very good mismatch if used with any imagination, they have a TE in Hanna with top end speed for a TE......if used with imagination................If put in position to create mismatches inside a offensive scheme.......
****
then...on the defensive side of the ball, the Cowboys are ahead of the curve in defending against this new type of TE....our 1st rounder last year limited both Gronc and Graham very well, the only one that got away from us is the Panthers TE..............now if we also add Ramsey to the mix with the same specs...

That's the issue. We have TEs that can stretch the field. And we see how those offenses are. Gronk, Gates, Graham, Gonzalez can make your offense tough to guard. It would open so much more for us. But no, we are so set on 3 yard Witten outs. I love Witten for what he has done and is reliable and knows where to be but come on, we need to actually use our other resources. Escobar was a 2nd round pick. By now, he should be a big part of this offense. He has potential if he played for a staff with half a brain. That Giants game in 2013 or 2014, he showed he can be a big playmaker and a good redzone threat. I thought that was his coming out party. Then he hardly ever sees the field after that. Hanna has shown some promise as well. But Witten takes too many of their reps. So they will go elsewhere and thrive like Marty B did while we got nothing out of them.

 

[hornitosmonster]

The Cardinals GM doesn't know how to draft Tight Ends so...

 

[FaSho]

I'd agree w/ that statement....
Even our beloved Jason Witten has completely quit blocking.

You don't actually watch football, do you?