Cowboys’ main concern may be tight end, not wide receiver

[waving monkey]

With long-time veterans Dez Bryant and Jason Witten no longer on the roster, the Cowboys are going to look vastly different at the skill positions in 2018. Bryant leaves a hole in the Cowboys receiver room, along with Brice Butler and Ryan Switzer, while Witten’s looming presence will no longer dominate the tight end’s room.

The national media continues to malign the Cowboys efforts for their supposedly inexperienced, unproven, and unreliable wide receiver group. Considering that the Cowboys only have one receiver on the roster who has had more than 1,000 yards in an NFL season, it is easy to understand those concerns. The receiving group came more into question when surgery required Terrance Williams to sit for a large portion of the offseason, along with his trouble with the law.

Some other guys expected to be in the mix will be new arrival Allen Hurns, rookies Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson, and Cole Beasley. Despite some hot streaks, Hurns has never been able to consistently stay healthy and perform. For Gallup and Wilson, wide receiver is traditionally a difficult position to transition to from college. Beasley had a down 2017 season; without known commodities on the offense, defenses will key in more on Beasley and attempt to take him away as Dak Prescott’s primary check-down receiver.

https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/201...waim-rico-gathers-blake-jarwin-jordan-schultz

 

[cowboy_ron]

No concern....we have Rico.......and from all indications, he'll be ready to go in just a few more years......Afterall, our career long training courses have created such stars as HC Jason Garrett and GM Jerry Jones......with such elite leadership, how can Rico fail?

 

[CPanther95]

I have a feeling that whoever they plug in at TE is going to be Top 12 in TE receptions.

But he'll probably have less than half the yards of anyone else in the Top 12.

 

[jobberone]

WR will be ok. TE is more suspect but we don't know if it's adequate or not.

 

[Centex]

I wonder why athletes from other sports have a harder time transitioning to football than in the past. Bob Hayes and Cornell Green for instance took to it immediately. Is it that literally every NFL player is a world class athlete now? Or is it that position groups are more specialized? Or some combination. Or maybe im imagining things?

 

[Knotamus]

I understand the concern because I’m concerned myself. It’s hard not to be. Hell, we’ve been spoiled by the goat and HOF’er.. the great Jason Witten. So naturally as a fan, we’re worried how this will take shape. Totally understandable. But let’s not forget, there’s a lot of folks that’s been asking for this senario for years now... here it is. Wish granted.

Just have faith. Dalton Schultz was a 3rd or 4th rounder on many draft boards.. and remember what round Witten was drafted. Jarwin is heavily touted in Dallas Cowboys insider circles, Swaim is under rated in my opinion, and Rico is the great unknown/wild card. I’m not anointing anyone, yet we have to see what we have nonetheless. This training camp is going to be very interesting on so many levels.

 

[ShiningStar]

we dont need the TEs to come in and be all stars. Run, WR to keep the defense honest and hit our throws and than a TE to move the chains when needed. Swaim has experience with Dak. So he might be number 1 for a bit. TC and pre season might change all that. We arent going to need the TEs to carry the team. This is silly. The Rbs will carry it, the WRs should play the second role and TEs do blocking and if you see a play, make the play. Nothing should be on their shoulders like it was with Witten.

 

[Knotamus]

I wonder why athletes from other sports have a harder time transitioning to football than in the past. Bob Hayes and Cornell Green for instance took to it immediately. Is it that literally every NFL player is a world class athlete now? Or is it that position groups are more specialized? Or some combination. Or maybe im imagining things?

I would say.. Yes. You are correct.. with improved muscle building, supplements, etc.. it’s harder for athletes to be “dominate” over their peers. But there’s one thing that can’t be taught and trumps everything else.. and the guys you mention had it.. SPEED. Speed is still king. If your faster than everyone at your respected position, it makes it harder to defend. The real problem now is.. the current athletes are prob at the limits of humanly possible.

I.e.- we have 6’4” 280lb DT running 4.5’s..

It’s really getting unreal.

 

[ESisback]

we dont need the TEs to come in and be all stars. Run, WR to keep the defense honest and hit our throws and than a TE to move the chains when needed. Swaim has experience with Dak. So he might be number 1 for a bit. TC and pre season might change all that. We arent going to need the TEs to carry the team. This is silly. The Rbs will carry it, the WRs should play the second role and TEs do blocking and if you see a play, make the play. Nothing should be on their shoulders like it was with Witten.

Plus, we upgraded at FB.

 

[Risen Star]

I can't wait to read how we can't judge the QB in his 3rd year because the weapons suck.

That's true. They do suck. So does the QB.

 

[DasSchnitzel]

Was average TE play ever the achilles heel of an otherwise would-be superbowl victor?

I believe the new WR group and philosophy will be ok given the overall offensive scheme. I just can't imagine that average TE play overcomes all of our offensive strengths and somehow loses games.

 

[jobberone]

I wonder why athletes from other sports have a harder time transitioning to football than in the past. Bob Hayes and Cornell Green for instance took to it immediately. Is it that literally every NFL player is a world class athlete now? Or is it that position groups are more specialized? Or some combination. Or maybe im imagining things?

Excellent question. IDK.

 

[Toro9]

I think they have a plan. They're going to play Blocking Tight Ends for the run game and if one (or more) of them can be an occasional safety valve or create a matchup problem for a Linebacker or Safety then it's all gravy. I see Zeke being more involved in the passing game and they're drafting players who are good route runners and bringing in vets who can play roles, kind of like how it's done in the NBA.

This offense's identity is simple. Gash the D with Zeke and throw short passes hoping for YAC.

 

[jobberone]

I think they have a plan. They're going to play Blocking Tight Ends for the run game and if one (or more) of them can be an occasional safety valve or create a matchup problem for a Linebacker or Safety then it's all gravy. I see Zeke being more involved in the passing game and they're drafting players who are good route runners and bringing in vets who can play roles, kind of like how it's done in the NBA.

This offense's identity is simple. Gash the D with Zeke and throw short passes hoping for YAC.

I think they will throw their share of intermediate and long passes.

 

[ESisback]

I can't wait to read how we can't judge the QB in his 3rd year because the weapons suck.

That's true. They do suck. So does the QB.

QB sucks, WRs suck, TE sucks, HC sucks, OC sucks, DC sucks, GM sucks...what is there to like about this team?

 

[lukin2006]

My main concern is our QB. If he regresses for 2nd straight the FO and JG will just blame receiving core and likely draft a WR in round 1 next year. And JG will keep his job, because the process is incomplete 9 year laters.

 

[Cowpolk]

QB sucks, WRs suck, TE sucks, HC sucks, OC sucks, DC sucks, GM sucks...what is there to like about this team?

The fact that they all suck?

 

[Cowpolk]

My main concern is our QB. If he regresses for 2nd straight the FO and JG will just blame receiving core and likely draft a WR in round 1 next year. And JG will keep his job, because the process is incomplete 9 year laters.

Its a process

 

[Seven]

Swaim.......end thread.

 

[Idgit]

They want guys who can block well and catch ok. We have three of those it’s not going to be a significant issue.

WR is the bigger concern.