News: Cowboys Rico Gathers: Tony Romo’s favorite scout team weapon?

[fairviewfarmer]

I'm still a little puzzled as to why he chose not to play this past season for Briles. He was drafted on physical talent alone. A season playing for a major program could have only helped.

Because he got paid to practice this year.

 

[xwalker]

Because he hasn't had the advantage of playing snap-after-snap on a football field; the type of feeling, experience and muscle memory/movement you get from playing the sport extensively.

It's no different than saying "Orlando Scandrick's a good athlete. Why can't he learn to shoot NBA 3's effectively over the course of a year?"

The issue is not just about his physical blocking ability. They've had guys in training camp that could block quite well as in-line blockers on plays where they knew what to do. The problem with those guys that didn't make the team was that the 2nd TE position is complicated mentally. There are many requirements and it's often more precision than brute strength blocking. They use the 2nd TE in many types of motion both pre and post snap.

This past preseason they had the udfa TE Austin Traylor. He was really good as an in-line blocker in terms of physical ability. His issue was knowing all the details of the play and not finding the right guy to block when used on motion type plays. He had some issue similar to a RB not knowing which guy to block. I think Traylor was probably better in one-on-one blocking drills than Swaim. MartyB was a great one-on-one blocker but they still often used John Phillips because MartyB was too dumb or lazy to learn the nuances required to function in all the roles they need for the 2nd TE.

At 290 pounds, I'm not worried about Rico being able to physically block. He has a significant size advantage over guys like Swaim and Hanna. The question is can be learn all the nuances required to be the #2 TE in the Cowboys scheme. Some other teams might use him primarily as a receiver, but the Cowboys have shown that they won't do that. Escobar could have been a decent receiver type TE but they didn't use him much because he was a limited blocker.

It will be fun to see what Rico can do in training camp. I like drafting high upside types in the late rounds.

 

[xwalker]

I'm still a little puzzled as to why he chose not to play this past season for Briles. He was drafted on physical talent alone. A season playing for a major program could have only helped.

Briles was out at Baylor before the 2016 season.

Jim Grobe was the interim HC for 2016 and they have not hired Matt Rhule as the new HC.

 

[Hailmary]

Bryan Broaddus was asked about James Hanna yesterday.




I've still never read anything definitive on what was wrong.

The injury was initially reported as a bone bruise and Hanna wound up having two knee surgeries trying to correct the issue.

We may not hear anything until the off-season program gets underway in mid-April.

There were rumblings about his injury being similar to Spencer's, i.e. microfracture. Not sure if it was the author just making assumptions or if he was going by substantive info. Two surgeries for a bone bruise should cause alarm though.

https://www.___GET_REAL_URL___/www....ng-camp-jason-witten?client=ms-android-google

 

[Bluefin]

Escobar could have been a decent receiver type TE but they didn't use him much because he was a limited blocker.

And Dallas flushed a second round draft pick because they refused to find a way to incorporate Gavin Escobar's skills into the offense.

Why is it OK for James Hanna to be a blocking TE that offers nothing as a receiver?

I know blocking is important, but Hanna was easy to game plan for when on the field. Opposing defenses knew Hanna was in to serve as a blocker and didn't have to worry about him as a receiving option.

Esc never developed into the blocker the Cowboys wanted, but that's no reason to completely ignore his receiving skills.

It's a terrible waste.

 

[Bluefin]

There were rumblings about his injury being similar to Spencer's, i.e. microfracture. Not sure if it was the author just making assumptions or if he was going by substantive info. Two surgeries for a bone bruise should cause alarm though.

I've read speculation about micro-fracture surgery, too, but there's been nothing concrete that I've come across.

If James Hanna required this type of procedure, I expect it would have been announced after being performed.

The injury has been described as a "bone bruise", and that is a worrisome term to have crop up, because that has happened before. For those that remember, this was the same description used for the injury that effectively ended the career of Anthony Spencer. The term was used then as a euphemism for potential microfracture injuries, and those almost never resolve well.

Every injury and player is different.

Some players may only miss a week or two following arthroscopic knee surgery while others could miss significant time for the same thing.

Jason Witten will play through pain out of sheer desire to be on the field with his team when many players would not.

With a degenerative knee, the damage may be confined to a very small area or encompass a much larger one. The former is much easier to return from than the latter.

 

[Stash]

Are we confident that Hanna will be back next season? Something seems odd about his injury, that he'd need 2 surgeries for what is being called a "bone bruise". Have we heard any updates?

If Swain continues to improve and we draft a TE, I'm not sure if Hanna even makes the team.

I don't expect to see Hanna back. Two surgeries and an entire missed season.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...016-dallas-cowboys-training-camp-jason-witten

 

[CCBoy]

And Dallas flushed a second round draft pick because they refused to find a way to incorporate Gavin Escobar's skills into the offense.

Why is it OK for James Hanna to be a blocking TE that offers nothing as a receiver?

I know blocking is important, but Hanna was easy to game plan for when on the field. Opposing defenses knew Hanna was in to serve as a blocker and didn't have to worry about him as a receiving option.

Esc never developed into the blocker the Cowboys wanted, but that's no reason to completely ignore his receiving skills.

It's a terrible waste.

Play action and screens?

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Cowboys Rico Gathers: Tony Romo’s favorite scout team weapon?

http://thelandryhat.com/2017/01/27/cowboys-rico-gathers-tony-romos-weapon/


A Dallas Cowboys insider shares a story about the development of the team’s 2016 sixth round selection and former basketball player turned tight end Rico Gathers.
If you are the final player selected in the NFL Draft, they call you Mr. Irrelevant. If you are the final selection by an NFL franchise, you’re chances of making the team’s roster are likely slim. And if you are attempting to make the transition from college basketball back to football, a sport you haven’t played since middle school, and you’re the team’s last pick in the draft: then you’re chances of making an NFL roster are minuscule.

Despite the long odds, former Baylor basketball star Rico Gathers attempted just that, decalring himself eligible during last year’s NFL Draft. Despite not having played football since the eighth grade, the Dallas Cowboys saw enough potential in Gathers to selected him with their final pick in the sixth round, 217th overall. That also happened to be Dallas’ final selection in that draft.

The very definition of a developmental player, the 6-6, 273 pound Gathers is a tremendous athlete for his size. The All-American power forward known for his gritty play and defensive prowess, is attempting to transition to the NFL in a similar fashion as other former basketball stars like the San Diego Chargers Antonio Gates or the Seattle Seahawks Jimmy Graham...

Great!
Can we package Romo AND Gathers to Cleveland for a No. 1?
The browns re the only ones dumb enough.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I wouldn't expect much from him for a while.

Where have I heard that one before ...

 

[Setackin]

Where have I heard that one before ...

Probably any time someone talks about a player that hasn't played football since middle school...

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Probably any time someone talks about a player that hasn't played football since middle school...

Re don't expect him to contribute anytime soon.
No ... Something about ... Oh, yeah, draftees with injuries, draftees with substance abuse problems etc. Oh, yes, stout fellow, FAs with looming suspensions and under suspicion and/or sanctions for roughing up others.

 

[Bluefin]

Play action and screens?

James Hanna has averaged 8.25 receptions per season for his career.

That's a lot of snaps with miniscule production as a receiver.

Hanna's value to the team lies solely as a blocker and that limits the offense when he's on the field.

 

[Bohuntr97]

Are we still debating about a 6th round pick? Lets talk Romo lol!

 

[JohnsKey19]

Swain played great until he got hurt

He did. If Swaim makes it through TC healthy, Hanna won't make the roster. And I am a big fan of Hanna's.

Assuming Witten is back, Gathers can make the roster as the 3rd TE if he is able to show he can effectively pass and run block. I gotta believe they'll give him every opportunity to make the roster next season. But he's got to earn the coaches trust as a blocker.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

At 290 pounds, I'm not worried about Rico being able to physically block. He has a significant size advantage over guys like Swaim and Hanna. The question is can be learn all the nuances required to be the #2 TE in the Cowboys scheme. Some other teams might use him primarily as a receiver, but the Cowboys have shown that they won't do that. Escobar could have been a decent receiver type TE but they didn't use him much because he was a limited blocker.

It will be fun to see what Rico can do in training camp. I like drafting high upside types in the late rounds.

How true. Strong as he is, leverege and mental split-second body targets are required in blocking. I am not a blocking expert but I am learning when mum kick boxes me. I gain insights, after I regain consciousness. With all the blows I have absorbed I have this screenplay idea, called "Of Mice and Mum."

 

[CCBoy]

Briles was out at Baylor before the 2016 season.

Jim Grobe was the interim HC for 2016 and they have not hired Matt Rhule as the new HC.

On Briles, something about player raping players that is still hitting the fan and for which Baylor should receive the death penalty by the NCAA.

 

[CCBoy]

James Hanna has averaged 8.25 receptions per season for his career.

That's a lot of snaps with miniscule production as a receiver.

Hanna's value to the team lies solely as a blocker and that limits the offense when he's on the field.

REALLY? With the current running lineup...better look at issues again. He is a perfect compliment and has improved in pass catching, until hurt.

 

[Bluefin]

REALLY? With the current running lineup...better look at issues again. He is a perfect compliment and has improved in pass catching, until hurt.

Really.

Your idea of a perfect second TE and mine are evidently polar opposites.

James Hanna is a good blocking specialist and that is it.

Improved in pass catching?

Hanna had 8 receptions for 86 yards as a rookie and 9 receptions for 79 yards in his fourth season, 2015.

He's never scored a touchdown.

Gavin Escobar could barely get on the field, but he still found the end zone 8 times over his four seasons in Big D.

Escobar couldn't block well enough and barely played. Hanna is a blocker who brings almost nothing to the table a s a receiving target.

The second TE needs to be able to do both or the package will be limited.

 

[tyke1doe]

Swain played great until he got hurt

As a blocker, yes. As a passing threat, no. We need our tight ends to be more than just blockers.