Cowboys Tight End Usage

[Alohawg1]

How is the corvette running?

As a former of two 'vettes, I can honestly say they run great, but are high maintenance. Lots of i$$ues, but the basic reliability of the engine however ain't one of them.

 

[Verdict]

Being wide open for first downs is a real consequence. You can't tell me defenses don't fear that.

Actually, Witten has seemed to find a way to be a yard or two short of the first down marker over the past two years, which he would not have been guilty of earlier in his career.

 

[Verdict]

Being wide open for first downs is a real consequence. You can't tell me defenses don't fear that.

I also do not believe that they "fear" Witten.

 

[Knotamus]

I understand the concern due to his age and maybe he's lost a step, But there's no way to replace his football intelligence, leadership, and chemistry with Romo. All three of these very important aspects of his game mean more to this team than a younger/faster replacement. Witten is the ultimate compliment to Romo. And I haven't even mentioned that he catches everything thrown his way. Only because of his age, I also worry about his decline, but Witten continues to produce and prove he's the best 'complete' TE in the league. He still ranked 4th in the league in catches with crappy QBs throwing to him.. Witten is worth every penny. Period.

 

[Hardline]

You mean we just paid 3 mil a year for a pinto?

yes

 

[AbeBeta]

Actually, Witten has seemed to find a way to be a yard or two short of the first down marker over the past two years, which he would not have been guilty of earlier in his career.

Not entirely true. His lifetime % of FD on catches is 56%. Last year with 47 the dink and dunk squad throwing to him, it was down to 47%. However, in 2014, 75% of his catches were for a first. in 2013, it was 60%.

So you are likely seeing something happen once or twice and making incorrect attributions about it.

 

[conner01]

Not entirely true. His lifetime % of FD on catches is 56%. Last year with 47 the dink and dunk squad throwing to him, it was down to 47%. However, in 2014, 75% of his catches were for a first. in 2013, it was 60%.

So you are likely seeing something happen once or twice and making incorrect attributions about it.

There you go with them dang facts again
My experience has been that most people's assumption are wrong. But reality is reality

 

[Verdict]

There you go with them dang facts again
My experience has been that most people's assumption are wrong. But reality is reality

Yeah. I'm sure when he ran a yard or two short of the first down marker multiple times this year and we failed to get the first down it was a figment of my imagination. I don't know why the refs didn't move the chains and we punted.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It is funny how everyone rags on Carr for his contract and gives Witten a free pass because of his past history. Witten doesn't suck, but one of the reasons why he is so open is because teams don't fear him doing anything with the ball once he gets it anymore. Him running in quicksand enables defenses to shade other players with coverage, with little to no consequences.

He basically is the Brandon Carr of the offense. Pretty good analogy.

 

[Aven8]

I agree with the OP. However this coaching staff has no clue how to even use the TE outside of Witt. He never comes off the field. Ever. We have no clue what Escobar or Hanna can even do. The 12 personnel they love to talk about so much is lousy because we cannot design schemes for both of them.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I would like to see them use Hanna in a similar way they were using Dunbar this season. Dunbar wasn't going to be a main threat, but he was a mismatch for teams and we could make defenses pay if they put a linebacker or slow safety on him. I think Hanna has the speed (he still runs well) to be a mismatch. I would like to see him ease into taking away some catches from Witten. The question is if he can do what it takes to run the routes and catch the ball. I still think Witten is the better option and is still a very good TE in this league. I think we need to get him to run routes beyond the 1st down marker and intermediate routes with some deep routes sprinkled in from time to time. But last year was Witten's worst year since 2004 as a blocker and Hanna still blocks well. Witten isn't getting any younger and the current college TE's can't run block.




YR

 

[conner01]

Yeah. I'm sure when he ran a yard or two short of the first down marker multiple times this year and we failed to get the first down it was a figment of my imagination. I don't know why the refs didn't move the chains and we punted.

Yeah. I'm sure when he ran a yard or two short of the first down marker multiple times this year and we failed to get the first down it was a figment of my imagination. I don't know why the refs didn't move the chains and we punted.

77 catches 36 first downs
Without a qb

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I also do not believe that they "fear" Witten.

Agreed.

Respect? Yeah.

But not fear. They know he can get first down but he's not likely to burn a defense for a long-gainer.

 

[Cowboy06]

Like a well oiled machine. Like Witten currently still is.

I love Witten. But this is a "what have you done for me lately" game. So, let's see how training camp and the draft shapes up. If he's the best option, play him, if not, cut him and move on. No more emotional ties to players. If they don't measure up, cut em, trade em... they can always come back for that one day signing...just saying.

Go Cowboys...

 

[Cowboy06]

I understand the concern due to his age and maybe he's lost a step, But there's no way to replace his football intelligence, leadership, and chemistry with Romo. All three of these very important aspects of his game mean more to this team than a younger/faster replacement. Witten is the ultimate compliment to Romo. And I haven't even mentioned that he catches everything thrown his way. Only because of his age, I also worry about his decline, but Witten continues to produce and prove he's the best 'complete' TE in the league. He still ranked 4th in the league in catches with crappy QBs throwing to him.. Witten is worth every penny. Period.

Loved what Witten way...with ROMO...But what if it's only with Romo? What if someone better is passed over and not developed? I want to move on from this period in Cowboy lore...cut the older players...and the often injured...If you are all world when healthy or paired with one other player...but that only happens a few times a year....well sign me up for the two pintos, a seatbelt and a bible to pray with...cause we gonna drive fast and furious and you'll need to buckle up and pray often...

 

[DallasInDC]

I agree with the OP. However this coaching staff has no clue how to even use the TE outside of Witt. He never comes off the field. Ever. We have no clue what Escobar or Hanna can even do. The 12 personnel they love to talk about so much is lousy because we cannot design schemes for both of them.

Hmmm.....the same holds true with them not being able to coach QBs without Romo or WRs without Dez....I think it is safe to say this coaching staff can't design an offense that is effective without all pros at every skill position.

 

[Idgit]

I agree with the OP. However this coaching staff has no clue how to even use the TE outside of Witt. He never comes off the field. Ever. We have no clue what Escobar or Hanna can even do. The 12 personnel they love to talk about so much is lousy because we cannot design schemes for both of them.

We're in a multiple TE set ~ a third of the time on offense. And when the QB isn't knocked out of the game, we're pretty effective generally. What makes you conclude we don't know what we're doing with the TE position? I mean, outside of what we do with the HoF TE we've got, of course?

Hmmm.....the same holds true with them not being able to coach QBs without Romo or WRs without Dez....I think it is safe to say this coaching staff can't design an offense that is effective without all pros at every skill position.

This, too. The fact that we can't replace one of the best QBs in the league with Matt Cassel or Brandon Weeden, or that we don't have another Dez Bryant coming off the bench means we can't design an offense? Or does it just mean that it's tough to overcome the loss of your best skill position players on that side of the ball?

 

[Hoofbite]

We're in a multiple TE set ~ a third of the time on offense. And when the QB isn't knocked out of the game, we're pretty effective generally. What makes you conclude we don't know what we're doing with the TE position? I mean, outside of what we do with the HoF TE we've got, of course?

Just guess here but I'd wager it has something to do with the repeated investment and absolute lack of return. The team is obviously seeking more than what they get from Witten. They've gone to the well many a time only to come up with nothing.

 

[Idgit]

Just guess here but I'd wager it has something to do with the repeated investment and absolute lack of return. The team is obviously seeking more than what they get from Witten. They've gone to the well many a time only to come up with nothing.

Maybe. I hadn't thought of that angle.

I don't beat them up as badly over the 2nd round TEs as most posters. Mostly because they hit on both Fasano and Bennett from an evaluation standpoint, but also because they were handicapping a guy who was such a big part of the offense. I get why a team wants two quality TEs when they use them as much as we do. The fact that Witten never misses games doesn't mean you don't back him up.

Escobar's a mystery to me. I think he's a genuine weapon in passing routes with his size and hands. I was completely confused why he wasn't a bigger part of the offense last season once Dunbar went down.

Either way, though, we're an effective offense generally, and we make decent use of our TEs. It seems a strange thing to complain about when there are other topics that provide more obvious targets.

 

[Myboys]

How do so many posters on this forum call themselves Cowboys fans but seem to dislike every player on the team? I've heard terms such as "trash", "garbage", "overpayed", "unreliable", "no talent" ,etc to describe almost every player on this team. Now it's Witten being disrespected?