Bluefin
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Jason Witten's a willing mentor to Martellus Bennett
1:56 PM Sun, Aug 09, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon/Blogger http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/bio-icon.jpg Bio | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips
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Jason Witten made it very clear to Martellus Bennett a year ago that the veteran tight end wouldn't hold the rookie's hand.
"I'm not going to be [beep] doing this all the [beep] time," Witten snapped when Bennett asked about an assignment. "You've got to know what the [beep] to do."
Witten hasn't changed his policy about refusing to baby Bennett. Witten, however, is more than willing to help Bennett as long as the young buck handles his business with the basics.
For example, Bennett knows better than to ask Witten where he's supposed to line up or what route he's supposed to run on a certain play. But he's learned a lot from Witten about the finer points of running certain routes, getting good releases off the line of scrimmage, the technical aspects of executing different blocks, etc. Witten is an open book when Bennett asks educated questions.
"I know a lot more than I did last camp, so I just ask questions about details now," Bennett said. "I've got the basics down. On a mental level, I'm trying to get where he is."
Witten and Bennett are pretty much polar opposites when it comes to personalities. Witten is all business, all the time and might not have embraced Bennett's "Beans and Rice" nickname for the duo. Bennett might be the goofiest guy in the league. But they get along just fine on company time. ("I can't tell you how many times he's called me stupid," Marty B said. "But it's always fun.")
They also form what ought to be the league's most potent one-two TE punch, now that Bennett knows what he's doing well enough to play a significantly expanded role after a solid rookie season. While Witten is solid as ever, the emergence of Bennett as a potentially budding star has been one of the major storylines in a drama-free camp.
"To the media, it might seem like it's a surprise," Witten said. "But he's not just a backup that doesn't get very many reps. He's a critical part of what we're going to do, and that's why the expectations are high for him."
Bennett appears ready to reach those expectations, thanks in part to some tough love from a Pro Bowl tight end.
1:56 PM Sun, Aug 09, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! BuzzTim MacMahon/Blogger http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/bio-icon.jpg Bio | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg E-mail | http://www.***BANNED-URL***/blogs/images/email-icon.jpg News tips
http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/assets_c/2009/08/bennettwitten-thumb-250x179-52266.jpg
Jason Witten made it very clear to Martellus Bennett a year ago that the veteran tight end wouldn't hold the rookie's hand.
"I'm not going to be [beep] doing this all the [beep] time," Witten snapped when Bennett asked about an assignment. "You've got to know what the [beep] to do."
Witten hasn't changed his policy about refusing to baby Bennett. Witten, however, is more than willing to help Bennett as long as the young buck handles his business with the basics.
For example, Bennett knows better than to ask Witten where he's supposed to line up or what route he's supposed to run on a certain play. But he's learned a lot from Witten about the finer points of running certain routes, getting good releases off the line of scrimmage, the technical aspects of executing different blocks, etc. Witten is an open book when Bennett asks educated questions.
"I know a lot more than I did last camp, so I just ask questions about details now," Bennett said. "I've got the basics down. On a mental level, I'm trying to get where he is."
Witten and Bennett are pretty much polar opposites when it comes to personalities. Witten is all business, all the time and might not have embraced Bennett's "Beans and Rice" nickname for the duo. Bennett might be the goofiest guy in the league. But they get along just fine on company time. ("I can't tell you how many times he's called me stupid," Marty B said. "But it's always fun.")
They also form what ought to be the league's most potent one-two TE punch, now that Bennett knows what he's doing well enough to play a significantly expanded role after a solid rookie season. While Witten is solid as ever, the emergence of Bennett as a potentially budding star has been one of the major storylines in a drama-free camp.
"To the media, it might seem like it's a surprise," Witten said. "But he's not just a backup that doesn't get very many reps. He's a critical part of what we're going to do, and that's why the expectations are high for him."
Bennett appears ready to reach those expectations, thanks in part to some tough love from a Pro Bowl tight end.
