DMN Blog: Martellus Bennett and Ken Hamlin out for Sunday

[MapleLeaf]

I honestly think he is. According to John Garrett, he's smart and attentive. That's a far cry from "high and tight, Martellus!" I would be shocked if there is a noticeable dropoff.

...interesting is if Phillips is able to contribute on more than just solid blocking. If he catches a few balls and helps the team utilize the (2) TE set better than Bennett and Witten what does the coaching staff do?

I'm not down on Bennett just yet, but this is the time that the team needs the benchers to stand up and be counted. Sometimes all this takes is a chance to get on the field.

 

[Future]

I honestly think he is. According to John Garrett, he's smart and attentive. That's a far cry from "high and tight, Martellus!" I would be shocked if there is a noticeable dropoff.

I know Bennett hasn't produced a whole lot this year, but the dropoff we will see is that this offense loses a playmaker. Regardless of how Marty has played, defenses would always have to account for him or he can make a big play.

I think we see a dropoff in production for other players because Phillips isn't much of a threat. He's got decent hands, but he can't provide a big play like Marty has the potential to.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I know Bennett hasn't produced a whole lot this year, but the dropoff we will see is that this offense loses a playmaker. Regardless of how Marty has played, defenses would always have to account for him or he can make a big play.

I think we see a dropoff in production for other players because Phillips isn't much of a threat. He's got decent hands, but he can't provide a big play like Marty has the potential to.

...DC always look at the tape before setting their game plans.

What has Martellus done on a regular basis to prove to you or any DC that he is a consistent threat?

Missed and dropped passes do make up his repertoire this year. If I rush an extra backer on Bennett's side I'm fairly confident I will keep Bennett held in 9 times out of 10 for protection.

If he does release and gets open what is his success rate? 15 balls for 159 yards.

That works out to be what? A ball and half per game?

Let's not make too much of this and let Phillips try to catch more than a ball and half per game and block in 2 TE sets before we call this situation a failure.

 

[Future]

...DC always look at the tape before setting their game plans.

What has Martellus done on a regular basis to prove to you or any DC that he is a consistent threat?

Missed and dropped passes do make up his repertoire this year. If I rush an extra backer on Bennett's side I'm fairly confident I will keep Bennett held in 9 times out of 10 for protection.

If he does release and gets open what is his success rate? 15 balls for 159 yards.

That works out to be what? A ball and half per game?

Let's not make too much of this and let Phillips try to catch more than a ball and half per game and block in 2 TE sets before we call this situation a failure.

Just because Garrett doesn't send him on long routes doesn't mean that DCs don't have to be ready for it. I think it's more of a state-of-mind thing than anything. But Bennet is a threat for big plays, whether he's making them or not.

 

[Yeagermeister]

The only thing that Bennett might do better than Phillips is catch the ball but that's only because Phillips hasn't had many thrown his way.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Darn. I was hoping Bennett would be ok and that Hamlin would be back this week to make sure we didn't have anymore coverage screw ups on who people should be covering.

 

[Word Mofo]

I don't understand all of the Martellus hate on here. Our running game is struggling enough as it is. 'Tellus is a beast in run blocking

 

[ddh33]

I can't hardly imagine what the team will do without that one bad drop and one holding call that Martellus seems to get every game.

I know Bennett's ceiling is sky high, but I can't trust him at all. As the second TE and fifth option in the passing game, I don't think you're losing a ton. And as a blocker, I think Phillips should be able to do that job pretty well.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I like john phillips and I have a hunch he will fit in quite nicely.

and by all means I think we need to stay out of the 3 wide shotgun look also. That is a recipe for disaster sunday I think.

Pfft. That's like asking the sun to stop shining.

 

[Alexander]

I know Bennett hasn't produced a whole lot this year, but the dropoff we will see is that this offense loses a playmaker. Regardless of how Marty has played, defenses would always have to account for him or he can make a big play.

I haven't seen anyone overreact to his presence on the field since the opener.

I think we see a dropoff in production for other players because Phillips isn't much of a threat. He's got decent hands, but he can't provide a big play like Marty has the potential to.

What production? What big plays? He has 15 catches at ten yards a pop. For all his scary athleticism, that's all we have to show for him. Even last year he at least showed a better case for being a difference maker. He's done nothing of the kind this year and at times, he's been as much of liability due to penalties, poor routes or dropped passes as anything else.

Potential only means something when it is fulfilled. Bennett has proven himself to be fairly unreliable. At this stage, we should be beyond wanting to scare other teams. I want execution. In other words, do the job, catch the ball, block but don't hold.

If Phillips can just block reasonably well, we can make up the production in the passing game another way. We still have Ogletree and Hurd to rely upon if Garrett gets creative.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Just because Garrett doesn't send him on long routes doesn't mean that DCs don't have to be ready for it. I think it's more of a state-of-mind thing than anything. But Bennet is a threat for big plays, whether he's making them or not.

...gameplan for a guy who has only (2) years in the league, 35 receptions in two years for a 12.6 yard avg.

This past year his longest catch was 21 yards and he hasn't threatened you any team in the redzone with a single TD catch.

There are (7) ball carriers typically on the field for any given play and you can't cover them all well.

Game planning is putting your best players on their most likely threats and establishing a scheme to watch the others.

Bennett is no threat this year and any DC putting anything special in their plans to account for Bennett would be a waste of their resources if they are trying to dictate play to the Cowboys.

More than likely they will state to the LB on Bennett's side if he releases you drop into zone. If he stays in to block you pinch your side.

Until Martellus does something that people are going to talk about in the film room they will always play him soft in regards to other players such as Jones, Witten or Austin.

I'm willing to bet that Phillips does a decent job in terms of what Martellus has been doing over (12) games.

He only has to catch one ball for (10) yards and he will equal Martellus' season average. The next thing he has to accomplish is to block well and pick up his man on his side who may be blitzing.

If he does that it should be a relative push on performance from the 2nd TE position.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I don't understand all of the Martellus hate on here. Our running game is struggling enough as it is. 'Tellus is a beast in run blocking

...2 TE set you want to be able to threaten the defence on either side. That means run well to either side and catch well to either side.

I don't think the defences are as scared of Martellus as they are of Witten and Garrett is reluctant to release Martellus because of his inconsistency.

You release the TE you fell is going to have the most chance of getting open and helping out your QB. 9 times out of 10 I have to go with Witten.

How Bennett is progressing now would likely end up with a few more sacks of Romo.

I think Martellus season and his stats would indicate as much.

 

[Cochese]

Whatever will we do without Martellus usual one catch, one drop, one bonehead penalty performance....

 

[Achozen]

The only thing that Bennett might do better than Phillips is catch the ball but that's only because Phillips hasn't had many thrown his way.

You can't be serious.

 

[Alexander]

You can't be serious.

He's not that far off though. Bennett can do both better, but he simply isn't trustworthy.

Bennett is severely overrated by our fans who ooh and ahh over the athleticism. The job Bennett has to do as a second tight end is very technical and we all know playing smart and consistent isn't his strong suit.

 

[Yeagermeister]

You can't be serious.

Phillips is as good a blocker as Bennett. We don't know how good his hands are.

 

[bbgun]

Peter King

3. San Diego's injury bug. The Chargers' defense, already without ace noseman Jamal Williams for the year, could be without Luis Castillo, Shawne Merriman and center-fielding safety Eric Weddle Sunday at Dallas. And the man they need to solidify the offensive line, center Nick Hardwick, has had a setback from his September ankle injury and will miss a couple more weeks at least. I think Dallas will run early and often.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

Argh. Stinks about Bennett.

doesn't matter if bennett plays.

 

[Joe Realist]

Peter King

3. San Diego's injury bug. The Chargers' defense, already without ace noseman Jamal Williams for the year, could be without Luis Castillo, Shawne Merriman and center-fielding safety Eric Weddle Sunday at Dallas. And the man they need to solidify the offensive line, center Nick Hardwick, has had a setback from his September ankle injury and will miss a couple more weeks at least. I think Dallas will run early and often.

It seems when a team is missing key injured players, we fail to take advantage of it.

 

[Dallas]

I like john phillips and I have a hunch he will fit in quite nicely.

and by all means I think we need to stay out of the 3 wide shotgun look also. That is a recipe for disaster sunday I think.

This kid Phillips is pretty darn good. He blocks very well and he catches nearly everything thrown to him when given the opportunity.

I like him a lot.