Escobar and revising history...

[Verdict]

I am not for or against the Escobar pick. He may turn out to be the next great tight end for the Cowboys. But it troubles me that some are just making stuff up and pimping him to be something he isn't .... which is fast.

I keep hearing that he is going to be a matchup nightmare for linebackers because he is faster than they are at a 4.8. I don't know about you but I don't see many 4.8 linebackers playing in the NFL. He might be bigger, or smarter, or precise enough in his routes to shake a linebacker, but he isn't going to be faster. That is revisionist history.

 

[bayeslife]

Most tight ends aren't matchup nightmares because of their speed, but because of their ball skills and height.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I am not for or against the Escobar pick. He may turn out to be the next great tight end for the Cowboys. But it troubles me that some are just making stuff up and pimping him to be something he isn't .... which is fast.

I keep hearing that he is going to be a matchup nightmare for linebackers because he is faster than they are at a 4.8. I don't know about you but I don't see many 4.8 linebackers playing in the NFL. He might be bigger, or smarter, or precise enough in his routes to shake a linebacker, but he isn't going to be faster. That is revisionist history.

I agree, 4.8 isn't an impressive #. But every report i read about him mentions his speed in a positive light. I guess we won't know for sure until camp/workouts begin.

 

[xwalker]

I am not for or against the Escobar pick. He may turn out to be the next great tight end for the Cowboys. But it troubles me that some are just making stuff up and pimping him to be something he isn't .... which is fast.

I keep hearing that he is going to be a matchup nightmare for linebackers because he is faster than they are at a 4.8. I don't know about you but I don't see many 4.8 linebackers playing in the NFL. He might be bigger, or smarter, or precise enough in his routes to shake a linebacker, but he isn't going to be faster. That is revisionist history.

When you're 6-6 with longer arms than most Linebackers, the matchup is about length not speed.

 

[neosapien23]

I think Escobar will be a fine player, and lately Dallas has done a much better job of picking players. However I really wish this pick would have been Larry Warford. The thought of him and Frederick blasting holes still depresses me days later.

 

[cowboysooner]

His short shuttle and 3 cone are pretty good. We are probably using him as red zone target where he has plenty of quickness and very good size.

 

[Verdict]

When you're 6-6 with longer arms than most Linebackers, the matchup is about length not speed.

I agree that could likely be the case. But saying he is fast when he runs 4.8 plus really doesn't make a lot of sense. But it is still possible for him to be quick (in a short area) without having top end speed.

 

[speedkilz88]

Tony Gonzalez seems to do fairly well with his 4.8 speed at the combine.

 

[gimmesix]

I agree that could likely be the case. But saying he is fast when he runs 4.8 plus really doesn't make a lot of sense. But it is still possible for him to be quick (in a short area) without having top end speed.

Yes, quickness (and know-how) is more important. Tight ends have the advantage of knowing where they are going, and if they set up their moves well to get there, understand how to settle into open zones, they can create separation.

That's why some greater/faster athletes don't succeed at the position while guys like Jason Witten have Hall of Fame careers.

People make the same mistake on receivers. They think a 4.5 guy can't be a downfield threat because DBs run 4.4, 4.3, etc., but a 4.5 guy who knows how to set up the defensive backs is a bigger threat than a 4.3 guy who simply runs straight down the field. (Ideally, you'd like a 4.3 guy who knows how to play up to his speed.)

 

[Verdict]

Tony Gonzalez seems to do fairly well with his 4.8 speed at the combine.

If Escobar turns out to be Gonzalez then we are set. But I think that might be a bit premature at this junture.

Nevertheless, if I say Tony Gonzalez is fast does that make him run faster than a 4.8?

 

[808CowboyFan]

He improved it to 4.7 on his proday.
http://www.sbnation.com/2013/3/19/4...-tank-carradine-richmond-san-diego-Louisville

 

[jobberone]

After all the discussions on this forum about 40 times you'd think by now most would understand what they mean, how they can vary, yada. Many people play faster than their 40 times which includes a sprinter's start. Escobar seems to have good football speed but he's not a speed merchant. I don't think his speed will be a problem. He will have the best hands on the team out of our usual players. Faster LBs will be able to keep up with him but they will have a hard time covering this guy.

 

[AsthmaField]

The nightmare is that with his arms he's like an octopus and he literally catches everything that gets near him.

I don't care what he runs, that'll scare some LB's.

Miami absolutely loved the guy and almost traded back up into the late first to draft him. They were very upset that Dallas took him before they could.

 

[Idgit]

The nightmare is that with his arms he's like an octopus and he literally catches everything that gets near him.

I don't care what he runs, that'll scare some LB's.

Miami absolutely loved the guy and almost traded back up into the late first to draft him. They were very upset that Dallas took him before they could.

If he's a threat in the red zone alone, he'll probably be worth the roster spot and the draft pick.

 

[AsthmaField]

If he's a threat in the red zone alone, he'll probably be worth the roster spot and the draft pick.

That he will be but what has me so excited about him is how fluid he is and how easily he catches the ball. To me the absolute most important thing a WR or receiveing TE can have is natural, soft hands. Just look at Dez... what makes him so dangerous? That if the ball is in the air, he will catch it and he is uber reliable. Escobar is like that but at TE. If it is near him, he'll catch it.

That has to frustrate the heck out of defenders because they can have position and do everything correctly and Escobar will still come down with the ball.

That's why I love him as a player.

 

[ringmaster]

I am not for or against the Escobar pick. He may turn out to be the next great tight end for the Cowboys. But it troubles me that some are just making stuff up and pimping him to be something he isn't .... which is fast.

I keep hearing that he is going to be a matchup nightmare for linebackers because he is faster than they are at a 4.8. I don't know about you but I don't see many 4.8 linebackers playing in the NFL. He might be bigger, or smarter, or precise enough in his routes to shake a linebacker, but he isn't going to be faster. That is revisionist history.

Actually he ran a 4.7 at his pro day no one ever said he was fast, I saw a game or two while he played in college and while he's not Hanna fast he can get into the seam really quick and is actually a good run after the catch guy as well.

No one is pimping him right now because he hasn't played a down in the NFL yet but he has the necessary talent to be really good in this league we shall see in time.

 

[ringmaster]

Yes, quickness (and know-how) is more important. Tight ends have the advantage of knowing where they are going, and if they set up their moves well to get there, understand how to settle into open zones, they can create separation.

That's why some greater/faster athletes don't succeed at the position while guys like Jason Witten have Hall of Fame careers.

People make the same mistake on receivers. They think a 4.5 guy can't be a downfield threat because DBs run 4.4, 4.3, etc., but a 4.5 guy who knows how to set up the defensive backs is a bigger threat than a 4.3 guy who simply runs straight down the field. (Ideally, you'd like a 4.3 guy who knows how to play up to his speed.)

Larry Fitzgerald ran like a 4.6 at the combine and he's a future HOFamer.

 

[ringmaster]

That he will be but what has me so excited about him is how fluid he is and how easily he catches the ball. To me the absolute most important thing a WR or receiveing TE can have is natural, soft hands. Just look at Dez... what makes him so dangerous? That if the ball is in the air, he will catch it and he is uber reliable. Escobar is like that but at TE. If it is near him, he'll catch it.

That has to frustrate the heck out of defenders because they can have position and do everything correctly and Escobar will still come down with the ball.

That's why I love him as a player.

That is why I can't understand why some fans are comparing him to failed TE projects Fasano, and Bennett, the guy hasn't even played a down yet and he's better than Fasano, and he will not drop passes like Martellus was doing.

 

[jobberone]

Larry Fitzgerald ran like a 4.6 at the combine and he's a future HOFamer.

So did Jerry Rice. Oops! Actually he ran a 4.7. I'd say he had good football speed.

Escobar doesn't seem to have enough gear to run away from people but he seems to get behind them enough to catch the ball. In fact some of his catches were OMG did you see that ones.

 

[ringmaster]

So did Jerry Rice. Oops! Actually he ran a 4.7. I'd say he had good football speed.

Escobar doesn't seem to have enough gear to run away from people but he seems to get behind them enough to catch the ball. In fact some of his catches were OMG did you see that ones.

That's right he did run a 4.7 and I saw a game or two of Escobar in college and he catches everything, and he does have good game day speed something alot of people still don't pay any attention to.