Garrett praises progress, toughness of TE Rico Gathers

[Redball Express]

actually pretty funny considering the circumstances. poor figure of speech for him to use.

Whatelse is he going to say?

This is sort of another redshirt year for Rico.

But at least we saw why they like.

I do too.

He's Witten's replacement soon.

 

[xwalker]

I just can't help but think he's another TE in a long line of TE's added after Witten whose talents will largely go unutilized. I really hope they prove me wrong, though.

That said, they are loaded at the skill position, so he's sprinkles, on the icing, on the cake, with ice cream.

He'll become a terrific blocker similar to MartyB. That will cause him to get opportunities that Escobar didn't get.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Dood...it was Scandrick who hit Rico, he's a monster magnet for injuries in the pre-season/camp. UNREAL, really!

 

[jday]

He'll become a terrific blocker similar to MartyB. That will cause him to get opportunities that Escobar didn't get.

But even Marty B was notoriously underutilized. Again, I hope we use Rico, I'm just waiting to see it to believe it.

 

[sbark]

Dood...it was Scandrick who hit Rico, he's a monster magnet for injuries in the pre-season/camp. UNREAL, really!

........thought it was Kavon Frazier, both going for a ball thrown down and away....met at the ball

 

[Dundalis]

"You can hit him in the face with a shovel and he keeps coming back"

Soooo explain to me why he could start the season on IR. He literally got hit in the face, and DIDNT keep going...

Why is this confusing, it seems pretty obvious to me. The guy is probably pulling out all the stops to get back on the field, and would if he had the choice. Doesn't mean he's fit to, and the medical team are keeping him from doing that.

 

[xwalker]

But even Marty B was notoriously underutilized. Again, I hope we use Rico, I'm just waiting to see it to believe it.

MB played a lot of snaps but didn't get that many passes because he didn't know the plays or how to run routes for the first few years.

 

[Doomsday101]

Dallas does not want to lose Rico but also have the luxury of having depth at TE with Witten, Swaim and Hanna. Cowboys putting Rico on the IR gives them the chance of using roster spot and keeping Rico on the team. I don't see the big issue with this

 

[aikemirv]

"You can hit him in the face with a shovel and he keeps coming back"

Soooo explain to me why he could start the season on IR. He literally got hit in the face, and DIDNT keep going...

Well, you really are not allowed to keep going anymore. They take you off the field and don't let you come back until you clear concussion protocol...

Just sayin!

 

[EST_1986]

I wonder what the roster looks like if Rico doesn't take that shot to the head

 

[CATCH17]

Rico is ready to take off and Dallas keeps tapping the breaks.

They are doing the other opposite of whawhat they should be doing.

 

[jday]

MB played a lot of snaps but didn't get that many passes because he didn't know the plays or how to run routes for the first few years.

There may be some truth to that, but I doubt they would have kept him for as long as they did, if he didn't know any plays or routes. The problem is mathematical; there are only so many touches to go around and that is particularly the case for a team that likes to play ball control / ground and pound. Add to that point that he was living in the Goats shadow, and it is somewhat understandable why the Cowboys do not feature their second tight end often.

But with Rico, given his height and knack for going and getting rebounds, he is ideal in red zone packages and he has proven he has ability with the ball in his hands after the catch. If he were to go somewhere like the Saints, Patriots, or other team that uses TE's, he would be a monster. I'm not so confident about that with the Cowboys; they've expressed interest in getting their other TE's involved in the past, but they never actually do it.

 

[Verdict]

Well done.

 

[Verdict]

I just can't help but think he's another TE in a long line of TE's added after Witten whose talents will largely go unutilized. I really hope they prove me wrong, though.

That said, they are loaded at the skill position, so he's sprinkles, on the icing, on the cake, with ice cream.

I don't think so. I think Witten may ride off into the sunset after this season.

 

[jday]

I don't think so. I think Witten may ride off into the sunset after this season.

That is certainly possible...but I only think he will consider it if they finish what they start Sunday night against the Giants 19 games from now.

Otherwise, he may continue to give it a go for at least one more year. He's been here for a long time and has waded through some terrible teams during his tenure. This team might just be the best, and by extension give him the best chance to get a ring. If they don't make it this year, he knows they will only get better in 2018. So, I don't know...given those circumstances, he might just play another season.

 

[xwalker]

There may be some truth to that, but I doubt they would have kept him for as long as they did, if he didn't know any plays or routes. The problem is mathematical; there are only so many touches to go around and that is particularly the case for a team that likes to play ball control / ground and pound. Add to that point that he was living in the Goats shadow, and it is somewhat understandable why the Cowboys do not feature their second tight end often.

But with Rico, given his height and knack for going and getting rebounds, he is ideal in red zone packages and he has proven he has ability with the ball in his hands after the catch. If he were to go somewhere like the Saints, Patriots, or other team that uses TE's, he would be a monster. I'm not so confident about that with the Cowboys; they've expressed interest in getting their other TE's involved in the past, but they never actually do it.

Hanna - Hands have been an issue. Precision blocker with limited size/power.

Escobar - Good receiver, couldn't block.

Swaim - Similar to Hanna. Maybe better hands but less athleticism.

MartyB - Great Inline blocker but could not function as move blocker (H-Back) because it was more complicated.

 

[Macnalty]

MB played a lot of snaps but didn't get that many passes because he didn't know the plays or how to run routes for the first few years.

I agree he also had some ill timed drops of very simple passes.

 

[BAT]

I don't know, I mean the HC says you can hit the guy with a shovel in the face and he keeps coming, days after putting him on IR for in essence getting hit with a shovel in the face. Something doesn't add up.

Garrett doesn't always make sense, that's nothing new. You need to be able to separate what he says from what he actually does, can be dramatically variable at times.

 

[BAT]

I wonder what the roster looks like if Rico doesn't take that shot to the head

Maybe no Carroll, Bell or lord forfend, Kellen Moore.

 

[jday]

Hanna - Hands have been an issue. Precision blocker with limited size/power.

Escobar - Good receiver, couldn't block.

Swaim - Similar to Hanna. Maybe better hands but less athleticism.

MartyB - Great Inline blocker but could not function as move blocker (H-Back) because it was more complicated.

I get it; they want their TE's to do everything and do it well like Witten. But to exercise Rico's true physical value, he doesn't necessarily have to do everything well to make a tangible impact. Like I said earlier, he could be a very valuable cog in the redzone package and I'd hate to see him not get used by merit of him not being a good blocker. Of course, if the Cowboys manage to win any way all we are really discussing are style points, which I could care less about. But if they struggle in the redzone and Rico could help, I would take issue with them not using him; particularly if they lose games as a result.