Jason Witten The Underappreciated YAC Monster?

[NickZepp]

Jay Novacek was similar to Witten. Big differences between the two overall in many ways but really same type catches. You may get a 20+ yarder from one of em once in a wile but mostly just 8-12 yards.

 

[Rob-G]

That's a good look, but not surprising. Now, they need to start getting Witten back in the endzone.

 

[Roadtrip635]

It may be different routes and plays they run with Romo vs. Dak. With Romo, it seems a lot of his receptions come from curls and stick routes where Witten is stopping, so less chances for YAC. It seems with Dak, with the numerous rollouts, he's getting more opportunities dragging across the field and on the move setting him up better to get those YAC.

He's still getting it done though. It's fun to go to other teams forums and such and read their frustrations with Witten. It's always something like.....he's old and slow and somehow always seems to be open and get first downs or get that critical catch when when we need it. There will be many happy opposing fans when Witten retires, glad they won't have to see him break their hearts anymore.

 

[DandyDon52]

That is not true. Witten, without Romo last year, wasn't exactly getting much YAC. The guy simply has no wiggle and doesn't shrug off tackles. He's done a few times this year, but I expect as the year goes on his YAC will decline and be back to his usual numbers.

He's just not a 100 yards every other game, 1,000 yards a season guy anymore.

Well it could be if witten gets open,and separation, and he gets the pass at that moment, then he gets yac.
If the pass is delayed, then that separation is gone, and no yac.

Dak has been good at that with cole and witten, they get the ball as soon as they break open.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Want to be reminded of Witten when he had young wheels?





He's not the fastest on the field...but he's the fastest big man on the field.

That third video. I still think about that play sometimes. What a game that was. And that ball was so perfectly thrown.

 

[Craig]

It helps that this year he doesnt have to come back to the ball after he runs a 6 yard route the outruns the arm of the qb.

 

[Craig]

There's definitely truth in that, but how many people would have guessed that Witten has a higher YAC than WRs like TY Hilton, Mike Wallace, Jordy Nelson or Antonio Brown? Those aren't normally known as "possession" type WRs, except Brown to an extent, but guys that can get separation and get big yards after the catch.

Its shocking to see brown that low. He is THE yac guy for me. There are several wrs that ill take before him until the ball is in his hands but hes the number1 wr because of what he does after he has the ball.

 

[T-RO]

A lot of people forget how big Witten is. He's a huge TE at 6'6, so if he gets a step on you, he'll catch it. Now if you don't have good tackling technique, he'll put you down at 6'6. He's just a tough hombre' out there, slow, but tough. Seems like his cuts are fast, everything else is slow.

Very True. I remember seeing the Cowboys players come into a conference center as a group, and even amongst NFL players Witten seemed like one big tall dude.

At this stage he's mostly using his experience, size and positioning.

 

[T-RO]

Jay Novacek was similar to Witten. Big differences between the two overall in many ways but really same type catches. You may get a 20+ yarder from one of em once in a wile but mostly just 8-12 yards.

There are some tight ends that are a biscuit above a wide receiver in size and playing style. Novacek was one of those guys...more 225-230 in weight. Shannon Sharpe was another. Shannon's brother was a wide receiver and they were about the same size. Shannon was 6'2 225 or so. These guys might have been willing blockers but were undersized to do a lot...and they would often be out in the slot or even positioned as wide receivers.

 

[NickZepp]

There are some tight ends that are a biscuit above a wide receiver in size and playing style. Novacek was one of those guys...more 225-230 in weight. Shannon Sharpe was another. Shannon's brother was a wide receiver and they were about the same size. Shannon was 6'2 225 or so. These guys might have been willing blockers but were undersized to do a lot...and they would often be out in the slot or even positioned as wide receivers.

I didn't say they were the same in any ways. But they are used basically the same. Novacek's neck/back injury cut his career short. But Novacek was mostly a reliable first down guy like Witten is. If you extended his numbers to Witten's catches his numbers would be identical.

 

[robbieruff]

We all know Jason has lost a step, there was an article during pre-season saying that he basically just catches the ball and falls down. I know many here joke about how slow and how little YAC (yards after catch) Jason gets. I was reading an article about a couple top flight WR's struggling with their YAC this season and decided to check out how Jason stacks up in the league.

YAC Monster may be stretching it, but it was quite surprising to see some of the players that have a lower YAC per reception than Witten this season. I found a sortable stats chart for the 2016 season here http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/yards-after-the-catch/2016/

Here are a few of the names that have a lower YAC/reception

• Jason Witten 4.2
• 
  
• Phillip Dorsett 4.0
  
• Mike Wallace 3.8
• Jordan Reed 3.7
• Todd Gurley 3.7
• TY Hilton 3.6
• Larry Fitzgerald 3.1
• Jordy Nelson 3.1
• Jeremy Maclin 3.1
• Kyle Rudolph 3.0
• Kelvin Benjamin 2.6
• Emmanuel Sanders 2.5
• Antonio Brown 2.3
• Dez Bryant 2.3
• Allen Robinson 1.8
• Michael Crabtree 1.5
• DeAndre Hopkins 1.5
• Mike Evans 1.2

Zeke averages 10.6 for those that want to know

Witten still has it!

Impressive! The stiff arm game has been strong!!!

 

[JD_KaPow]

We still have our 2017 second round pick?

Can you imagine how excited this front office would get if there was a TE with a serious injury available in the second round?

 

[Robbieac]

We still have our 2017 second round pick?

You should ban yourself from the forum for that suggestion!

 

[Reality]

Can you imagine how excited this front office would get if there was a TE with a serious injury available in the second round?

Way to ruin it