Twitter: New TE coach is nitpicking Witten...Quotes Post #77

[BigStar]

Witten is a future HOF TE. That doesn't mean he isn't above having too many false starts, not running third down routes to the marker, or capable of breaking a tackle from a defender. He is one of the best @ finding the spot to sit in a zone, has amazing hands and used to have the speed to get down the seam. Still love his contribution, but JW isn't above criticism if Romo isn't. He is slowing down and a lot of the numbers are the result of the # of targets he receives (much higher than the avg TE). Part of the reason Linehan was brought in; Witten should rarely be the primary target considering his athleticism.

 

[dfense]

Yeah, exactly, Thought so.

Actually, sloppy is taking such a great picture of that woman there, with trash on the ground at her feet. Sloppy

 

[casmith07]

Good. It'll make Witten better, and I'm sure he loves it.

 

[xwalker]

It's never too late to get the "high and tight" treatment, Witten!

Challenging high profile veterans id old school coaching 101. It is usually not about that player but about sending a message to the young players.

 

[iceberg]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/jason-witten-master-of-the-option-route/

 

[Doomsday101]

Witten is a future HOF TE. That doesn't mean he isn't above having too many false starts, not running third down routes to the marker, or capable of breaking a tackle from a defender. He is one of the best @ finding the spot to sit in a zone, has amazing hands and used to have the speed to get down the seam. Still love his contribution, but JW isn't above criticism if Romo isn't. He is slowing down and a lot of the numbers are the result of the # of targets he receives (much higher than the avg TE). Part of the reason Linehan was brought in; Witten should rarely be the primary target considering his athleticism.

He is running the routs as they are designed he is not going to change the rout to get past 1st down marker if the rout itself is a 5 yard out with 8 to go for the 1st. However because of his ability he often coverts the catch into a 1st. If you want him running routs past the 1st down marker then call a play that will have him running the routs to that depth but you don't change the rout in the middle of a play. I do agree he nor any players is above criticism but anyone claiming he is running sloppy routs? LOL

 

[joseephuss]

Witten is a future HOF TE. That doesn't mean he isn't above having too many false starts, not running third down routes to the marker, or capable of breaking a tackle from a defender. He is one of the best @ finding the spot to sit in a zone, has amazing hands and used to have the speed to get down the seam. Still love his contribution, but JW isn't above criticism if Romo isn't. He is slowing down and a lot of the numbers are the result of the # of targets he receives (much higher than the avg TE). Part of the reason Linehan was brought in; Witten should rarely be the primary target considering his athleticism.

Witten sees more targets than the average tight end because he isn't an average tight end. If he were, he would see less targets. Many times I see him catches passes where he isn't the primary option on a play. Romo goes through his progressions and then chooses Witten. Athleticism has little to do with anything in Wittens case because he can get open and catch passes despite his perceived lack of athleticism. And it also doesn't take away from targeting other guys on the team. Dez Byrant still led the team in targeted attempts by 49 over Witten.

No one has ever said Witten was above criticism. Some of the criticism aimed at him from time to time doesn't make sense. And I'm sure this is not the first time a coach has nitpicked Jason in practice or OTAs. That is what coaches do. Someone just wanted to get more attention to their Twitter account.

 

[Frozen700]

Witten is a future HOF TE. That doesn't mean he isn't above having too many false starts, not running third down routes to the marker, or capable of breaking a tackle from a defender. He is one of the best @ finding the spot to sit in a zone, has amazing hands and used to have the speed to get down the seam. Still love his contribution, but JW isn't above criticism if Romo isn't. He is slowing down and a lot of the numbers are the result of the # of targets he receives (much higher than the avg TE). Part of the reason Linehan was brought in; Witten should rarely be the primary target considering his athleticism.

Exactly!

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Of course he half slipped a bit.
Of course his routes can be less than big runs after a big catch.

But he's still playing at a high level and maybe those routes are phoned in to him?
My hope is that this new TE coach will bring Romo and Witten together and they device a plan to expand the field for Witten who still half plenty of good years left.

 

[Doomsday101]

Witten sees more targets than the average tight end because he isn't an average tight end. If he were, he would see less targets. Many times I see him catches passes where he isn't the primary option on a play. Romo goes through his progressions and then chooses Witten. Athleticism has little to do with anything in Wittens case because he can get open and catch passes despite his perceived lack of athleticism. And it also doesn't take away from targeting other guys on the team. Dez Byrant still led the team in targeted attempts by 49 over Witten.

No one has ever said Witten was above criticism. Some of the criticism aimed at him from time to time doesn't make sense. And I'm sure this is not the first time a coach has nitpicked Jason in practice or OTAs. That is what coaches do. Someone just wanted to get more attention to their Twitter account.

True, it is almost funny that people say he is not atheltic enough yet no one can seem to cover him. lol For all the speed CB who go up aginst him or big safeties and LB Witten still gets open and still makes plays.

 

[Bleu Star]

Page one of this thread had me cracking up.

That is all.

Signed,

Future HOFer

 

[BigStar]

He is running the routs as they are designed he is not going to change the rout to get past 1st down marker if the rout itself is a 5 yard out with 8 to go for the 1st. However because of his ability he often coverts the catch into a 1st. If you want him running routs past the 1st down marker then call a play that will have him running the routs to that depth but you don't change the rout in the middle of a play. I do agree he nor any players is above criticism but anyone claiming he is running sloppy routs? LOL

I wouldn't say he runs sloppy routes @ all; he wouldn't be able to get open @ all otherwise considering his athletic skill set. I'm not as confident in him to make those first downs when catching short, outside of his physical length covering that distance needed as he falls forward. Has hands of glue and understands the momentum of defenders very well (always has). My comment about not making the catch @ the marker was more of a dig @ the offense and using him as our outlet receiver in the flat/shallow out considering his athleticism. His QBR is still very high (Percy schooled me on his contribution before and has a place on the offense). For the offense to realize its full potential, he should be the third option @ the most without variables considered mostly due to the fact that he isn't used down the seam anymore and D's pick up on our tendency to overly rely on him @ times.

 

[Pokes12]

175 games started or played in a row done everything 1st ballet HOF

Maybe the coach can take suggestions from JW

I do not think JW is a first ballet. His tutu would be too tight and his pointy shoes would impede his route running.

 

[BigStar]

Witten sees more targets than the average tight end because he isn't an average tight end. If he were, he would see less targets. Many times I see him catches passes where he isn't the primary option on a play. Romo goes through his progressions and then chooses Witten. Athleticism has little to do with anything in Wittens case because he can get open and catch passes despite his perceived lack of athleticism. And it also doesn't take away from targeting other guys on the team. Dez Byrant still led the team in targeted attempts by 49 over Witten.

No one has ever said Witten was above criticism. Some of the criticism aimed at him from time to time doesn't make sense. And I'm sure this is not the first time a coach has nitpicked Jason in practice or OTAs. That is what coaches do. Someone just wanted to get more attention to their Twitter account.

You are definitely correct in that he is Romo's safety blanket; sometimes to a fault, but other times as the only one to wiggle open after Romo goes through his progressions. His increased number of targets aren't a result of those plays however He is our primary outlet receiver on 3rd down (in the flat) and is on the receiving end of a lot of the short passes we have used to replace the running game on early downs, etc. He is great player with all that said, and deserves the HOF recognition.

 

[Doomsday101]

I wouldn't say he runs sloppy routes @ all; he wouldn't be able to get open @ all otherwise considering his athletic skill set. I'm not as confident in him to make those first downs when catching short, outside of his physical length covering that distance needed as he falls forward. Has hands of glue and understands the momentum of defenders very well (always has). My comment about not making the catch @ the marker was more of a dig @ the offense and using him as our outlet receiver in the flat/shallow out considering his athleticism. His QBR is still very high (Percy schooled me on his contribution before and has a place on the offense). For the offense to realize its full potential, he should be the third option @ the most without variables considered mostly due to the fact that he isn't used down the seam anymore and D's pick up on our tendency to overly rely on him @ times.

He gets targeted because Romo trust him to be where he should be and to make the play. This past season however saw Dez leading the team in receptions with 93 catches while Witten numbers went down from 110 catches in 2012 to 73 this past season. I think as Romo and Dez continue he will become the main connection for Romo but when all hell is breaking loose and a QB has people in his face he will go to his safety net and that has been Witten.

 

[Bungarian]

If Witten runs a 5 yard out on 3 and 8 that is on the coaches.

If he ran the wrong route he would not get the ball. Romo wants his receivers to be where they are supposed to be or he will not throw to them.

 

[BigStar]

He gets targeted because Romo trust him to be where he should be and to make the play. This past season however saw Dez leading the team in receptions with 93 catches while Witten numbers went down from 110 catches in 2012 to 73 this past season. I think as Romo and Dez continue he will become the main connection for Romo but when all hell is breaking loose and a QB has people in his face he will go to his safety net and that has been Witten.

There is nothing wrong with that outlook in regards to Witten's future role. Those early down quick passes for 5, 7 yards should be replaced to passes through Dez/TW or we could simply run the ball like some teams. That is more of my point in this ( I like Witten). Is a great zone buster and can still run mid range patterns so there isn't a need to rush him off the team or anything like that. I see him still contributing heavily, maybe less catches but more yardage. It's ridding this O of the Romo to Witten for 5 yards (1st down, 1st option) before JG feels the stones to call a real offense.

 

[Doomsday101]

There is nothing wrong with that outlook in regards to Witten's future role. Those early down quick passes for 5, 7 yards should be replaced to passes through Dez/TW or we could simply run the ball like some teams. That is more of my point in this ( I like Witten). Is a great zone buster and can still run mid range patterns so there isn't a need to rush him off the team or anything like that. I see him still contributing heavily, maybe less catches but more yardage. It's ridding this O of the Romo to Witten for 5 yards before JG feels the stones to call a real offense.

I don't think it is Garrett, Romo has more than one option on a pass play, WR being where they need to be and beating the coverage will have a lot to do with where Romo goes with the ball. One thing for sure he knows he can count on Witten being at the right place at the right time. I think that is starting taking place with Dez and so you do see the numbers on Witten go down. A younger Dez I'm not sure how much Romo trusted him, A hamstrung Austin also has been an issue the one constant has been Witten. I hope to see Dez continue to grow along with Williams so we are attacking more on the outsides

 

[BigStar]

I don't think it is Garrett, Romo has more than one option on a pass play, WR being where they need to be and beating the coverage will have a lot to do with where Romo goes with the ball. One thing for sure he knows he can count on Witten being at the right place at the right time. I think that is starting taking place with Dez and so you do see the numbers on Witten go down. A younger Dez I'm not sure how much Romo trusted him, A hamstrung Austin also has been an issue the one constant has been Witten. I hope to see Dez continue to grow along with Williams so we are attacking more on the outsides

I agree and was actually about to post the same thing; burden is also on Romo. He must go through his progressions instead of settling @ times. There are plenty of examples of Romo dumping to Witten (short) as his first read and pass rush is no concern. I've termed it, the "anything positive" connection over the seasons; and is a great tool when the offense is stuttering or the team is in a hostile environment, etc. Romo sometimes does it simply to get into a passing rhythm (nothing wrong with that) but it can become a hindrance when plays down the field are needed later in the game or other critical periods. This is also the same trait Romo displayed on 3rd downs @ times to the frustration of many fans (3 yard flat pass on 3rd and 10)

 

[NewsBot]

New tight ends coach Mike Pope is “nit-picking” with him, but Jason Witten said it’s for his own good.

“He’s been honest with me in trying to really push me to ‘Let’s even take this to another level,’ ” Witten said of his new coach, a 32-year veteran NFL assistant who started with the Giants under Bill Parcells in 1983 and was on the staff of all four of the franchise’s Super Bowl championship teams.

“I appreciate that challenge and the way he’s gone about it,” Witten said. “I know he’s kind of the guru of tight end coaches.”

Pope, speaking at the Cowboys’ rookie mini-camp last weekend, said Witten is an ideal model of habits for younger players, but that there are no “zero-defect” players.

“I’m excited, and he’s excited – he says he is, anyway; I don’t know him to be anything but truthful – but there are some areas that he’s hoping, and I believe, we can help him, with the years that I’ve been doing this with all different types of players,” Pope said. “So I’m looking forward to keeping him on an upward spiral and then bringing in Gavin Escobar and James Hanna along and fill in more of those spots with more production.”

Two years ago, Witten set an NFL record for catches in a single season by a tight end, with 110. Last year, his eight touchdown catches were his second-highest total for a single season.

“His picture of running a route is worth an hour of classroom for me, because that’s how you do it,” Pope said. He said the free agents and rookie tight ends were told last weekend, “Just look at that, and just simply be a mirror of that player, and you’ll be pretty close to right.”

Witten, who turned 32 on May 6, acknowledges he has less time ahead of him in his career than he does behind. But he says he still has room for improvement, which is what Pope wants.

“There’s always room to improve,” Witten said. “He’s nit-picking for sure, but that’s what I like about him.”

-- Carlos Mendez

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