Opinion: Tony Fasano

[Crown Royal]

Look - overall, I'm really happy with this draft. I seriously am. I think it was pretty solid.

But you can't look at me with a straight face and tell me that when you heard about Fasano you were like sweet that's awesome just what we were looking for in our two TE set.

Nobody here was on top of that pick until Jerry came up and said "that's who, um, smack, um, who we wanted, because, smack, uh, we're gonna run 2 te sets and need two te starters."

Sure, it's OK to be a little sold, but this pick is still open to questioning. It isn't as if we are going to have two 1000K yd TEs. And it isn't like our OL is shored up. Could we have gone a different direction? Absolutely. Do we have to be 100% happy with this pick because Jerry said 2 TEs is the way to go? Nope.

Now hopefully Fasano will work out - I sure hope so. But I have to express my distress that he went from the biggest *** pick since we traded out of the first 2 years ago to the next Bavaro.

This was still puzzling, and until we see this two TE theory in action, it will remain deserving of our ponderings.

 

[jrumann59]

Yeah I was scratching my head at first then I heard about the 2 TE sets we are going to run more and I thought it was brilliant. Imagin Jason Witten at both TE positions, no way to key on the 2nd TE and guess whether it is a pass or run.

 

[Dale]

My reaction was the same. Why a backup tight end when we already have Hannam?

But not knowing that the Cowboys were planning on using a two tight end set, how could anyone be pleased with the pick initially?

To me, the question here isn't with the pick itself. To me, since we're starting two tight ends, this pick was a must. And he's a good talent, to boot. I think the quesiton is just how successful it will be ditching the fullback position and going fulltime with two tight ends. It'll be interesting to see if there's ever a time where we're regretting this.

But to your point, in hindsight, I think it's a good pick given the information we now know. It's like last year when we drafted all those DEs. Some were concerned we were overstocking at the position, but as it turned out with the defensive switch, we needed each and every one of them. At the time of the pick, though, clearly I was scratching my head.

 

[Crown Royal]

Yeah I was scratching my head at first then I heard about the 2 TE sets we are going to run more and I thought it was brilliant. Imagin Jason Witten at both TE positions, no way to key on the 2nd TE and guess whether it is a pass or run.

The thought originally repulsed me - I felt we were hamstringing ourselves to one formation.

Then I figured out it would be to us what the I-Form or Strong Set is to other teams.

But that being said, I still don't see why that means both your TEs should be such high quality. It seems to me that the other TE is just our version of a FB in the IForm - and you don't spend a 2nd on your FB.

We'll see - I can kinda see the logic in this the more I dwell on it, but I think that we could have gone elsewhere with this pick and had better impact and value. I think we could get away with that offense with what we have or a later round TE and find another value in the second.

 

[Catch-22]

Do you consider Terry Glenn to be a backup WR, or Anthony Henry a backup CB?

Same idea here.

 

[BlueWave]

I was excited initially, but I'm a Notre Dame guy...so.....

 

[Dale]

The thought originally repulsed me - I felt we were hamstringing ourselves to one formation.

Then I figured out it would be to us what the I-Form or Strong Set is to other teams.

But that being said, I still don't see why that means both your TEs should be such high quality. It seems to me that the other TE is just our version of a FB in the IForm - and you don't spend a 2nd on your FB.

We'll see - I can kinda see the logic in this the more I dwell on it, but I think that we could have gone elsewhere with this pick and had better impact and value. I think we could get away with that offense with what we have or a later round TE and find another value in the second.

You could "get away" with a weaker calibre guy, but that would severely hamstring your offensive game plan. We now have four legitimate threats in the passing game on every single offensive play. It should give other teams some problems trying to figure out how to cover these guys.

Throw Hannam out there as a starter, and no one gives a damn.

 

[Catch-22]

Furthermore, would you want a Ryan Hannam type player to be your #2 WR or CB?

Just because you have a TO, Newman, or Witten, doesn't mean you don't need a Glenn, Henry, or Fasano.

 

[Dale]

Do you consider Terry Glenn to be a backup WR, or Anthony Henry a backup CB?

Same idea here.

Pete Prisco's analysis in March: "With Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn already on the roster, the signing of Terrell Owens as a backup makes little sense."

 

[Crown Royal]

You could "get away" with a weaker calibre guy, but that would severely hamstring your offensive game plan. We now have four legitimate threats in the passing game on every single offensive play. It should give other teams some problems trying to figure out how to cover these guys.

Throw Hannam out there as a starter, and no one gives a damn.

Not to be a homer to my boy, but exchange Crayton for Fasano, run 3 WRs instead of 2 TEs, and you still have legitimate threats.

The added benefit here is that you don't have to motion a WR to the end position to chip block, but A) it isn't as if either Witten or Fasano are prolific blockers and B) it isn't as if Julius can't be successful with 3 WRs out there.

And no, my head scratching has nothing to do with the obvious that Crayton will see the field less. It has to do with the fact that I could live with Hannam and Witten if we could have gotten better quality on the OLine.

I seriously hope that the front office felt that none of the OLine available in the second were very good, because if the value between Fasano and the best available lineman was close, and we chose Fasano, I have to feel that was faux pas.

 

[bbgun]

Someone for Henson to throw to in August.

 

[peplaw06]

My reaction was the same. Why a backup tight end when we already have Hannam?

But not knowing that the Cowboys were planning on using a two tight end set, how could anyone be pleased with the pick initially?

To me, the question here isn't with the pick itself. To me, since we're starting two tight ends, this pick was a must. And he's a good talent, to boot. I think the quesiton is just how successful it will be ditching the fullback position and going fulltime with two tight ends. It'll be interesting to see if there's ever a time where we're regretting this.

But to your point, in hindsight, I think it's a good pick given the information we now know. It's like last year when we drafted all those DEs. Some were concerned we were overstocking at the position, but as it turned out with the defensive switch, we needed each and every one of them. At the time of the pick, though, clearly I was scratching my head.

Quick question... If we're planning on running 2 TEs the majority of the time, we all know how BP loves to run the ball. Are we pegging ourselves to run to Fasano's side the majority of the time, because we all know how good of a blocking TE Witten is??

I guess line up Witten on the strongest side of the line... Left side I'm assuming with Flo, but who knows... Fabini and Rivera vs. Flo and Kosier, who's the stringest side there?

Obviously I'm still in the "headscratching" phase with this pick.

 

[Crown Royal]

Quick question... If we're planning on running 2 TEs the majority of the time, we all know how BP loves to run the ball. Are we pegging ourselves to run to Fasano's side the majority of the time, because we all know how good of a blocking TE Witten is??

I guess line up Witten on the strongest side of the line... Left side I'm assuming with Flo, but who knows... Fabini and Rivera vs. Flo and Kosier, who's the stringest side there?

Obviously I'm still in the "headscratching" phase with this pick.

Case in point, bolded.

 

[jrumann59]

Teaching a guy how to block is a lot easier then teaching a willingness to block. Both Witten and Fasano have the willingness, teaching the technique is easy.

 

[Crown Royal]

Teaching a guy how to block is a lot easier then teaching a willingness to block. Both Witten and Fasano have the willingness, teaching the technique is easy.

Does that mean that Johnson, Rivera and whoever it at RT are unwilling?:laugh2::laugh2::laugh2:

 

[jrumann59]

A lot of the problems there are technique and personality.

 

[dmq]

I like this pick and love the player. Who have you heard say that they don't love the player? Knowone. We need players on this team. I see the beauty of how a 2 TE set really confuses the Defense. Does anyone remember that TO will command a double team. We have two good TEs at catching the pass and a burner on the outside that isn't gonna get doubled for the first time in his life. I think this offense can be prolific if it remains healthy.

 

[zrinkill]

My brother had a ggod point .... he said that in the probowl anytime they run a 2 tight end set one of them is always wide open because they run bye whatever linebacker is trying to catch them ......

No team has ever had 2 all pro tightends at the same time ....... we could be looking at the start of a new type of offense ...... (ala the west coast and the run and shoot) ...... wonder what they will call an offense with 2 great TE's ?

 

[stealth]

My brother had a ggod point .... he said that in the probowl anytime they run a 2 tight end set one of them is always wide open because they run bye whatever linebacker is trying to catch them ......

No team has ever had 2 all pro tightends at the same time ....... we could be looking at the start of a new type of offense ...... (ala the west coast and the run and shoot) ...... wonder what they will call an offense with 2 great TE's ?

dallas cowboys offense

 

[the kid 05]

My brother had a ggod point .... he said that in the probowl anytime they run a 2 tight end set one of them is always wide open because they run bye whatever linebacker is trying to catch them ......

No team has ever had 2 all pro tightends at the same time ....... we could be looking at the start of a new type of offense ...... (ala the west coast and the run and shoot) ...... wonder what they will call an offense with 2 great TE's ?

great now alot MORE people are going to hate us due to us creating a new Offense...geeze