Opinion: Tony Fasano

[TheSkaven]

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.

Yep, my reaction exactly. I was hoping for an o-lineman at that spot or maybe even trading up for Justice, but the more I think about this pick the more that I like it.

This kid was a great player for Notre Dame last year and I think he can make an impact. Bill does want to run more 2 TE sets, it gives him the flexibility to throw more out of the run formation. Washington did it quite well last year.

 

[BHendri5]

I am a Nebraska and a Irish fan. So I was extremely happy when we picked Fasano. All season long I was saying we need to draft this guy, I was really hoping he would fly under the radar, so that we could draft him, but he kept making plays all season. But we still got him, and that is great for us.

The main reason I knew that we would probably get him, is because the Weis and Parcells connection, I know BP, is constantly being fed info on the Irish players.

Which is good for us if there is a way that we could possibly get Quinn, next draft, or even Darius Walker, or both.

But yes, I can look anyone in all of their faces and tell them I was very happy we picked him, he will be an instant asset, he and Witten will be a TE tandem that will be hard to deal with, maybe not initially this season but they will. Fasano gives us everything Witten does, and then some with his Blocking ability and the way he runs after the catch.

 

[AdamJT13]

Some of his best runs have been from the single back formation.

The majority of his runs in the "Hotstepper" video were from one-back sets. And a lot of the others were with a tight end either lined up as a fullback or motioning into the backfield, which I'm sure we'll still be doing.

 

[Charles]

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."

I can look you in the face and tell it was an awesome pick. I've been hoping we'd aquire another TE for the past 2 drafts. Of course my opinion wasn't accepted that well. I wanted Heath Miller, but most thought we'd be wasting a pick on a back-up TE. Anyone who has watched any successul Parcells team would know that his top 2 TEs/HB are pretty much starters because of their roles in the offense.

I've been on the Fasano Bandwagon since March: http://dallascowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49304&page=2&highlight=Fasano

 

[MaineBoy]

I am a little suprised there is not more concern or discussion here abou this guy's injury history. I don't know the whole story but someone on another board says he has had back and/or neck injuries and has a metal plate or something inside him.....This injury thing would concern me more than anything and I hope we don't get David "Lafleured" again with some promising TE who has chronic injury and health problems and ends up with limited playing time and then is gone in 3 years time...Anyone know the real story on this guys health ?

 

[Eddie]

I am a little suprised there is not more concern or discussion here abou this guy's injury history. I don't know the whole story but someone on another board says he has had back and/or neck injuries and has a metal plate or something inside him.....This injury thing would concern me more than anything and I hope we don't get David "Lafleured" again with some promising TE who has chronic injury and health problems and ends up with limited playing time and then is gone in 3 years time...Anyone know the real story on this guys health ?

I don't know the injury history, but it seems like every single player who ever played football was injured at some point in their careers.

Not too many pundits have brought up Fasano's injuries, so I hope it's just a thing of the past.

But looking at our own past, our 2nd round has been cursed recently.

 

[firehawk350]

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.

I disagree with this... From an outside standpoint, i would like how a nickel defense would line up against a two TE/WR set. Have your nickel either double TO or guard Witten single. Have a safety over the top and move the other safety up for the intermediate routes. I don't think a direct double coverage with a decent #2 corner would be necessary against Glenn. One LB over Fasano and the other to mirror JJ in case he comes out of the backfield.

 

[Kangaroo]

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.

When we was drafted I was not supprised at all I kept hearing Bill in my head gushing over how he loves the TE poistion.

So I just thought it was another Bill getting what he wanted pick

 

[tyke1doe]

I disagree with this... From an outside standpoint, i would like how a nickel defense would line up against a two TE/WR set. Have your nickel either double TO or guard Witten single. Have a safety over the top and move the other safety up for the intermediate routes. I don't think a direct double coverage with a decent #2 corner would be necessary against Glenn. One LB over Fasano and the other to mirror JJ in case he comes out of the backfield.

So many variables.

The way I look at it, if you have the nickel cover Witten single, he'd better be a big nickel back. Witten will simply over power him or block him out.

You put the other safety in intermediate coverage, you still have Glenn - with his speed - running the deep slant in the middle of the field. Any corner singled on Glenn still has to guard against a double move either to the middle of the field or down the sideline. And playing the safety over top to cover TO leaves the other side of the field open for Glenn.

And then there's any pump fake by Bledsoe that would freeze the secondary and, viola, somebody's going to be open.

I doubt a linebacker could cover JJ straight up.

Of course, this presumes our blocking holds up for the few seconds we need it to.

 

[dfense]

I think you're missing the fact that Dallas can huddle up with 2 WR and 2 TE. The defense will counter with a run stop package. Then Dallas can motion Witten as a 3rd receiver, effectively taking one safety out of the play, or just run. Since the rookie TE can catch to, he can be snuck out into routes also.

 

[Cowboy Bill Watts]

i still wonder how serious jerry is about resigning witten. hannam and fasano this year, and witten's contract is up next year...

i think they're hedging their bets against a huge contract demand from witten's agent.

 

[Crown Royal]

I just got home and reread the thread I created.

A lot of people are reacting to my original post by explaining how good Fasano is and how he wasn't a reach.

I never felt he was - I think he is a good player. My point is that I think I would rather have Hannam and a new lineman than Fasano and Kosier or Johnson or Pettiti/Fabini.

Even with running two tight ends, I feel our OL is more dire than our ends. We'll see - hopefully I am wrong.

Responses to posters I am not going to quote:

Charles - yes, I recall vividly our arguments about Heath Miller last year. I stand by it then and stand by it now - I don't think we got the best possible value at that pick.

Rack - thank you for your ExtremeSkins.com style response. What would I do without you to remind me that I am not in the Cowboy's front office, and that they are professionals for a reason. I am so glad we have these professionals in our front office who have drafted so remarkably well over the past decade. How could I possibly, as a fan on a message board, question the unending wisdom of the Cowboy's organization, who have never done a single puzzling, poor move in their history, much less since Tuna got here.

 

[dbair1967]

If we actually go with two TE's, one a motion/blocker guy, instead of a FB, what it tells me is that Julius Jones is unlikely to be our starting RB...

1. I don't think Julius has the strength, vision, or patience to run without a FB

2. I think Barber is more the 1 back type who can find the crease, power through it, grind it out.

I have never liked the no FB set, and I don't think Julius Jones will like it one bit...look for Marion Barber to become the #1 RB....my opinion.

The biggest positive of the two TE set isn't really the balanced look...it's the pass protection, and I don't mean because the TE's stay in to block....sometimes they chip, but even when they release immediately, the OT has an easier block on a DE that had a TE lined up on his side. This will help our OT's.

huh? I think you should go back to the end of 2004 and watch the games then, because Jones ran almost exclusively from a 1 back set

David

 

[Crown Royal]

Jones runs best from single back sets where they delay him or run counters. These plays are designed to let the line block out their zones and create space - which means that out line has to do a good job of knowing their assignment and getting to the next level (if that is their duty), something that I really don't know our massive and slower line is built for.

Again - we'll see. I really think I am just having a tough time swallowing this offensive philosophy.