OTA Notes week 2

[Hawkeye0202]

Couldn't agree more.

I go to the range on a weekly basis and, while I am not and will never be a world class shooter, i'm reasonably good. However, it is a perishable skill. If I skip a month or two, it is noticeable at the range.

The same with football (or, any sport or activity). Skills can and do diminish quickly. If nothing else, OTA help "remind" the body of the subtle requirements of timing, hand/eye coordination, etc.

Good post.......even w/o tackling I'm sure coaches can see whether or not players are using correct techniques/angles/footwork. This is especially true for young players......

 

[jazzcat22]

Good post.......even w/o tackling I'm sure coaches can see whether or not players are using correct techniques/angles/footwork. This is especially true for young players......

Right. Then they can correct any issues. Give pointers. And when TC starts, it's all for the better. They will pick up everything else better and faster. As all those little basic and small things are out of the way.

Especially with a new coaching staff, and how they do things even for the vet players.
Though most OTA's and TC are still, what, 70%, 80%, 90%, the same because it is still football. But get those differences out of the way.

 

[Chasing6]

Dallas ran 119 plays or about 11% in 12 personnel in 2024

I am talking about in the passing game.

We might as well just draft an extra tackle when we think we need a second TE. All they do is block and run ghost patterns.

I could care less many pass plays they are on the field, line up in the lost or how many patterns they run, the are the 5th option on designed plays.

I can see game film now for opposing teams, when Dallas comes out in 12 personnel they run the ball 75% of the time and the buy the way if it is a pass, we can basically ignore TE2.

 

[KJJ]

It is just the opposite. He hasn't been as bad as some have said. He isn't going to be a 60 or 70 catch per year TE and wasn't drafted to be. But that won't stop some from saying he was a bad pick.

It’s not that he’s been real bad but he certainly wasn’t worth a 2nd pick. That’s the issue most fans have with him. If he was drafted after the 3rd round no one would have a problem with him. As a receiver he’s been the least productive of the other TE’s we drafted in the second round dating back to Anthony Fasano. Those TE’s were playing behind Jason Witten. As a blocker Schoon isn’t bad but nothing great. Even you will probably admitt he’s not likely to be extended when his rookie deal is up. We could have done better in the 2nd round than him.

 

[KJJ]

He took a big step last season.

He had 6 starts last season due to Ferguson being injured, after having zero starts his rookie season and he only had 176 more receiving yards and one fewer TD. The numbers he put up aren’t going to earn him a second contract. He’s going to have to take a lot bigger step in 2025 or he’ll be allowed to walk when his rookie deal is up.

 

[KJJ]

The Cowboys do not like TE's who can not block period. If you are a potential threat in the passing game, you will not be utilized until you can prove you can block.

Schoon has generally been regarded as a good blocker. Nothing great but pretty good overall as a run blocker.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It’s not that he’s been real bad but he certainly wasn’t worth a 2nd pick.

What hasn't he done that you expected?

Provided and improved blocking - check
Filled in for Ferg and produced - check
Big contributor for multiple special teams - check

What am I missing? After an injury filled rookie season he stepped up big last year.

 

[KJJ]

What hasn't he done that you expected?

Provided and improved blocking - check
Filled in for Ferg and produced - check
Big contributor for multiple special teams - check

What am I missing? After an injury filled rookie season he stepped up big last year.

You’re obviously missing a lot which is surprising as much time as you spend reading posts. Like most who hated the pick I expected a much better receiving TE. Ferguson had yet to establish a hold on the starting TE position. We also had Hendershot who showed some potential. The competition was wide open and you would think a 2nd round pick would have the advantage but Schoon did practically nothing.

Yes he had an injury but he recovered from it and still do much. The camp reports on him were not good. Your expectations for premium draft picks aren’t very high. The Cowboys had Sam LaPorta targeted in the 2024 draft. Go compare his numbers with Schoon. That’s what I was hoping for with a 2nd round TE. You’re one of the very few fans happy with Schoon.

 

[jterrell]

Not good for Schoonmaker to be dropping passes.

whats new

 

[jterrell]

What hasn't he done that you expected?

Provided and improved blocking - check
Filled in for Ferg and produced - check
Big contributor for multiple special teams - check

What am I missing? After an injury filled rookie season he stepped up big last year.

just, no.
PFF graded him as a 39.8 run blocker. a whole 51 in pass blocking.
He was 48 out of 74 graded TEs overall.

He is developing but it hasn't been quickly, and it hasn't been pretty.
A big step forward this year would with a return to good health for Ferg would pretty much make us league average at the position after being bottom 10 last year.

 

[Chasing6]

Schoon has generally been regarded as a good blocker. Nothing great but pretty good overall as a run blocker.

And we do not involve 2 TE's in the passing game. The second TE is an after thought or a decoy at best.

 

[KJJ]

And we do not involve 2 TE's in the passing game. The second TE is an after thought or a decoy at best.

Very seldom. However they did when they had Shultz and Blake Jarwin.

 

[Chasing6]

Very seldom. However they did when they had Shultz and Blake Jarwin. They drafted Schoon hoping he could be a starter.

Jarwin's best year was 31 catches in 2019, which lead to his new contract to replace Witten as the starter. That year Schultz had 1 catch.

Jarwin got hurt in his first game in 2020 as the starter and had 1 catch for the year. Schultz was forced to start and had 63 catches very similar stats to Witten's previous 5 years. Jarwin never recovered.

In 2018, when Witten retired we had Jarwin, Schultz and Swaim for a combined 68 catches. Very similar to what Witten was producing by himself. For some reason this was the cause to bring Witten back. It was mainly for his blocking and leadership ability. His stats for 2019 did not exceed the trio from 2018.

Bottom line is why get attached to 1 lead TE, the second one is an afterthought.

 

[KJJ]

Jarwin's best year was 31 catches in 2019, which lead to his new contract to replace Witten as the starter. That year Schultz had 1 catch.

Jarwin got hurt in his first game in 2020 as the starter and had 1 catch for the year. Schultz was forced to start and had 63 catches very similar stats to Witten's previous 5 years. Jarwin never recovered.

In 2018, when Witten retired we had Jarwin, Schultz and Swaim for a combined 68 catches. Very similar to what Witten was producing by himself. For some reason this was the cause to bring Witten back. It was mainly for his blocking and leadership ability. His stats for 2019 did not exceed the trio from 2018.

Bottom line is why get attached to 1 lead TE, the second one is an afterthought.

We tried a 2 TE offense with Martellus Bennett and Witten to add an element to our passing game but Bennett couldn’t even line up correctly.

 

[big dog cowboy]

You’re obviously missing a lot which is surprising as much time as you spend reading posts. Like most who hated the pick I expected a much better receiving TE. The competition was wide open and you would think a 2nd round pick would have the advantage but Schoon did practically nothing.

OK hold on. A much better receiving TE??? Where did that come from? He wasn't a receiving TE in college and wasn't drafted to be one here. He was raw and wasn't expected to make any impact in the receiving game for a couple of years. If anything, he is ahead of schedule.

Schoon did nothing? Are you watching the games? He has started and played well. It's clear your expectations for him are far too high. Especially in the receiving game. He won't ever be a 60 or 70 catch a year guy because he is too far down the food chain. But you seem to think he is the next Kelce.

There is a very big possibility the Cowboys let Ferg walk because of Schoon. There has already been talk about that from the FO. Was he worth a very late 2nd round pick? Well this is year 3 so we will see. But he has been better than most who do nothing but dump on him. Especially considering his injury his rookie season.

 

[Chasing6]

We tried a 2 TE offense with Martellus Bennett and Witten to add an element to our passing game but Bennett couldn’t even line up correctly.

In fairness to a Bennett he significantly improved after leaving Dallas.

If you want a legit 2 TE run game, both TE's need to be a threat in the passing game to keep the defense honest, and play action will become a challenge for the defense.

Hopefully Shotty has some ideas on how to get both involved in the game plan.

 

[Jarntt]

So OTA”s don’t mean a thing?
The hell they don’t, they absolutely mean a lot.

They instill some basic philosophy of the offense and defense.
They get ideas on how the players grasp the schemes.
What condition they are in. So they can put together a TC plan.

They get the players prepared for TC, so they have an understanding of what to expect, so they can get right to work and start preparing.

I love to read about OTAs, but No, not really. I mean if two of your reasons are "put together a TC plan" and "They get the players prepared for TC" that pretty much hammers the point home how little they mean. Little matters until the pads come on to me other than getting and staying healthy and getting in shape. I guess they are more important than who won at ping pong yesterday...

 

[KJJ]

In fairness to a Bennett he significantly improved after leaving Dallas.

He wasn’t playing behind a Jason Witten. It gave him a lot more opportunity. Drafting him in the 2nd round when we had Witten never made a lot of sense, especially considering we traded Fasano who we drafted in the 2nd round.

 

[Chasing6]

So OTA”s don’t mean a thing?
The hell they don’t, they absolutely mean a lot.

They instill some basic philosophy of the offense and defense.
They get ideas on how the players grasp the schemes.
What condition they are in. So they can put together a TC plan.

They get the players prepared for TC, so they have an understanding of what to expect, so they can get right to work and start preparing.

It helps you identify who is out of shape and what rookies are not very intelligent and struggling with learning a new system.

However, that should have been known and researched prior to drafting the player.

 

[KJJ]

OK hold on. A much better receiving TE??? Where did that come from? He wasn't a receiving TE in college and wasn't drafted to be one here. He was raw and wasn't expected to make any impact in the receiving game for a couple of years. If anything, he is ahead of schedule.

Schoon did nothing? Are you watching the games? He has started and played well. It's clear your expectations for him are far too high. Especially in the receiving game. He won't ever be a 60 or 70 catch a year guy because he is too far down the food chain. But you seem to think he is the next Kelce.

There is a very big possibility the Cowboys let Ferg walk because of Schoon. There has already been talk about that from the FO. Was he worth a very late 2nd round pick? Well this is year 3 so we will see. But he has been better than most who do nothing but dump on him. Especially considering his injury his rookie season.

He was drafted to be a much better receiver than he’s been. Do you think he’ll see a second contract with the Cowboys?