Rookie Year Projection for Rico Gathers

[Cowboy06]

While I don't believe that Rico Gathers will set the world on fire his rookie year, perhaps not even the second year in the league. However, Witten is not the player he used to be (who is when they get older?) and we need TE that can stretch the field. This will help the WRs, (outside and slot), help the running game because no one will want to put 8 in the box.

While I don't know if he will even make the team, seems practice squad may be his best place this year, but one can hope. So how do you believe Rico Gathers will do his rookie year?

 

[jazzcat22]

They traded for Swaim in 2015. Traded a 2016 6th round for a 2015 7th round. They better think highly of him still. They kept 4 TE's to keep him.
He will get his chance over Gathers, or he better.

Gathers hasn't played football since 8th grade, and from what little I read, it showed in OTA's and in mini-camp.
Right now, I say PS is best, and I don't think any team will pick him off the PS either. I hope Dallas doesn't waste a roster spot just because they feel he has great potential.
They been wrong too many times on these types of picks.

Heck, I am still po'ed about the Swaim trade...more so thn using a 2nd on Smith this year for some odd reason.

Both Swaim and Gathers they could have had in the UDFA period. Or at least had Swaim with a regular 7th rounder than picking Gibson on the OL.

I hope Gathers pans out for them, as I do for any and every player on the roster. But not at the expense of a better player.

 

[Tabascocat]

He gets cut and no one picks him up.

 

[Cowboy06]

They traded for Swaim in 2015. Traded a 2016 6th round for a 2015 7th round. They better think highly of him still. They kept 4 TE's to keep him.
He will get his chance over Gathers, or he better.

Gathers hasn't played football since 8th grade, and from what little I read, it showed in OTA's and in mini-camp.
Right now, I say PS is best, and I don't think any team will pick him off the PS either. I hope Dallas doesn't waste a roster spot just because they feel he has great potential.
They been wrong too many times on these types of picks.

Heck, I am still po'ed about the Swaim trade...more so thn using a 2nd on Smith this year for some odd reason.

Both Swaim and Gathers they could have had in the UDFA period. Or at least had Swaim with a regular 7th rounder than picking Gibson on the OL.

I hope Gathers pans out for them, as I do for any and every player on the roster. But not at the expense of a better player.

I wonder if he has a personal coach and is working out now on his own. I can't believe that Dallas wouldn't haven't already have thought about this. If he can run routes, catch and block better he will have a chance.

 

[jazzcat22]

I wonder if he has a personal coach and is working out now on his own. I can't believe that Dallas wouldn't haven't already have thought about this. If he can run routes, catch and block better he will have a chance.

Could be he does.
This will be interesting to see his progress though during TC.

They only competition he really has is Traylor, and ahead of him is Swaim. Unless Escobar starts out on PUP and they want to keep 4 TE's, then they may keep Gathers if he can pick up on some basics and be used in limited situations. Or they feel they have the luxury of keeping him, but inactive every week.

 

[HappyOnions]

He will be regulated to the practice squad.

Someone will claim him and he'll go on to be Julius Thomas 2.0 while Swaim, Escobar and Hanna linger around in mediocrity.

 

[Cowboy06]

He will be regulated to the practice squad.

Someone will claim him and he'll go on to be Julius Thomas 2.0 while Swaim, Escobar and Hanna linger around in mediocrity.

Hey that is my fear...a huge fear. I hope we can stash him away until we know for fact what we have.

 

[speedkilz88]

Both Swaim and Gathers they could have had in the UDFA period. Or at least had Swaim with a regular 7th rounder than picking Gibson on the OL.

Swaim was from northern California so right off the bat those west coast teams had an advantage along with any team willing to outbid on his bonus/contract. Nothing is guaranteed, they lost out on Rawls to the seahawks that year after an agreement was originally reached.

Gathers had around 25 teams at his workout which was more than the 19 that showed up for Gates' workout. The Cowboys tried to sign Gates as a udfa and lost out to the chargers. They remembered that.

 

[StarBoyz83]

He'll go the ps. Then he will go to another team.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I voted that he will make the practice squad but that might be a little optimistic. We are talking about someone who hasn't played organized football in 8 years. He has a long ways to go.

 

[sbark]

I wonder if he has a personal coach and is working out now on his own. I can't believe that Dallas wouldn't haven't already have thought about this. If he can run routes, catch and block better he will have a chance.

He and Dak P. should be tied at the hip........

 

[Cowboy06]

He and Dak P. should be tied at the hip........

Why? I think I know the answer, but I would love to see what you are thinking.

 

[AsthmaField]

He will be regulated to the practice squad.

Someone will claim him and he'll go on to be Julius Thomas 2.0 while Swaim, Escobar and Hanna linger around in mediocrity.

 

[zekecowboy]

Hey that is my fear...a huge fear. I hope we can stash him away until we know for fact what we have.

Depends on how he plays in preseason. If Dallas does not let him play much, Dallas is trying to stash him.

 

[rkell87]

Makes the team and is used in a Marty B blocking role to save witten from running around on 2 busted ankles like last year. Escobar and Hanna just don't get it done in that respect and if Rico shows any promise in blocking they will keep him and use him to help free.

 

[sbark]

Why? I think I know the answer, but I would love to see what you are thinking.

........pure football pure football............one has to throw 10,000 balls, and one has to run 10,000 precise routes ....and catch balls......

 

[CTRCM]

Since he has so little time on the field I am guessing he makes the practice squad. With his size and speed I would think giving him a couple of seasons to see what he can do would be the best option. If there is any chance of him developing into anything close to a Gates it is worth some patience.

 

[Cowboy06]

........pure football pure football............one has to throw 10,000 balls, and one has to run 10,000 precise routes ....and catch balls......

On I wasn't really thinking along those lines. I remember when Romo was a rookie, he and Witten practiced together and became roommates. I think this could help both Dak and Rico if they do throw and catch, etc.... So yeah...pure football.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Unless he shows something significant during the preseason, which is a very slight possibility, I don't think we have to worry about another team essentially wasting an active roster spot swiping him from our practice squad. At least not until much later in the season when some teams begin planning for 2017.

 

[AsthmaField]

Makes the team and is used in a Marty B blocking role to save witten from running around on 2 busted ankles like last year. Escobar and Hanna just don't get it done in that respect and if Rico shows any promise in blocking they will keep him and use him to help free.

I think that he could pick up the blocking part of the game much quicker than the routes/catching part (although he does have naturally good hands).

At first blush, my thoughts are that he just won't be ready to do much of anything this season... but considering the blocking part of a TE's job, Rico just might be able to do some blocking assignments pretty well this season. He certainly has been running enough and in shape enough after 4 season's of major college basketball. For his size the guy can run all day.

If he is in the game primarily as a second or third blocking TE, it wouldn't be very difficult to give him one or two routes per game that he can practice over and over in order to be proficient at those two routes for that week's game. It would be more of a sneak attack type play than anything the offense could rely upon week-to-week.

However, if I had to put money on it, I would say practice squad and no real impact in 2016. Still, if he picks up blocking quickly enough with that big, long body of his, he just might be able to help some... and to surprise a team or two with a catch.