Rookie Year Projection for Rico Gathers

[Cowboy06]

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.

I'm afraid that someone will sign him later in the season if he's on the practice squad. We might be better off making him the 3rd TE or even 4th TE...But aside from that fear, I agree with you 100%

 

[ElGatoGrande]

ask again after we see him play some preseason games,,, if he has sure hands then he can be a limited contributor. If not, he gets cut and goes to PS.

 

[DandyDon52]

As long as witten is here, they wont use any other TE much in the passing game.
Gathers is more of a long term project.
He could be used this year, football isnt exactly rocket science.
He might see some action though if he is any good.

 

[Risen Star]

He's got several things working against him. Hasn't played football since high school, late round pick, Geoff Swaim.

 

[Cowboy06]

As long as witten is here, they wont use any other TE much in the passing game.
Gathers is more of a long term project.
He could be used this year, football isnt exactly rocket science.
He might see some action though if he is any good.

I agree, with the one exception that if Gathers makes a few big plays early in the season (assuming he makes the team) all bets may be off. Production trumps all.

 

[erod]

"Rico, this is a football."

Practice squad.

 

[TheCount]

Best case scenario for him is practice squad, unless he is some kind of man beast on special teams. I like the risk we took on him, but he's going to be a project.

 

[Plankton]

The guy is going to have to learn everything from scratch - formations, lining up, how to run routes, blocking, how to deal with guys hitting him all the time.

There is clay to be molded, and then there is clay still to be unearthed. The second refers to Ricardo Gathers. If he makes the roster out of camp, it's a mistake.

 

[Cowboy06]

"Rico, this is a football."

Practice squad.

I could hear Jimmy Johnson saying that....not too sure Garrett will/would do the same.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Super Bowl is my projection. Anything less is molest and a felony.

 

[tyke1doe]

He's practice squad material.

 

[xvendettax914]

If they are just going to cut him then there was no sense taking him. I believe they accepted the fact hes a project that wont show much year 1 and will continue to work with him.

 

[ondaedg]

There are teams who don't have as many holes in their roster that could afford to sign him as a prospect off our practice squad. I don't have any opinion either way on him, but I was surprised we're using draft picks on prospects considering how thin we are on D.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If they are just going to cut him then there was no sense taking him.

That happens every year. It's the way this thing works.

 

[xvendettax914]

That happens every year. It's the way this thing works.

sure, but the expectations for someone who plays college football are far different than a project who hasn't played since, high school?

 

[Tabascocat]

Gathers hasn't played football since middle school, he never played a down in high school. Some are expecting him to pick up the NFL game? He has little to no chance, this isn't like walking on as a College football player.

It was a wasted draft pick even though most late rounders are........

 

[gimmesix]

Who was that DE/TE we signed last year who was considered an impressive physical specimen?

I expect Gathers to work out similarly. It's hard to just start playing football and be able to compete and beat players who have been doing it all of their lives. There are just too many nuances to the game that come from continually learning it as you develop.

I think Gathers will be lucky to make the practice squad.

 

[Pokes12]

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.

relegated not regulated

 

[DeaconMoss]

He's practice squad material.

But it won't be our PS. If we release him, someone else will pick him up. Too many folks went to his pro day.

 

[Direwolf63]

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.

This.

If another team takes him from the practice squad, they have to put him on their active roster. He will be nowhere near ready for that.

The practice squad is the best case scenario for Gathers.