Recommended SI: Benoit Film-study series: Breaking down game tape with Jason Witten

[WoodysGirl]

Benoit's Film Room: Jason Witten
The MMQB's Andy Benoit sits down with Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten during the offseason to break down his game tape to see what makes this Pro Bowler so good.

n a way, a yearning for yesteryear brought me to Texas in the first place. I’m here to watch film with Jason Witten. In an era of lithe, former basketball-playing flex tight ends, Witten is a relic. He wears pads on both forearms. He blocks with precision and alacrity. He runs effectively but not with much explosion or grace. He has the demeanor you’d expect from a native of Elizabethton, Tennessee (population: 14,000). He is, in other words, what tight ends were like when Montell Jordan was making hits.

Witten is coming off the 10th Pro Bowl of his 12-year career. I wait for him in the offensive assembly hall. He enters alone, no PR staffers or assistants in tow, and enthusiastically greets the room. Settling into a first-row seat and running a microphone up his shirt, he comments on the heat outside as our video crew completes its setup. Soon, cameras roll. It’s all football from here on out.

We’re watching Dallas’s Week 15 game from last year at Philadelphia. “It gets your juices flowing a bit when you play on the road,” Witten says. “Especially in a place like Philly. Their stands are right off the end zone, so their fans are chirping a little bit.”

Read more: http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/09/16/what-makes-jason-witten-so-good

 

[Sportsbabe]

Benoit's Film Room: Jason Witten
The MMQB's Andy Benoit sits down with Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten during the offseason to break down his game tape to see what makes this Pro Bowler so good.

n a way, a yearning for yesteryear brought me to Texas in the first place. I’m here to watch film with Jason Witten. In an era of lithe, former basketball-playing flex tight ends, Witten is a relic. He wears pads on both forearms. He blocks with precision and alacrity. He runs effectively but not with much explosion or grace. He has the demeanor you’d expect from a native of Elizabethton, Tennessee (population: 14,000). He is, in other words, what tight ends were like when Montell Jordan was making hits.

Witten is coming off the 10th Pro Bowl of his 12-year career. I wait for him in the offensive assembly hall. He enters alone, no PR staffers or assistants in tow, and enthusiastically greets the room. Settling into a first-row seat and running a microphone up his shirt, he comments on the heat outside as our video crew completes its setup. Soon, cameras roll. It’s all football from here on out.

We’re watching Dallas’s Week 15 game from last year at Philadelphia. “It gets your juices flowing a bit when you play on the road,” Witten says. “Especially in a place like Philly. Their stands are right off the end zone, so their fans are chirping a little bit.”

Read more: http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/09/16/what-makes-jason-witten-so-good

Excellent!

 

[Idgit]

Yah, this is a long and very interesting read, for sure. Thanks for finding and posting it, WG.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Hits? Montell Jordan was more of a one hit wonder.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Hits? Montell Jordan was more of a one hit wonder.

Nah, he was more than a 1-hit wonder.

Montell Jordan had a ton of R&B hits.. He also co-wrote a lot of songs that were popular and crossed over. I suggest you taking a peek at his Unsung episode on TV1.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Nah, he was more than a 1-hit wonder.

Montell Jordan had a ton of R&B hits.. He also co-wrote a lot of songs that were popular and crossed over. I suggest you taking a peek at his Unsung episode on TV1.

How dare you disagree with me and present factual evidence. My butt is hurt and demands reparation.

 

[AzorAhai]

This should have a recommended tag on it. The video break down with Witten is something everyone should take the time to watch.

 

[texbumthelife]

How dare you disagree with me and present factual evidence. My butt is hurt and demands reparation.

My god this is absolutely perfect. I think half the posters here (yes, including myself) need this in the signature.

 

[Roadtrip635]

That was a really good story!

 

[ShiningStar]

How dare you disagree with me and present factual evidence. My butt is hurt and demands reparation.

Hands Scipio some cheese.

 

[Longboysfan]

Thank you. Great read.

 

[trickblue]

How dare you disagree with me and present factual evidence. My butt is hurt and demands reparation.

You just won teh interwebs...

 

[sureletsrace]

Witten is such an amazing talent. 10 Pro Bowls in 12 years is amazing.

He'll be a first ballot inductee. The guy is everything you want in not only a football player, but a human being as well. His HoF speech will be incredible, and truly one for the ages.

 

[erod]

What's disappointing is that this knowledge dropping has been around here for several years with Romo, Witten, etc.

The problem was, the offensive line was putrid for so long, and the reads were unrealized because Tony was Riverdancing his way out of trouble all the time. Now, with protection, it plays out like it's supposed to more often than not.

 

[AsthmaField]

A really good read on Witten and what a Pro he is. He goes over the second 2014 game against Philly and gives some great insights.

Witten is so valuable because of what is between his ears and in his chest. That's why he's still great well into his 30's.

Article is long but it is certainly worth a look.

There is also a nice video available too.
_______________________________________

Witten is coming off the 10th Pro Bowl of his 12-year career. I wait for him in the offensive assembly hall. He enters alone, no PR staffers or assistants in tow, and enthusiastically greets the room. Settling into a first-row seat and running a microphone up his shirt, he comments on the heat outside as our video crew completes its setup. Soon, cameras roll. It’s all football from here on out.

We’re watching Dallas’s Week 15 game from last year at Philadelphia. “It gets your juices flowing a bit when you play on the road,” Witten says. “Especially in a place like Philly. Their stands are right off the end zone, so their fans are chirping a little bit.”

On the game’s second snap, we see a DeMarco Murray zone run to the right. Witten successfully blocked outside linebacker Connor Barwin. “Yeah, I mean, this is kind of our bread and butter,” Witten says. “Last year this was our identity as a football team with the wide zone scheme, which is what we’re doing [on this play]. It’s not so much about movement as it is about displacement.

“Barwin is one of the best in the league at playing contain. My job is simply to get him off his landmark, and the neat thing about the wide zone is it can hit outside like a sweep, it can hit off-tackle, or it can hit weak side. And so it’s about displacement.”

Barwin needed to be moved outside of the field numbers. Mission accomplished.
_______________________________________

Read the rest here: http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/09/16/what-makes-jason-witten-so-good

 

[AsthmaField]

Nothing like posting an article that has already been up for 24 hours.

My bad WG.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Nothing like posting an article that has already been up for 24 hours.

My bad WG.

Ha! You're fine. Just shows good the article is.. and it gets more folks to read it.

 

[Deep_South]

Good article. I'm always amazed how little I really know about football.

 

[Maxmadden]

Good article. I'm always amazed how little I really know about football.

We need more Zoners like you.