So what's the deal with Jason Witten?

[AMERICAS_FAN]

So what's the deal with Witten? Not to "dog" him, but this season doesn't seem to be one of his better ones. He seems to be struggling as a receiver. As a blocker he's the same old Witten - consistent and good. But it seems that as a receiver he has not been as good. Some unusual dropped balls, and many times covered more than in past years.

Now I have not actually compared his numbers (for all I know they're on par), but I'm not talking about stats; I'm talking about what I "feel" watching him play this season. In past seasons I felt "domination" or that he was "unstoppable". This season feels like a "struggle".

So what can be behind this? Is it that we're running the backs more, so he's used less as a receiver? Is this also because Bennett is taking balls away from him? Is it because Roy Williams has rendered himself so useless as a receive that teams can roll an extra safety Witten's way? Or is it that he's just having a sub-standard season, based on his standard, like not running routes as crisp or lacking some concentration?

Anyway, it's food for thought.

 

[Canadian BoyzFan]

From the eyeball test- He looks a bit heavier this year and a step slower.

He'll be just fine though.

 

[zrinkill]

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v210/zrinkill/princedontplaythat.gif

 

[Doomsday101]

So what's the deal with Witten? Not to "dog" him, but this season doesn't seem to be one of his better ones. He seems to be struggling as a receiver. As a blocker he's the same old Witten - consistent and good. But it seems that as a receiver he has not been as good. Some unusual dropped balls, and many times covered more than in past years.

Now I have not actually compared his numbers (for all I know they're on par), but I'm not talking about stats; I'm talking about what I "feel" watching him play this season. In past seasons I felt "domination" or that he was "unstoppable". This season feels like a "struggle".

So what can be behind this? Is it that we're running the backs more, so he's used less as a receiver? Is this also because Bennett is taking balls away from him? Is it because Roy Williams has rendered himself so useless as a receive that teams can roll an extra safety Witten's way? Or is it that he's just having a sub-standard season, based on his standard, like not running routes as crisp or lacking some concentration?

Anyway, it's food for thought.

Only 1 ball on the field. Teams know Witten is the guy Romo goes to and pays alot of attention to him and right now there is no reason to force throws into Witten when others are open and making plays.

 

[wconn1979]

they havent been running that seam route to him much this season. he usualy runs a 10 stop route or something across the middle. Last year they would throw a fly route to him right up the middle of the seam and hit him between the LB and Safty havent seen much of that this year.

 

[Chief]

There's only one football.

Each week, it's someone different.

Where's Bennett?

Put Choice in!

Don't forget about Felix!

What's up with Roy?

In the meantime, the Cowboys offense is racking up yards and points.

In regards to Witten, specifically, for awhile now, I believe he's the No. 1 guy opponents believe they need to stop .... followed by the running game.

 

[theebs]

isnt he on pace for like 70 catches?

and by about thanksgiving or that giants game he will be the 2nd all time receiver in the history of the organization.

Witten caught 5 balls sunday.

 

[DanManJ]

If you have been watching Witten you would notice he is having one of the most dominate blocking seasons I have seen. Everytime we have some one break a big play he is there. People are getting to spoiled with pass catching tight ends that they forget what they are best at. Just because you not seeing him making huge catches and scoring touchdowns does not mean a thing. He is playing fantastic.

 

[dmq]

I would say the middle of the field isn't as open since so much of the attention was being drawn to TOs side. Also, like what was said, we have lots of people to throw to on offense. It isn't a bad thing for sure.

 

[Gooch]

they havent been running that seam route to him much this season. he usualy runs a 10 stop route or something across the middle. Last year they would throw a fly route to him right up the middle of the seam and hit him between the LB and Safty havent seen much of that this year.

Probably because this is the only route Roy has had success with. Witten can catch the rock anywhere, so its possible that they've left this one for Roy.

 

[theebs]

I would say the middle of the field isn't as open since so much of the attention was being drawn to TOs side. Also, like what was said, we have lots of people to throw to on offense. It isn't a bad thing for sure.

Not to be a jerk, but western ny has nothing to do with it.

I believe if we wanted to throw the ball to witten and get him 12 catches we could do it everygame.

I bet there is a game somewhere soon where he does get about 8 balls or so.

Rest assured, buffalo bill has nothing to do with it.

 

[Doomsday101]

There's only one football.

Each week, it's someone different.

Where's Bennett?

Put Choice in!

Don't forget about Felix!

What's up with Roy?

In the meantime, the Cowboys offense is racking up yards and points.

In regards to Witten, specifically, for awhile now, I believe he's the No. 1 guy opponents believe they need to stop .... followed by the running game.

Great thing is the only ones questioning why they are not getting the ball is the fans, the players are just going out and all are trying to contribute to this team winning games. None of this what about me. I harped on it all off season that this group of players needs to come together as a team with one sole purpose which is to win games not what about me.

 

[Temo]

Guys the OP already said that he's not talking about the number of balls or stats. He's just talking about Witten's performance as a receiver.

On topic, I just think he's not running as many deep routes as he has in the past. I believe that's just a mechanic of the offense the Cowboys are running this year. The Cowboys passing offense used to be 70% Witten and Owens with the rest going to a combination of Crayton (10%), Hurd/Austin/Bennett (10%) and the RBs (10%). That's just an approximate, but that's about how it's gone.

This year you've got pass targets to Roy Williams, Miles Austin, Sam Hurd, Patrick Crayton, and Martellus Bennett going up. The previous 4 are all running the deep routes and the TEs have taken up the short underneath stuff moreso than last year.

It's not a bad thing, Witten's had a lot of valuable 5 and 7 yard gains on high-percentage throws. He's dropped a couple of deeper throws, but it's really no big deal. Even with the "down" year he's had, he's still the 9th ranked TE in the league by football outsiders stats. (http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/te)

 

[Hostile]

All Time TE Receptions Leaders

1. Tony Gonzalez...949
2. Shannon Sharpe...815
3. Ozzie Newsome...662
4. Kellen Winslow Sr...541
5. Frank Wycheck..505
6. Ben Coates...499
7. Steve Jordan...498
8. Jackie Smith...480
9. Jason Witten...466
10. Mickey Shuler...462

Jason has 37 receptions this season so far. He is on pace for 85. That is 48 more. That would put him at 514 and 5th all time.

He is now 20 receptions from being tied with Emmitt Smith at 486 as 3rd all time in Cowboys History. He is 23 from being tied with Drew Pearson for 2nd all time in Cowboys History. 24 more receptions and he will be alone in 2nd place on the Cowboys all time receptions list.

 

[Doomsay]

I'm glad that Witten is being used more sparingly in the passing game (if that is in fact the case). He took an incredible beating as our only receiver playing at an elite level at the end of the year. Seems like Tony's deep passes were always getting to him at the point of impact.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

He's on pace for about 80 catches and 800 yards, though only about 3 TDs. I do agree with you though, we haven't been going to him as much as we have in years past, but I think part of that is just our wide receivers are getting open. Romo has more faith in those guys than in years past and he's getting the ball downfield to them.

I'm sure a lot of it has to do with how teams are playing us too. I wouldn't be surprised if teams came in to this season thinking they will just take away the middle of the field and keep Witten in check and make out wideouts beat them. Problem is now, Austin is doing just that.

I have noticed a few drops this year that I wouldn't expect from him, but that happens to the best of them.

 

[DallasDomination]

Teams are probably keeping a better eye on him since Owens isnt here and they didnt really have to worry about our recievers. Now Miles is getting some serious production and we'll probably see Wittens numbers go up. Personally I'm not worrid about witt, He'll get his.

 

[Future]

When all is said and done he's going to be the most prolific tight end of all-time. Let's just leave it at that.

 

[Eskimo]

We don't seem to be hitting him on those seam routes this year but I do think it will come with time. The middle should be more open as teams begin to adjust for the running game (now that Felix is rounding back into form) and the presence of Miles Austin.

His blocking as others have mentioned has been superb.

 

[Doomsay]

All Time TE Receptions Leaders

1. Tony Gonzalez...949
2. Shannon Sharpe...815
3. Ozzie Newsome...662
4. Kellen Winslow Sr...541
5. Frank Wycheck..505
6. Ben Coates...499
7. Steve Jordan...498
8. Jackie Smith...480
9. Jason Witten...466
10. Mickey Shuler...462

Jason has 37 receptions this season so far. He is on pace for 85. That is 48 more. That would put him at 514 and 5th all time.

He is now 20 receptions from being tied with Emmitt Smith at 486 as 3rd all time in Cowboys History. He is 23 from being tied with Drew Pearson for 2nd all time in Cowboys History. 24 more receptions and he will be alone in 2nd place on the Cowboys all time receptions list.

It's amazing how he seems to be just sneaking up on all of the all-time greats. Do you have a list of the top Cowboys TE's over history (catches)?