So what's the deal with Jason Witten?

[newlander]

obvious to me: TR is spreading the ball ALL over the field: but hey, come Dec. who will be the "go to" guy? Yeah, that's right........





*he is a step slower and looks arthritic but the guy has given his heart and soul to this team/city so I really hope that besides MONEY, he is rewarded with a championship: total man crush on the guy obviously: he's a stud IMO...





******Looking at that list: my god I knew Gonzo was GOOD but that's just ridiculous: dude is a living friggin' legend.....

 

[xWraithx]

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.

Not even sure why I bother replying to your posts, but you can't sit there and with a straight face say that teams did not roll coverage to TO's side.

 

[Pottsville Maroons]

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

He'll be just fine though.

I think this is what I've been trying to put my finger on all year. Witten is my favorite player on the team and the last one of whom I would be critical, but he seems to be running more *gingerly* this year after the catch, like he's anticipating the tackle much sooner than in years past. Understandable, given the additional coverage rolled his way, I guess, but without looking at the stats, it seems to be affecting his YAC.

*edit* NFL.com shows that Witten averaged 9.9 ypc his rookie year and has averaged over 11 ypc every year since (11.3, 11.5, 11.8, etc). So far this year, he's averaging 9.4.

 

[skinsscalper]

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.

I didn't want to say it, so I'm glad someone else did. If you think it's hogwash, you're welcome to ask Witten, himself. He's already stated on numerous occasions that T.O.'s presence opened up a lot of space for him.

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.

It isn't specifically about Owens, though the agenda kids (on both sides) will try to turn it into that. It's about another viable threat on the field. Many thought/hoped that RW was going to be that guy. It's not. It's Austin. Who it is is really irrelevant. I think with the emergence of Austin, Witten's #s will start to increase.

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.

Gonzalez is going to be damn tough to catch, bro. It isn't a slight at all to think that Jason may not get there. I don't think a lot of fans truly realize how damn good Gonzalez has been for so long. Thing is, he isn't finished. He's catching damn near 20-25% of all balls being thrown by the Falcons. The guy is no joke, and there's no shame in not catching him.

 

[Hostile]

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)?

Not a long list. Just a top 5.

1. Jason Witten...466
2. Jay Novacek...339 (422 total)
3. Doug Cosbie...300
4. Frank Clarke...281 (291 total)
5. Billy Joe DuPree...267

 

[AdamJT13]

Witten is tied for the NFC lead among tight ends with 37 catches. He's on pace for 85 catches, which would be the third-highest total of his career and is something only eight other tight ends have ever done. More importantly, he has caught a career-high 77.1 percent of the passes thrown to him. And he has not been charged with any "drops."

The only things lacking this season have been passes thrown to him inside the red zone (he's almost always either blocking or hasn't been thrown to) and a couple of long-gainers (he has three; normally he'd have five out of 37 catches). Everything else has been his usual high level of production -- or better.

 

[theebs]

Witten is tied for the NFC lead among tight ends with 37 catches. He's on pace for 85 catches, which would be the third-highest total of his career and is something only eight other tight ends have ever done. More importantly, he has caught a career-high 77.1 percent of the passes thrown to him. And he has not been charged with any "drops."

The only things lacking this season have been passes thrown to him inside the red zone (he's almost always either blocking or hasn't been thrown to) and a couple of long-gainers (he has three; normally he'd have five out of 37 catches). Everything else has been his usual high level of production -- or better.

LIAR.

No way he could do that. Jamie dukes and deion sanders said he would have a bad year. Deion said he talked to a bunch of defensive coordinators and they said they were "going to put 8 in the box and kill us"

so again, your a liar. Without Buffalo Bill Jason witten turns into sean ryan.
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Yep, you heard that right. Deion said he TALKED to the NFC EAST defensive coordinators and they told him they would put 8 in the box and kill us. His infinitie wisdom also told us that by week 7 or 8 all hell will have broken loose.

See your a liar.

 

[Seven]

I'll guarantee you EVERY team we face has Witten as the man to stop. I've heard on several occassions that if you stop Witten you've won half the battle. I believe Belichik was one of those saying that.

 

[Future]

Gonzalez is going to be damn tough to catch, bro. It isn't a slight at all to think that Jason may not get there. I don't think a lot of fans truly realize how damn good Gonzalez has been for so long. Thing is, he isn't finished. He's catching damn near 20-25% of all balls being thrown by the Falcons. The guy is no joke, and there's no shame in not catching him.

Let's say Gonz finishes his career after next season. He will be 35 and have roughly 1200 catches...but that is a high estimate.

Witten will finish this year at 27 with roughly 500...so he'd need another 700 in eight years. That's very doable.

I'm not saying it will be easy, but I think Witten is going to get there.

 

[theebs]

Not even sure why I bother replying to your posts, but you can't sit there and with a straight face say that teams did not roll coverage to TO's side.

I am not sure either, usually u just respond to things I say with insults and personal comments. They usually get deleted soon after.

So just put me on ignore.

 

[adbutcher]

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.

I am surprised it took this long.

 

[Doomsday]

I think it "feels" like he is having an off season as a receiving threat because he really hasn't made any big plays down the field. His longest reception this year is 22 yards. He's only had one season prior to this year(9.4) where he avg less then 11 yards per reception, his rookie season(9.9).

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I think a lot of people have wondered lately.
But the main reason, I think, is that there are more choices for Romo. Not only the WRs but Witten and then our gifted RBs coming out of the backfield.

last I checked, Romo and Witten were still roomies. I am sure they discuss on a weekly basis their success as a combo and Witten does his share of lobbying for more throws his way.
I am sure Witten will get better soon and will continue to be the Pro Bowler he's been.

 

[TheCount]

I think it "feels" like he is having an off season as a receiving threat becasue he really hasnt made any big plays down the field. His longest reception this year is 22 yards.

Agreed. He's also had a few drops he usually comes away with. He's never really been athletic in that he can break long runs after the catch either so if he catches a 10 yard pass, that's probably it and up until Austin got going, we hadn't been getting chunks of yards on passing plays in general.

 

[AdamJT13]

Let's say Gonz finishes his career after next season. He will be 35 and have roughly 1200 catches...but that is a high estimate.

Witten will finish this year at 27 with roughly 500...so he'd need another 700 in eight years. That's very doable.

I'm not saying it will be easy, but I think Witten is going to get there.

You also can look at where Gonzalez was statistically when he was Witten's age. Right now, Witten is 49 catches ahead of where Gonzalez was at his age (466 to 417 after seven games at age 27).

 

[DallasEast]

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[visionary]

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.

this :signmast:

 

[reddyuta]

he needs to be more of a factor in the Red zone.I think he will have a big game against the eagles.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I think that you have to realise that the defenses are looking to do their best to keep Witten from doing much. In doing so it's allowing our WR's to have favorable match ups and we're exploiting that now.

At some point they'll get tired of watching our WR's beat them up and Witten will start finding more room and catching more footballs.

 

[Phoenix]

he needs to be more of a factor in the Red zone.I think he will have a big game against the eagles.

Some of that is not his fault. On Sunday, for example, when the Cowboys were inside the 10 yd line, and Romo threw a TD to Austin in the right corner of the end zone, Witten was right in front of Austin and had what looked like 2 steps on the coverage, but Romo threw to Miles instead.