The Tight End Bermuda Triangle

The current Tight Ends are like most of the other positions here in that there really isn't a stand out. Some have decent qualities but none that have all of them
 
OmerV said:
That's my point. Yes, we had good TE's, but it's not as if that was the key or what we have to focus on now. It was just part of the overall quality of the team. I think there are other areas where there is more to worry about than TE.
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For the Cowboys to have an efficient offense they need a productive receiving TE. The best offenses we’ve had from Staubach, Aikman, Romo and Dak had productive TE’s. It’s not our number one need but the position needs to be upgraded. Ferguson is a good second TE but we need a real quality number one TE.
 
KJJ said:
For the Cowboys to have an efficient offense they need a productive receiving TE. The best offenses we’ve had from Staubach, Aikman, Romo and Dak had productive TE’s. It’s not our number one need but the position needs to be upgraded. Ferguson is a good second TE but we need a real quality number one TE.
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Look at what Ferguson did in 2023 when he was healthy all season and had the starting QB all season. Obviously he wasn't the level of Kittle, Kelse etc ... but he was one of the better TE's in the next tier. And while he was out last year, or playing while still recovering, we found Schoon has a little more than he had shown before.

In short, I think there is every reason to expect a season more like 2023, and I don't think that kind of expectation of quality play can be attached to every position. After all, do we think Lamb is in decline because in 2024 his numbers dropped off significantly from what they were in 2023, or do we think maybe circumstances had something to do with it?
 
OmerV said:
Look at what Ferguson did in 2023 when he was healthy all season and had the starting QB all season. Obviously he wasn't the level of Kittle, Kelse etc ... but he was one of the better TE's in the next tier. And while he was out last year, or playing while still recovering, we found Schoon has a little more than he had shown before.

In short, I think there is every reason to expect a season more like 2023, and I don't think that kind of expectation of quality play can be attached to every position. After all, do we think Lamb is in decline because in 2024 his numbers dropped off significantly from what they were in 2023, or do we think maybe circumstances had something to do with it?
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Ferguson is solid second TE but he’s not a solid number one TE. Even if he has a season like he did in 2023 it’s still not good enough for a number one TE. It was expected that CeeDee’s numbers would drop after coming off a career year and missing almost all of training camp. Not having Dak certainly had something to do with both Ferguson and CeeDee’s numbers dropping but neither player was producing at a real high level when he was in there. Our offense as a whole wasn’t very good. OL issues and not having a consistent running game played a big part. Plus not having a solid number 2 receiver hurt our offense.
 
KJJ said:
Ferguson is solid second TE but he’s not a solid number one TE. Even if he has a season like he did in 2023 it’s still not good enough for a number one TE.
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Sure it was. Why wouldn't it be? He might not be a top 3 or 5 TE in the league, but he was definitely a number one TE.

He obviously has to get back to that level, though.
 
Chocolate Lab said:
Sure it was. Why wouldn't it be? He might not be a top 3 or 5 TE in the league, but he was definitely a number one TE.

He obviously has to get back to that level, though.
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He was our number one TE but he’s still not good enough. All our championship teams had great TE’s. Ferguson regressed last season.
 
KJJ said:
He was our number one TE but he’s still not good enough. All our championship teams had great TE’s. Ferguson regressed last season.
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NOT ALL Championship teams have great TE's

it is not mandatory; nice of course but its not make or break

IF Ferguson were to return to his 2023 form he would be good enough
 
OmerV said:
Look at what Ferguson did in 2023 when he was healthy all season and had the starting QB all season. Obviously he wasn't the level of Kittle, Kelse etc ... but he was one of the better TE's in the next tier. And while he was out last year, or playing while still recovering, we found Schoon has a little more than he had shown before.

In short, I think there is every reason to expect a season more like 2023, and I don't think that kind of expectation of quality play can be attached to every position. After all, do we think Lamb is in decline because in 2024 his numbers dropped off significantly from what they were in 2023, or do we think maybe circumstances had something to do with it?
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Difference is Lamb was still carried the 5th most receptions in the league and had the 8th most receiving yards in the league despite missing a game and fighting through injury for several others. Ceedee Lamb was in the elite category despite the adversity that was the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.

Ferg is still a good player dont get me wront, but I imagine the truth is somewhere in between the 2023 and 2024 results. There were some obvious issues with 2024 as you already mentioned, but his 2023 data was showing some buyer beware signs as well. 16 catches behind the LOS and 50 catches in short depth. Over 75% of his numbers came from taking advantage of the underneath holes. Granted he did that at a very high level, but if you only do one thing well in this league its tough to be a full time starter and not get exposed. I do sense some possible injury round this year, but unless he develops the ability to play vertical he is going to have a limited ceiling and 2023 was probably it.

I think Ferg is sort of in that Blake Jarwin/Dalton Schutz territory where they are good enough to put up numbers if the rest of your offense is good enough to take attention away from them, but you're gonna struggle if they are you're #2 receiving option.
 
KJJ said:
Ferguson is solid second TE but he’s not a solid number one TE. Even if he has a season like he did in 2023 it’s still not good enough for a number one TE. It was expected that CeeDee’s numbers would drop after coming off a career year and missing almost all of training camp. Not having Dak certainly had something to do with both Ferguson and CeeDee’s numbers dropping but neither player was producing at a real high level when he was in there. Our offense as a whole wasn’t very good. OL issues and not having a consistent running game played a big part. Plus not having a solid number 2 receiver hurt our offense.
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In 2023 Ferguson was as good or better than any TE in the NFL except Kittle, Kelse, LaPorta and Hockinson. It's hard to complain about that. I think people tend to judge in comparison to guys like Kittle & Kelse, but realistically those are far and away the exception.

That said, I agree the offense as a whole wasn't very good last year, even at times before Dak went out. But that doesn't mean every individual player on offense was suddenly not worthwhile, which was my point about Lamb. I just don't think it's plausible to believe that the down year by the team as a whole erases what individual players showed they can do before that.

As for my point about other areas being more in need of attention, there are some positions that haven't show any real proficiency at all in recent years. RT. Interior D-Line where the defense has been vulnerable against the run for years. A DE opposite Parson's that can pressure the QB.
 
OmerV said:
In 2023 Ferguson was as good or better than any TE in the NFL except Kittle, Kelse, LaPorta and Hockinson. It's hard to complain about that. I think people tend to judge in comparison to guys like Kittle & Kelse, but realistically those are far and away the exception.

That said, I agree the offense as a whole wasn't very good last year, even at times before Dak went out. But that doesn't mean every individual player on offense was suddenly not worthwhile, which was my point about Lamb. I just don't think it's plausible to believe that the down year by the team as a whole erases what individual players showed they can do before that.

As for my point about other areas being more in need of attention, there are some positions that haven't show any real proficiency at all in recent years. RT. Interior D-Line where the defense has been vulnerable against the run for years. A DE opposite Parson's that can pressure the QB.
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Don’t care to get into a lengthy discussion. Even in 2023 we were targeting CeeDee a lot. Not satisfied with Ferguson as our number one TE. Had he built off what he did in 2023 I might feel differently but he regressed
 
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