Uh oh, tight end trouble

[Zimmy Lives]

I don't live in Dallas so maybe that's why I've never heard of him.

Got ya. Also for the record, Fish has always taken a back seat to better known Cowboys radio personalities because he has always been a bit abrasive. If I was to rank him I'd place him in the top ten of local sports talk Cowboys insiders.

 

[FiveRings]

Once again, bench press is measurement not a benchmark of strength. True strength comes from the core and legs. He may be lacking in all areas of strength but I have a feeling he was drafted for talents other than blocking ability.

While that is true, Escobar is still fairly weak all around. Now, I don't know all of his measurable, but it was well known when he was drafted that he would struggle as a blocker. I'm still not worried about it this year, because if we're throwing a three tight end rotation out there on a consistent basis, then you can leave Hanna home to block more on the line of scrimmage, while splitting Escobar out wide more often and still not be all that predictable.

 

[ElGatoGrande]

It's inconceivable that the team didn't know about Escobar's lack of strength so I'm willing to bet that they liked him anyway and have a plan. Could be that not much is expected of him this year... the claims about Hannah are a little more troubling but the position doesn't exactly demand a rocket scientist's intellect so I'm hoping he's further along once TC is over.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

While that is true, Escobar is still fairly weak all around. Now, I don't know all of his measurable, but it was well known when he was drafted that he would struggle as a blocker. I'm still not worried about it this year, because if we're throwing a three tight end rotation out there on a consistent basis, then you can leave Hanna home to block more on the line of scrimmage, while splitting Escobar out wide more often and still not be all that predictable.

Agreed. Witten isn't about to give up his throne as #1 TE so Escobar has time and should contribute this year in some capacity.

 

[Staggerlee]

I don't live in Dallas so maybe that's why I've never heard of him.

Neither do I. I'm from ohio. He is just a big name for boys news, especially during draft time. At least now you have another outlet for boys news that we're all craving this time of year!

 

[bayeslife]

I don't know about anyone else, but in today's NFL I really don't care if my TE can block well, I just want him to catch the ball.

 

[speedkilz88]

From Broaddus article:

In watching OTA and mini-camp practices, Bill Callahan was taking plenty of reps to run plays where the offense went without a full back or when they needed one, it was Rosario lining up in an offset formation and filling in that role. It was more single back, zone runs. What I really like about this zone scheme, that Callahan is working with for this offense that it will play to the true strengths of DeMarco Murray.]

I have always liked DeMarco Murray as a one back runner even when he had some success with Tony Fiammetta in 2011 but there were times last season when he did play with a full back in front of him and it led to hesitation because he wasn’t sure what that player was going to do. That was both Vickers and John Phillips. Murray was never on the same page with Vickers and in just watching the two play together it was like putting the round peg in the square hole. Murray spent more time waiting for Vickers or Phillips to do something in front of him than just attacking the line.

The releasing of Lawrence Vickers in my view is really not that big of a deal because of the direction in which the offense was going under Callahan, it doesn’t need a full back. Look for DeMarco Murray to be a much more productive runner without someone holding him up.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/article-BryanBroaddusBlog/Broaddus-Cutting-FB-Won’t-Affect-Murray-Might-Help-Him/4f4fdae1-4bd1-4ab4-97d0-6b14d91d0d79

 

[xwalker]

First, Escobar has the strength of a sophomore girl in high school. He can block no one, and he's getting pushed around at the line of scrimmage like a ragdoll. He only pressed 225 a total of 12 times at the combine, which is extremely weak. There are literally gobs of high school football players that can do that.

In theory, Witten and Escobar should be sufficient threats in the passing game that defenses sub in DBs for LBs (nickel and dime packages).

Despite a lack of great upper body strength, at 6-6 254, Escobar should be a mismatch when blocking any DB.

The basic game plan in the 2 TE set:

If the defense plays base personnel (all LBs in the game) then pass the ball.

If the defense replaces LBs with DBs, then run the ball.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

I cannot imagine Jerra drafting poorly performing players.

 

[Future]

In theory, Witten and Escobar should be sufficient threats in the passing game that defenses sub in DBs for LBs (nickel and dime packages).

Despite a lack of great upper body strength, at 6-6 254, Escobar should be a mismatch when blocking any DB.

The basic game plan in the 2 TE set:

If the defense plays base personnel (all LBs in the game) then pass the ball.

If the defense replaces LBs with DBs, then run the ball.

Good breakdown.

Esco was brought in here to catch the ball, even if he does have some blocking responsibilities. His job will be to attract attention in the middle of the field and catch some balls in the redzone. If he does that, even if his blocking is weak, he'll have a good rookie year.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Mike Fisher reported some troubling news last night while browsing the local airwaves. (For the record, Fisher is a good reporter, though his commentary is difficult to stomach unless you're left of Fidel Castro.)

According to Fisher, we've got major issues at the tight end position currently.

First, Escobar has the strength of a sophomore girl in high school. He can block no one, and he's getting pushed around at the line of scrimmage like a ragdoll. He only pressed 225 a total of 12 times at the combine, which is extremely weak. There are literally gobs of high school football players that can do that.

Second, Hanna ain't getting it. The 12 and 13 scheme packages are apparently not soaking into his brain pan in Callahan's zone blocking scheme. It's apparently been preached to him for months now, but it might as well be written in Klingon crayon, because the dude is lost.

Hanna might be fixable in a long camp, but this Escobar thing is troubling. Strength is an offseason gain. To make things more dicey, Vickers was cut, so unless this McSurdy experiment works, there probably won't be a fullback on the roster.

Mostly, I think this means that Dante Rosario is going to be the #2 tight end on the roster.

On a good note, Fisher also said that Will Allen looks tremendous so far, and the coaches think he'll be a big contributor this season.

12 reps of 225 would be one seriously buff high school girl.

 

[jazzcat22]

I am going with...the scouts and coaches know a bit more about the TE's situation and the strength of them better than a reporter trying to sell papers [getting clicks on a website]....
That's my opinion anyway....let's see what TC shows.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I'd like to see some play in pads before I start worrying about these things. I'm not sure how some reporter can decide any of that stuff based off of running around in shorts and a helmet.

 

[iceman117]

You mean a small, slow, weak tight end who doesn't like to block?

How is Escobar slow? What are you basing that on his 40, which wasn't that bad for a TE, and who cares anyway about a 40 time, how often does a TE run 40 yards on a straight line in a game? ill answer that for you 0. The guy was drafted primarily to help out in the red zone because he has tremendous ball skills, they can move him around to create mismatches for the defense. Why are people freaking out before the kid even plays a preseason game. Give him a chance. He may struggle to start the year but he will get it, the kids going to be a good player. His rookie year he is going to be a red zone target, I wouldn't expect too much more than that from him.

As far as Hanna goes, the guy has played football his whole life, he knows how to learn a playbook, these reports are just ridiculous. He will be fine.
Lets see a couple preseason games before we crucify our TEs.

 

[tunahelper]

Once again, bench press is measurement not a benchmark of strength. True strength comes from the core and legs. He may be lacking in all areas of strength but I have a feeling he was drafted for talents other than blocking ability.

Maybe so, but Larry Allen sure could muscle DL with his no benchmark BP.

 

[jobberone]

You mean a small, slow, weak tight end who doesn't like to block?

Well neither Hanna nor Escobar are small. Escobar is not slow although he's not a burner move TE. His 4.7ish speed is middling. I would call him slow for a WR though. Hanna is fast. Hanna is not weak nor is Escobar. If you want to say Escobar is not strong enough to be an inline blocker I'm all over that. If you say Hanna is not the best blocking TE in the league I'm all over that, too. Neither Escobar nor Hanna has been accused of not wanting to or not liking to block.

Your post is not factual and appears to be not helpful.

 

[Derekmtl85]

You mean a small, slow, weak tight end who doesn't like to block?

Why are you so happy to dump on a Cowboys player before he even plays a game?

I get it, true fans can complain too, but to be so happy about trashing the guy, before he even plays a game? Really?

Sigh....

 

[Screw The Hall]

We haven't had 1 day of training camp yet. If the coaches need camp to decide who's who and what's what, why in the hell would I believe anyone else on the face of the earth knows how things are shaking out at this point?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You mean a small, slow, weak tight end who doesn't like to block?

Who was pretty much a consensus 2nd rounder by many draft experts.

I'd rank the ability to run routes and catch passes higher than I would speed.

And at 6'6" 245 he'll be able to at least be a large impediment to many defensive players if he doesn't have the strength to "pancake" them at the point.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Fischer is typically one of the better reporters. He actually seeks to find out the things that are important to the level of success the Cowboys have instead of peripheral, tabloid-esque nonsense. He's subject to the latter, but it's a once in a while thing.

The thing about Fischer is I don't doubt if what he's reporting is true. We often hear nonsense from writers that ends up not being true and it never made sense to begin with. Then when we read more reports of nonsensical stuff that ends up not being true, the reader who does not have an anti-Jerry bias should question the reporter's credibility.

I wouldn't doubt if Escobar is having blocking troubles. He was not known for his blocking in college and I don't think he ever saw time at the F-Back spot. But, this would also explain the Cowboys going after Escobar as they already had Hanna. Hanna is an impressive athlete, but if he's not grasping the playbook then that is probably a big reason for them drafting Escobar.

The only reason why I didn't like the Escobar pick is I don't see Witten getting usurped anytime soon, unless he gets injured. We've tried the 2 TE set twice and have failed both times. IMO, if we are going to do that, then we need to do it with a TE we draft in the 4th round to play along with Witten; rather than continually drafting 2nd round TE's.

It's not the end of the world though. We can always go to a 11 personnel. I'd rather have us try and put the best players on the field at once rather than force 12 personnel.







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