News: Where in the world is Rico Gathers

[ghst187]

Just feels to me like Rico is a lurking beast awaiting to be unleashed. I’m not usually so positive about a guy who was largely a draft afterthought but I think Rico will brutalize DBs for a long time.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I think what started out as a legitimate injury has conveniently turned into a stash.

 

[Section446]

He was never in the cards for this year.

 

[yimyammer]

What are the rules of IR when he's considered healthy, who decides when he's healthy?

I'm wondering if this is a way of manipulating the rules by not having to make him part of the 53 or cut him and hope he makes it to the practice squad by simply saying he's not "healthy" yet

 

[LocimusPrime]

 

[unionjack8]

He isn't playing this year.
That was confirmed when they signed blake jarwin off the PS.
No way they carry 5 te on the roster.

 

[stilltheguru88]

First playoff game secret weapon

 

[Redball Express]

Jason Witten says hello

I love Witten.

But as fair as getting open for more than 5-10 yds..

it's a struggle.

That's not being negative.

And I admire his blocking

But he's had some holding issues this year which is unusual.

And sending Rico across the middle to me is just really wise.

Double coverage on Dez and Beasley would stop.

It should also help the running game by getting the 8 in a box designed to stop Zero to not happen as much.

I believe Zeke runs best when they spread the recievers and go single RB or motion Zeke in the slot.

But who knows?

 

[Silverstar]

I'm still looking for Bobby Carpenter..

and Taco Charleton.

and Chidobe Awuzie

 

[SSoup]

I love Witten.

But as fair as getting open for more than 5-10 yds..

it's a struggle.

That's not being negative.

And I admire his blocking

But he's had some holding issues this year which is unusual.

And sending Rico across the middle to me is just really wise.

Double coverage on Dez and Beasley would stop.

It should also help the running game by getting the 8 in a box designed to stop Zero to not happen as much.

I believe Zeke runs best when they spread the recievers and go single RB or motion Zeke in the slot.

But who knows?

I'm not sure Witten getting penalized is anything new. Seems like he gets holding and false start calls plenty, and it's been that way for awhile. But maybe someone will tell me if I'm imagining that.

That said, plucking our project TE off the injured reserve and sending him "across the middle" isn't going to automatically stop defenses from focusing on our #1 WR or our slot receiver (who Dak has shown a willingness to throw to plenty when defenses aren't smothering him). If we replaced Witten with Gathers next week, the defense would still be preoccupied with Dez and, on 3rd down, with Beasley much more than Gathers. If Gathers put together a good month of regular season work against starting defenses, maybe then he'd start to pull focus from others. But nobody is going to divert resources from Dez or Beasley based on Gathers being tall and having a couple nice preseason games months ago (and a major injury ago).

Also, even with Witten's penalty issues, despite Gathers being younger and more physically imposing, he's still a worse blocker than every other TE on our roster. Which makes it harder to put him on the field if it's a down where running is a possibility.

 

[khiladi]

I would die to have thus guy back and a threat to open up the middle via the seams on deep routes..

Dak throws better down the middle and it would help him significantly, particular with how well Zeke is playing now.. consider play action

Witten is killing us in some respects...

 

[SSoup]

I think what started out as a legitimate injury has conveniently turned into a stash.

This is my guess, too. Team felt it would be hard to put him on the field (ahead of Witten or ahead of TEs who can actually block... or ahead of WRs who will surely be better route-runners and targets right now), so they jumped at the chance to stash him away for a year. Makes sense to not force him onto the field but also not have to burn a roster spot carrying him just to avoid anyone else poaching him.

That said, a raw project player needs to be practicing. Not much point in stashing a guy for the future if stashing him means he can't practice which means you're dampening his future.

Even if it's a "stash" scenario, isn't there a window of time where the injured guy is allowed to return to practice for a couple weeks before the team decides whether to activate him or keep him on the IR?

Maybe the injury turns out to be devastating, explaining why we kept him on the shelf. Or maybe Witten retires this offseason and we're thanking our lucky stars we stashed Gathers, and it turns out he's got the chops to compete for actual playing time without Witten in his way anymore. But it's hard not to think he's suffering a major setback by pissing away a whole year not being able to get in much-needed practice reps.

 

[Redball Express]

I'm not sure Witten getting penalized is anything new. Seems like he gets holding and false start calls plenty, and it's been that way for awhile. But maybe someone will tell me if I'm imagining that.

That said, plucking our project TE off the injured reserve and sending him "across the middle" isn't going to automatically stop defenses from focusing on our #1 WR or our slot receiver (who Dak has shown a willingness to throw to plenty when defenses aren't smothering him). If we replaced Witten with Gathers next week, the defense would still be preoccupied with Dez and, on 3rd down, with Beasley much more than Gathers. If Gathers put together a good month of regular season work against starting defenses, maybe then he'd start to pull focus from others. But nobody is going to divert resources from Dez or Beasley based on Gathers being tall and having a couple nice preseason games months ago (and a major injury ago).

Also, even with Witten's penalty issues, despite Gathers being younger and more physically imposing, he's still a worse blocker than every other TE on our roster. Which makes it harder to put him on the field if it's a down where running is a possibility.

I suppose my reply would be until we get Rico involved..

it's difficult to know.

As far as his blocking..

we went thru this Escobar.

He couldn't block either.

And when I think about Gronk,

same size as Rico..

and I have never ever heard about his blocking.

Only his catching and TDs.

And with 5 #1 picks on the OL and 3 All Pros..

you would think they could get it done all by themselves.

Maybe I expect too much.

But it seems that something else is going on..

like if he plays in so many games he gets more bonuses they don't want to do.

It's fuzzy to me.

The backup TEs have never done much..

Fasano was traded..

Bennett was not resigned.

Escobar wasted away.

Rico, too ?