Will Witten (and other TEs) be forgotten in this offense?

[Cowboy06]

I wasn't a fan of the Lions offense. I wish we had Calvin Johnson, but to what end? I would prefer to have multiple weapons. However, I looked at the Lions offense of last year. I wasn't overly impressed. Where do the TEs fit in? I think Witten should be phased out (not because he's not good, but because I want all of the TEs (Escobar and Hanna) to be relevant, but I like TEs and believe if you utilize them correctly you will be a better offense.

I just have this fear that the offense will again be productive but not at the right times in the game. I'm still waiting for that OC that will demand the difference between okay and great. I don't think he's on this team, but I never thought I'd see 3 championships in 4 years...and I'm waiting to see more of that type of winning.

 

[Risen Star]

I think the offense has been fine and it'll be better this year adding Martin to that offensive line, as long as Romo can return to form.

 

[gimmesix]

I wasn't a fan of the Lions offense. I wish we had Calvin Johnson, but to what end? I would prefer to have multiple weapons. However, I looked at the Lions offense of last year. I wasn't overly impressed. Where do the TEs fit in? I think Witten should be phased out (not because he's not good, but because I want all of the TEs (Escobar and Hanna) to be relevant, but I like TEs and believe if you utilize them correctly you will be a better offense.

I just have this fear that the offense will again be productive but not at the right times in the game. I'm still waiting for that OC that will demand the difference between okay and great. I don't think he's on this team, but I never thought I'd see 3 championships in 4 years...and I'm waiting to see more of that type of winning.

I think you have to look at the weapons each team has to work with. Linehan will make use of the tight end in Dallas because he has a Hall of Fame tight end to work with, plus Romo isn't going to let his buddy be forgotten.

I think the main differences we'll see with Linehan's offense is more passes to the running backs and more attempts to get the ball downfield. The long throws stretch things out for the running game and the short throws allow Witten to work open in the middle of the field because the linebackers and safeties can't zone him out. It will be interesting to see how Linehan balances (or fails to balance) all those facets.

 

[Cowboy06]

I think the offense has been fine and it'll be better this year adding Martin to that offensive line, as long as Romo can return to form.

Thanks for the reply. I am most concerned that if you don't throw to TEs you will undoubtedly throw to WRs and perhaps check downs to running backs. If you only really have one WR that is considered a "threat" doesn't that make you more like the Lions? I just want to see lots of receptions amongst all of the TEs, WRs and RBs...I want to keep other teams guessing at all times.

 

[Risen Star]

I'm not so sure I want to feature Witten anymore. He's still a good player but he's in decline and provides no vertical stretch. This offense needs to run through Dez Bryant with DeMarco Murray being our poor man's Matt Forte.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I wasn't a fan of the Lions offense. I wish we had Calvin Johnson, but to what end? I would prefer to have multiple weapons. However, I looked at the Lions offense of last year. I wasn't overly impressed. Where do the TEs fit in?

Pettigrew caught 71 passes in 2010, 89 passes in 2011, and 57 passes in the first 12 games in 2012 before getting hurt. Yeah, last year the emphasis was on the RBs, but when you have Reggie Bush and Joique Bell catching passes out of the backfield, you'd be crazy not to use them. I assume Linehan will use the talent he has.

 

[jday]

I wasn't a fan of the Lions offense. I wish we had Calvin Johnson, but to what end? I would prefer to have multiple weapons. However, I looked at the Lions offense of last year. I wasn't overly impressed. Where do the TEs fit in? I think Witten should be phased out (not because he's not good, but because I want all of the TEs (Escobar and Hanna) to be relevant, but I like TEs and believe if you utilize them correctly you will be a better offense.

I just have this fear that the offense will again be productive but not at the right times in the game. I'm still waiting for that OC that will demand the difference between okay and great. I don't think he's on this team, but I never thought I'd see 3 championships in 4 years...and I'm waiting to see more of that type of winning.

I wouldn't be too worried. At the end of the day, it's Romo, not the OC who decides where the ball goes. Say what you want about Romo, but he's always been pretty decent at spreading the ball around.

 

[jday]

I think the offense has been fine and it'll be better this year adding Martin to that offensive line, as long as Romo can return to form.

Are you feeling okay Risen? This response sounds somewhat upbeat and hopeful. Has someone hacked your account?

 

[Risen Star]

I wouldn't be too worried. At the end of the day, it's Romo, not the OC who decides where the ball goes. Say what you want about Romo, but he's always been pretty decent at spreading the ball around.

I agree. Too much focus is on the guy calling the plays and not the guy running them.

 

[JohnsKey19]

As long as Romo is pulling the trigger, Witten will remain a prominent component in the Cowboys passing attack. Short of asking Witten to stay in to block, there is not much Linehan can do to change that.

 

[Risen Star]

As long as Romo is pulling the trigger, Witten will remain a prominent component in the Cowboys passing attack. Short of asking Witten to stay in to block, there is not much Linehan can do to change that.

Which can be a real negative as Witten declines.

 

[jday]

Which can be a real negative as Witten declines.

Hopefully we find out this year that Escobar is a viable heir apparent.

 

[Yuma Cactus]

Mike Pope was brought in to develop Escobar, the TE's will be used.

 

[udas]

I wasn't a fan of the Lions offense. I wish we had Calvin Johnson, but to what end? I would prefer to have multiple weapons. However, I looked at the Lions offense of last year. I wasn't overly impressed. Where do the TEs fit in? I think Witten should be phased out (not because he's not good, but because I want all of the TEs (Escobar and Hanna) to be relevant, but I like TEs and believe if you utilize them correctly you will be a better offense.

I just have this fear that the offense will again be productive but not at the right times in the game. I'm still waiting for that OC that will demand the difference between okay and great. I don't think he's on this team, but I never thought I'd see 3 championships in 4 years...and I'm waiting to see more of that type of winning.

Romo will not forget about Witten, so I highly doubt the Cowboys will get away from throwing to the te.

 

[Cowboy06]

Romo will not forget about Witten, so I highly doubt the Cowboys will get away from throwing to the te.

You, I and others think this, but is this for the best? Do you want a quarterback that has shown he is prone to mistakes, be they his or just sheer dumb luck, forcing throws to Witten, Dez or anyone? I would like to say he won't do that, but I really want an offense that is focused on obvious mismatches. If that means we will Witten off the field on some down and distances all the better. I would love to see Witten get a Superbowl ring, but I fear he will never get one as the primary target.

 

[Zman5]

Fauria , their UDFA rookie TE, caught 7 TDs last year. That's 2nd best after CJ. I don't know why you think TE will not be involved in Linehan's offense.

 

[Cowboy06]

Fauria , their UDFA rookie TE, caught 7 TDs last year. That's 2nd best after CJ. I don't know why you think TE will not be involved in Linehan's offense.

I look at the overall numbers thrown to TEs. I do like that you point out something important. I am just concerned that you want to spread the ball around in any offense. Romo is good at doing that, but is that by design or by Romo? What really seems to bother me is that Detroit isn't that great of a team and it's not like they were going deep into the playoffs. Just convince me that it will somehow be different this season. I'm hoping it will be.

 

[Zman5]

I don't know if it will be different this year with the new OC.

I do know for the team to do better, the offense has to "protect" the defense this year.
We want to score yes, but at times, the offense needs to be able to have time consuming drives that ends up in TDs in order for us to have a better outcome than last 3 years.

This means being committed to the run game at times and being able to convert 3rd downs. Two things we were not very good at doing last year.

 

[CATCH17]

I think the offense has been fine and it'll be better this year adding Martin to that offensive line, as long as Romo can return to form.

Constant 3 and outs and waiting on Romo to make a play with his feet is not fine.

Our offensive playcalling gives us no edge. It's just basic football.

 

[TheFinisher]

I'm not so sure I want to feature Witten anymore. He's still a good player but he's in decline and provides no vertical stretch. This offense needs to run through Dez Bryant with DeMarco Murray being our poor man's Matt Forte.

I agree but Murray is no poor mans Matt Forte, he's proven to be one of the best RBs in his own right.