Witten proud of Gavin Escobar for getting stronger, improving as a blocker

[dmq]

Jason Witten ‘proud’ of Gavin Escobar for getting stronger, improving as a blocker
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By Jon Machota
jmachota@***BANNED-URL***

More:
http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***...getting-stronger-improving-as-a-blocker.html/


Escobar played in all 16 games during his rookie season, catching nine passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. But his snaps were limited for one major reason – he needs to become a better blocker.

To accomplish that goal, bulking up in the Valley Ranch weight room has been Escobar’s off-season regimen. Over the last week, Pope, head coach Jason Garrett and veteran tight end Jason Witten have all mentioned noticing Escobar’s added strength.

“He’s been methodically present and he’s worked really hard,” Pope said. “When you’re 6-7, there’s going to be some areas of your body that need more development. Most of the time, that’s the legs, and that was his background, being more of an athletic tight end, a space player. He’s worked hard this winter and I’ve been impressed by it.”

According to Witten, the 23-year-old is on the right path.

“We know he can run the seams and can do some things in the passing game, but we need him to be solid in there [on the line],” Witten said. “He’s worked hard. To see that package grow for him and being out on the field is going to be a lot better because he can now do both.
“I’m proud of him. I know he’s worked hard. It’s paying off for him and I think his role will continue to grow. We need that. We need that not only in the slot, but we need that other guy up the middle.”

 

[Section446]

I really hope that they give this guy a better chance than they did Bennett. I know it's only been one year, but what a wasted pick to this point. He needs to play 50%+ of offensive snaps.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think Escobar will end up being a quality player for the team. Linehan also seems to like Escobar and was also looking at drafting him last season in Det.

 

[Phoenix]

Sounds like a right kinda guy to have in the lineup

 

[TrailBlazer]

I have high expectations for Escobar. I think he will be a valuable asset in the passing game. If he can get stronger and become a decent blocker that's even better.

 

[guag]

Esco will do just fine given more opporunities.

 

[RS12]

Glad to hear the blocking is coming along but the guy was brought here to be a middle of field mis match and red zone target. I want to see more of those things going forward.

 

[JD_KaPow]

I have high expectations for Escobar. I think he will be a valuable asset in the passing game. If he can get stronger and become a decent blocker that's even better.

Getting stronger and becoming a decent blocker is what will get him on the field.

 

[Staubacher]

According to Witten, the 23-year-old is on the right path.

“We know he can run the seams and can do some things in the passing game, but we need him to be solid in there [on the line],” Witten said. “He’s worked hard. To see that package grow for him and being out on the field is going to be a lot better because he can now do both.
“I’m proud of him. I know he’s worked hard. It’s paying off for him and I think his role will continue to grow. We need that. We need that not only in the slot, but we need that other guy up the middle.”[/quote]

TMI, Jason...TMI

 

[Future]

He should have been on the field anyways.

 

[TrailBlazer]

Getting stronger and becoming a decent blocker is what will get him on the field.

Dallas spent a second rounder on him to be a weapon in the passing game. Thats his strength. He wont ever be a great blocker and I don't think Dallas will be trying to run directly behind him. He just can't get thrown around like a ragdoll. Give him more opportunities down the field and in the redzone. He showed he can find the end zone last year when given chances and seems like a hard worker.

With witten in Dallas, idk how many targets Escobar will get considering they tend to go more 3 WR sets than 2 TE sets.

 

[reddyuta]

the only way we can justify his selection if he takes over Witten (when he leaves or retires),i fear he will be another Marty B who will make his mark in some other team.

 

[Idgit]

I really hope that they give this guy a better chance than they did Bennett. I know it's only been one year, but what a wasted pick to this point. He needs to play 50%+ of offensive snaps.

I second round player that gets developed for a year and sees some action in the passing game is not a wasted pick. You gotta be more realistic than that with your expectations. Neither is he likely to see 50% of the offensive snaps, barring something unfortunate happening to Witten.

 

[Section446]

I second round player that gets developed for a year and sees some action in the passing game is not a wasted pick. You gotta be more realistic than that with your expectations. Neither is he likely to see 50% of the offensive snaps, barring something unfortunate happening to Witten.

When you're a team with this many holes, Escobar in round 2 is a luxury pick. And please don't say that it was any different last year, this team has had a number of glaring holes for the past 3-5 years.

 

[Idgit]

When you're a team with this many holes, Escobar in round 2 is a luxury pick. And please don't say that it was any different last year, this team has had a number of glaring holes for the past 3-5 years.

That's a different argument.

But I'm not a fan of the luxury pick line of thinking, anyway. I'm happy if the guys we pick can play football. Lose Witten to an injury for any length of time (knock on wood), and we'll want another TE. And the hypothetical DT we reached for in his place who didn't pan out will be slim consolation at that point.

 

[JD_KaPow]

Dallas spent a second rounder on him to be a weapon in the passing game. Thats his strength. He wont ever be a great blocker and I don't think Dallas will be trying to run directly behind him. He just can't get thrown around like a ragdoll. Give him more opportunities down the field and in the redzone. He showed he can find the end zone last year when given chances and seems like a hard worker.

With witten in Dallas, idk how many targets Escobar will get considering they tend to go more 3 WR sets than 2 TE sets.

A TE who can't block can't get on the field. It's like an RB who can't pass-protect: it's not what they're signed for, but they have to be able to do it or they'll sit on the bench or be cut.

The number of targets he gets will correlate directly with how many times he's on the field, which will correlate with how well he blocks.

 

[JD_KaPow]

When you're a team with this many holes, Escobar in round 2 is a luxury pick. And please don't say that it was any different last year, this team has had a number of glaring holes for the past 3-5 years.

Thinking in terms of "luxury picks" is exactly how a team comes to have no depth.

 

[Bullflop]

Well, if my recollection hasn't forsaken me, he was 6-6 when we originally drafted him and they're now saying he's 6-7.

It appears Escobar really IS growing -- both horizontally and vertically as well. Really glad to see he's getting stronger.

 

[Nova]

I really hope that they give this guy a better chance than they did Bennett. I know it's only been one year, but what a wasted pick to this point. He needs to play 50%+ of offensive snaps.

(scroll for cliff notes)

Gotta earn it though.

He was actually given more opportunities early on last year. .


Gavin Escobar: 207 snaps

Through 1st 8 games: played 119 snaps (57% of his snaps for the year)
--Of those 119 snaps, 78 were passing downs (73 routes, 5 pass blocking)-- so 66% passing snaps
--Conversely Of those 119 snaps, 41 were run blocking downs-- so 34% rushing snaps

Through the last 8 games: played 88 snaps (43% of his snaps for the year)
--Of those 88 snaps, 52 were passing downs (52 routes, 2 pass blocking)-- so 59% passing snaps
--Conversely of those 88 snaps, 34 were run blocking downs-- so 39% rushing snaps

As you can see, he had a good amount of opportunities early on in the passing game. Almost as many passing snaps as he had for total snaps over the last half of the season.

For comparison:

James Hanna: 315 snaps

Through 1st 8 games: played 166 snaps 53% of his total snaps
-- Of those 166 snaps, 83 were passing downs (51 routes, 32 pass blocking)-- so exactly 50% passing snaps.

Through last 8 games: played 149 snaps 47% of his total snaps
-- of those 149 snaps, 75 were passing downs (50 routes, 25 pass blocking)-- so virtually 50% passing snaps again.

Conclusion:
That indicates to me that while both players saw a declination in snaps likely due to shift in formation philosophy, Hanna consistently got the same percentage of chances in both the passing and run game. And the shift in philosophy for formation in passing downs was mostly felt by Escobar... coaches must have liked what our WRs could do more than our 2nd rounder.



Cliff notes:
Overall, Hanna was the more indefensible TE last year.

 

[AbeBeta]

He should have been on the field anyways.

This.

Teams draft TE and practically none are complete players on arrival. You have to play the guys to develop them.