Witten's lack of YAC starting to become a concern?

[Deep_Freeze]

Why do people assume that witten is jsut gonna wake up one day and have this great speed. Witten has great hands, good rout running, and is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league. I know some of the fans want a flashy jump in the air and hten run 50 yards tight end but that just isnt witten. He has been acknowledged as one of the best tight ends in the league and has been sent to multiple pro bowls because of his play. Stop wishing he would do more. The man is a beast. Enjoy what we have and stop slapping him in the face with these threads.

Yeah the problem is they want him to lineup with the athleticism of a Gates, and be used almost just like another WR. Thats not Witten's game, sure he can have some success like that, but athletically he will never be a Vernon Davis or Gates type of guy. He brings alot to the table though, and that shouldn't be ignored just cause you want someone flashy.

I do believe that as we get more dynamic at WR position, that Witten's role could decrease in the passing game. Not a bad thing, and it will make the team more explosive in the process and free Witten up to do more of the things that make great teams win ballgames.

 

[ODawg]

Witten is one of my all-time favorite kind of players, and Cowboys.

But I have to agree with this.

I don't want him over extending every play, risking injury or a fumble, ... but there are times I feel he could get extra yards and he doesn't even look to.

we need to run him on different routes to get more yac....he is always turning around and coming back to the ball it seems

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I don't think anyone is saying he can't run a little when he has open field, they are talking more about going down easy when someone hits him. Which is true - he isn't a run over people guy or a guy who makes moves. He runs well, but he isn't particulcularly difficult to tackle. that said, he's still one of the best in the business.

Yeah I got ya, he will never be mistaked for some of the more athletic TEs in the open field. Guess we have to take the good with the bad, and as I know you already know, there is alot of good there too.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

He is the mosty easiest tackled TE in the game. With that said, he will save his knees and play a long time.

 

[Dallas]

Like someone else mentioned, he doesn't run routes that allows him to get YAC. He usually runs to a empty spot in a zone that has been vacated by a LB where a ball may be thrown to. And because of the zone defense, there is going to be serveral defenders near by ready to gang tackle him.

This is exactly what it is. The OC's also know Witten will kill them if he isn't blanketed w/ help for tackle.

I expect this.

 

[casmith07]

Witten has never had moves. All of his yac have always come on catch and run plays.

Not sure why this fuss every year.

 

[tomson75]

He is the mosty easiest tackled TE in the game. With that said, he will save his knees and play a long time.

I lol'd.

 

[Stautner]

Yeah I got ya, he will never be mistaked for some of the more athletic TEs in the open field. Guess we have to take the good with the bad, and as I know you already know, there is alot of good there too.

Way more good than bad. Because Witten is so good and so valuable I don't get upset that he doesn't run over people and plow aheade for extra yards, but I do find myself scratching my head about it. It's clear that he is strong enough to do that, and I don't think anyone questions that he is tough enough and intense enough to do that, but still, for whatever reason, he just doesn't. It's kind of like he thinks of himself as having the ability to make moves on people after the catch to gain extra yards, and he just doesn't realize he is wrong, and that using his strength will get him more extra yards than trying to make a move.

 

[jay cee]

Let me start off by saying Witten is one of our best Players and i think he could end up being a HOF TE.

But it is frustrating to see him go down to first contact ever single time he catches the ball. There were a couple of plays in the Texans game where i though Witten had a chance to get a first down but was tackled on the spot.

You cant argue with what Witten does for us in the blocking game, he is essentially another LT/RT at times, he is one of the best blocking TE's in the game.

If Witten misses a game or two, i would be excited to see what Marty B can do if he gets a few more looks. He had some nice plays in the Texans games and i feel like he adds another dimension to our offense.

Marty is a big dude, but he is also fast! If you get him running in the open field he is very hard to take down. I would like to see us desgin more plays for Marty and give him an opportunity to make some plays after the catch.

I might get flamed for this thread. Like i said im not throwing Witten under the bus, he is playing hurt and is an absolute warrior. Its just an observation and i feel like Marty is a tad bit underutilized in this offense. He could make some big time plays for us if he is given a few more chances

IMO, For a guy with his size and speed, Witten has never been that great at breaking tackles, and getting yards after contact.

But you know, I really don't care. With everything that he does well, I want him in the lineup if at all possible.

IMO, he is the best TE in the league. I have not seem him play enough to know for certain, but I have read that Gates is no where near as good a blocker as Witten.

My only complaint is that they can't seem to trust the O-line enough to let him consistently run those deep routes that he is so good at running.

He spends way too much time helping with pass protection and catching those little check down passes.

That's a waste IMO. Kind of like using your thoroughbred, to plow the field.

Not a great analogy, because I know he has to block sometimes, but I love watching him smoke those LB's down the middle of the field.

 

[jay cee]

Every year, we hear complaints about Witten's YAC, and every year, he finishes with a higher average YAC than many of the other top tight ends. Last year, he had a higher average YAC than Vernon Davis, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow and Visanthe Shiancoe. He also finished seventh in the NFL in total YAC, behind three wide receivers and three running backs (all of whom had more YAC than total yards, thanks to screen passes).

Are you talking about yards after catch, or yards after contact? I would not be at all surprised about him leading in Yards after catch, because he usually creates so much space that the defenders are in full chase mode, by the time he catches the ball he gains several yards before they can finally corral him and get him down.

I was saying that I did not think he was that good at breaking tackles and getting yards after contact, so I would be surprised if he ranked that high in that category.

But I don't think that is very important for a receiver like it is for a runningback.

 

[hairic]

Every year, we hear complaints about Witten's YAC, and every year, he finishes with a higher average YAC than many of the other top tight ends. Last year, he had a higher average YAC than Vernon Davis, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow and Visanthe Shiancoe. He also finished seventh in the NFL in total YAC, behind three wide receivers and three running backs (all of whom had more YAC than total yards, thanks to screen passes).

I noticed this a few seasons ago when I tracked every thing.

When you watch him with a critical eye, you notice that a majority of the time he gets tackled 1-on-1 he gets 2-4 yards after being wrapped up, half of it from falling down (6'5" with the ball held high in tight = 2 yards). When he's going vertical, it gets stretched to 5+. Only time he doesn't get that kind of YAC is when multiple defenders are there to tackle him or it's a sideline route. He doesn't have plays like last year when he outran Laron Landry over 30+ yards except for maybe once per season.

Basically, on every reception, Witten gets YAC.

 

[speedkilz88]

He was playing with a sprained knee. With that information I think it's understandable why he didn't get any yards after the catch and had problems blocking.

 

[jay cee]

Yeah the problem is they want him to lineup with the athleticism of a Gates, and be used almost just like another WR. Thats not Witten's game, sure he can have some success like that, but athletically he will never be a Vernon Davis or Gates type of guy. He brings alot to the table though, and that shouldn't be ignored just cause you want someone flashy.

I do believe that as we get more dynamic at WR position, that Witten's role could decrease in the passing game. Not a bad thing, and it will make the team more explosive in the process and free Witten up to do more of the things that make great teams win ballgames.

I believe Witten has excellent speed for a man his size. That's why he is impossible for those LB's to cover on that deep route down the middle of the field.

Vernon Davis is just a freak of nature, but I would not take him over Witten. And Gates may be more agile, but would not be surprised at all if Witten could beat him in the 40.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I think this is silly and not worth worrying about. He's the best TE in football, for my money, and he'll continue to be. The guy is on his way to a Hall of Fame career and he makes plenty of big plays for us.

 

[ringmaster]

Every year, we hear complaints about Witten's YAC, and every year, he finishes with a higher average YAC than many of the other top tight ends. Last year, he had a higher average YAC than Vernon Davis, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow and Visanthe Shiancoe. He also finished seventh in the NFL in total YAC, behind three wide receivers and three running backs (all of whom had more YAC than total yards, thanks to screen passes).

I don't think some remember that play last year against the Skins where he took a crossing route 69 yds in front of Landry, before getting tackled at the 1 yd line.

You're right about all of this Adam.

 

[joseephuss]

Witten's rankings compared to other tight ends.

2010
4th receptions
17th yards

2009
2nd receptions
3rd yards

2008
3rd receptions
2nd yards

2007
2nd receptions
2nd yards

2006
6th receptions
6th yards

2005
6th receptions
7th yards

2004
2nd receptions
2nd yards

2003
18th receptions
20th yards

Just think of where Witten would be ranked if he didn't suck so much.

I look at the 2005/2006 stats and remember how much Bledsoe sucked in Dallas.

 

[jay cee]

Witten's rankings compared to other tight ends.

2010
4th receptions
17th yards

2009
2nd receptions
3rd yards

2008
3rd receptions
2nd yards

2007
2nd receptions
2nd yards

2006
6th receptions
6th yards

2005
6th receptions
7th yards

2004
2nd receptions
2nd yards

2003
18th receptions
20th yards

Just think of where Witten would be ranked if he didn't suck so much.

I look at the 2005/2006 stats and remember how much Bledsoe sucked in Dallas.

no one said he sucked, everyone actually agrees that he is one of, if not THE best TE in the game.

 

[TheCount]

He's never been a great YAC guy. He doesn't have anything in the way of wiggle. Of he did, his numbers would be in the stratosphere considering all his catches.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

It's quite funny, because when Witten is running his routes, he looks plenty fast, but once he gets the ball, time seems to stop for him.

 

[5Stars]

I've said this many times...trade the bum!




I know he's cool and all that...but, he's over his prime. It's time to let Marty B teach Witten how to play!