NoDak
Hotlinking' sonofabitch
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 23,025
By: Zeke Barrera | 4 hours ago
After being one of the team’s hallmarks for years, the Dallas Cowboys’ tight end position ventured into unknown in 2018 without Jason Witten. Collectively, the TE unit made up of mostly young and inexperienced players performed admirably, but left plenty of room to grow.
Also left open was the door atop the depth chart. Entering his second year and decidedly the most Witten-like, is 22-year-old Dalton Schultz ready to take the mantle?
What to make of Dallas’s current TE situation is anyone’s guess. There’s the returning future Hall of Famer, now 37-years-old and who just spent the past season calling Monday Night Football games from the broadcast booth. There’s the potential receiving threat in Blake Jarwin, and the tantalizing yet enigmatic former college basketball player Rico Gathers (who’s season will be limited to only 15 games due to a recent suspension). But perhaps the most crucial aspect of the unit will be the development of Schultz, the do-everything TE who the team initially pegged as their Witten-replacement in the 2018 draft.
In recent years, Stanford has become a tight end factory for the NFL. From Coby Fleener to Levine Toilolo, Zach Ertz to Austin Hooper, several NFL teams have turned to the university in hopes of solidifying their TE position. In 2018, Schultz became the latest former Cardinal TE to enter the league when Dallas drafted him in the fourth round (137th overall). At the time, many praised the Cowboys’ selection, who seemingly received good value for the player in a draft in which everyone knew they’d take a TE.
Schultz didn’t quite grab the starting job by the horns, appearing in only 11 games, but he did make seven starts. And much like Jarwin, Schutlz saw his role expand as the season wore on, as 236 of his 300 offensive snaps last season came in Weeks 12 – 17. Although a late-season injury to Geoff Swaim opened up more playing time, his progress was plain to see, and belies his modest season stat line of 12 receptions for 116 receiving yards.
Perhaps most in Schultz’s favor is his tenacity and willingness to block. It’s no secret what the Cowboys require of their TEs, and perhaps what has most held back players like Jarwin and Gathers and the several other prospects the team has attempted to develop alongside Witten. Dallas TEs play a huge role in their run game, and need to be plus blockers. Schultz’s blocking abilities are a big reason why many draft analysts were so high on his selection.
However, it definitely wasn’t the most seamless of transitions for Schultz as he entered the NFL. His rookie year had plenty of ugly moments, especially in the beginning, as he struggled to play with enough strength to do what the Cowboys asked of him.
But much like the entire team, his best football came at the end of the season. Schultz was able to make strides in his run blocking efforts, and flash just enough as a pass catcher to believe he can continue a steady trajectory into becoming an integral part of the Dallas offense. There is definitely a Cowboys blueprint for the under-drafted, sure-handed blocking tight end to develop into a master route-runner and safety valve for the offense.
The most encouraging sign Schultz gave however, came during the team’s wild-card playoff win. Trailing early in the fourth quarter and in the red zone, Dak Prescott audibled. Schultz was able to reassure his quarterback the same way a savvy veteran would, having read the defense and instantly known what they just called was going to work.
Needing the go-ahead score, Schultz told Prescott, “You’re money” after he called for the red zone QB run. He then takes on the DE by himself, allowing Tyron Smith and Ezekiel Elliott to throw blocks for Prescott to read and reach the end zone.
Much like in the same way Witten and Travis Frederick are lauded for their on-field presence, having another mind to process defenses and assist Prescott at the line will be huge going forward. Schultz’s contributions may not be as flashy as the other components of the offense, but his development could be among the most crucial.
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I told you guys the moment this kid was drafted he was going to be our next big TE. And since I'm never wrong, well... Enjoy.
After being one of the team’s hallmarks for years, the Dallas Cowboys’ tight end position ventured into unknown in 2018 without Jason Witten. Collectively, the TE unit made up of mostly young and inexperienced players performed admirably, but left plenty of room to grow.
Also left open was the door atop the depth chart. Entering his second year and decidedly the most Witten-like, is 22-year-old Dalton Schultz ready to take the mantle?
What to make of Dallas’s current TE situation is anyone’s guess. There’s the returning future Hall of Famer, now 37-years-old and who just spent the past season calling Monday Night Football games from the broadcast booth. There’s the potential receiving threat in Blake Jarwin, and the tantalizing yet enigmatic former college basketball player Rico Gathers (who’s season will be limited to only 15 games due to a recent suspension). But perhaps the most crucial aspect of the unit will be the development of Schultz, the do-everything TE who the team initially pegged as their Witten-replacement in the 2018 draft.
In recent years, Stanford has become a tight end factory for the NFL. From Coby Fleener to Levine Toilolo, Zach Ertz to Austin Hooper, several NFL teams have turned to the university in hopes of solidifying their TE position. In 2018, Schultz became the latest former Cardinal TE to enter the league when Dallas drafted him in the fourth round (137th overall). At the time, many praised the Cowboys’ selection, who seemingly received good value for the player in a draft in which everyone knew they’d take a TE.
Schultz didn’t quite grab the starting job by the horns, appearing in only 11 games, but he did make seven starts. And much like Jarwin, Schutlz saw his role expand as the season wore on, as 236 of his 300 offensive snaps last season came in Weeks 12 – 17. Although a late-season injury to Geoff Swaim opened up more playing time, his progress was plain to see, and belies his modest season stat line of 12 receptions for 116 receiving yards.
Perhaps most in Schultz’s favor is his tenacity and willingness to block. It’s no secret what the Cowboys require of their TEs, and perhaps what has most held back players like Jarwin and Gathers and the several other prospects the team has attempted to develop alongside Witten. Dallas TEs play a huge role in their run game, and need to be plus blockers. Schultz’s blocking abilities are a big reason why many draft analysts were so high on his selection.
However, it definitely wasn’t the most seamless of transitions for Schultz as he entered the NFL. His rookie year had plenty of ugly moments, especially in the beginning, as he struggled to play with enough strength to do what the Cowboys asked of him.
But much like the entire team, his best football came at the end of the season. Schultz was able to make strides in his run blocking efforts, and flash just enough as a pass catcher to believe he can continue a steady trajectory into becoming an integral part of the Dallas offense. There is definitely a Cowboys blueprint for the under-drafted, sure-handed blocking tight end to develop into a master route-runner and safety valve for the offense.
The most encouraging sign Schultz gave however, came during the team’s wild-card playoff win. Trailing early in the fourth quarter and in the red zone, Dak Prescott audibled. Schultz was able to reassure his quarterback the same way a savvy veteran would, having read the defense and instantly known what they just called was going to work.
Needing the go-ahead score, Schultz told Prescott, “You’re money” after he called for the red zone QB run. He then takes on the DE by himself, allowing Tyron Smith and Ezekiel Elliott to throw blocks for Prescott to read and reach the end zone.
Much like in the same way Witten and Travis Frederick are lauded for their on-field presence, having another mind to process defenses and assist Prescott at the line will be huge going forward. Schultz’s contributions may not be as flashy as the other components of the offense, but his development could be among the most crucial.
---------------------------
I told you guys the moment this kid was drafted he was going to be our next big TE. And since I'm never wrong, well... Enjoy.
