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Lucky Whitehead gives offense much-needed juice
Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Coach Jason Garrett and playcaller Scott Linehan spent the bye week making sure their secret weapon was ready to be unveiled against the New York Giants.
None of us had any idea it was going to be rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead, who carried the ball four times for 35 yards.
It was the most carries for a receiver in franchise history and it was the most carries by a Cowboys receiver since Kevin Williams had three in 1995.
When you think about it, it makes sense. Whitehead, who earned a roster spot because of his potential as a kick and punt returner, is the one player on this offense with the potential to make big plays who hadn’t been given an opportunity to do it.
Now he has.
The Cowboys handed him the ball on jet sweeps; plays in which he lines up in the slot and takes the handoff from Matt Cassel.
He had a long run of 15 yards, but it was a 4-yard run on third-and-2 that excited Garrett.
“That play was outstanding,” Garret said. “They played outside, but he put his foot in the ground, went north and south and made the first down.”
The Cowboys have used a lot of fake reverses over the past couple of seasons, which are designed to freeze a defender and create a running lane elsewhere, but had rarely given the receiver the ball.
With Lance Dunbar out for the season with a torn ACL and the offense struggling to make big plays, the Cowboys figured Whitehead might have some big-play potential.
“They’re hard to defend,” Garrett said, “because typically the guy who’s responsible for defending them has his hand on the ground.
“Again, when you attack a defense a lot of different ways it helps you. I thought he did a good job of taking advantage of his opportunities."
Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Coach Jason Garrett and playcaller Scott Linehan spent the bye week making sure their secret weapon was ready to be unveiled against the New York Giants.
None of us had any idea it was going to be rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead, who carried the ball four times for 35 yards.
It was the most carries for a receiver in franchise history and it was the most carries by a Cowboys receiver since Kevin Williams had three in 1995.
When you think about it, it makes sense. Whitehead, who earned a roster spot because of his potential as a kick and punt returner, is the one player on this offense with the potential to make big plays who hadn’t been given an opportunity to do it.
Now he has.
The Cowboys handed him the ball on jet sweeps; plays in which he lines up in the slot and takes the handoff from Matt Cassel.
He had a long run of 15 yards, but it was a 4-yard run on third-and-2 that excited Garrett.
“That play was outstanding,” Garret said. “They played outside, but he put his foot in the ground, went north and south and made the first down.”
The Cowboys have used a lot of fake reverses over the past couple of seasons, which are designed to freeze a defender and create a running lane elsewhere, but had rarely given the receiver the ball.
With Lance Dunbar out for the season with a torn ACL and the offense struggling to make big plays, the Cowboys figured Whitehead might have some big-play potential.
“They’re hard to defend,” Garrett said, “because typically the guy who’s responsible for defending them has his hand on the ground.
“Again, when you attack a defense a lot of different ways it helps you. I thought he did a good job of taking advantage of his opportunities."
