Watkins: Gavin Escobar seeing decreased workload

Gavin Escobar seeing decreased workload
October, 8, 2014

By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- Second-year tight end Gavin Escobar has become a forgotten man in the Dallas Cowboys' run-oriented offense the first five weeks of the season. While running back DeMarco Murray leads the NFL in rushing with his torrid pace, Escobar, a pass-catching tight end, sits.

Escobar, a 2013 second-round pick, played just four snaps in last week's victory over the Houston Texans, the second fewest of his career.

"I guess it's tough to be patient," Escobar said. "You got to take advantage of your opportunities when your name is called, and that’s what I’m trying to do."

Escobar said he was surprised by the lack of playing time this season, but it's attributed to several things: Jason Witten is the starter and an elite tight end, Murray has had success on the ground and Escobar has struggled as a run blocker.

Tight end James Hanna gets more playing time than Escobar because he's a better blocker.

"We have a lot of plays and packages for him to get out there," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said of Escobar. "Sometimes you get a chance to call those things. Other times you are doing different things to try to win the games. So he's ready. He is getting better. He is healthier than he has been. He did a good job fighting through his injury. Hopefully he will get some chances as we go here."

Escobar was dealing with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder and a sprained MCL in his left knee that slowed his development. But now he's healthy and continues to wait for his chance.

"There are some things we think he does better than James Hanna," Garrett said. "There are some things James Hanna does better than he does. We try to give those guys opportunities to do what they do best when they are in those two-tight-end packages. We have done some three-tight-end stuff up to this point. He is a good player and he is getting better. And he is working hard at it. He will get opportunities as we go forward."

How hard is it to put him in motion to split him out wide and create a mismatch once or twice a game?

Deuce said:

How hard is it to put him in motion to split him out wide and create a mismatch once or twice a game?

Click to expand...

Exactly, we know he has good hands its not like with Bennett, the unknown factor of him dropping crucial passes.

This would be a great week to unveil some special packages for him and Dunbar, with that said its not like the offence is sputtering the only times they have faltered has been due to turnovers.

Guy is slow and stiff, can't block.

He sucks and should probably be cut.

What a wasted pick.

But...the Jer knows best and we need them there TEs and CBs relative to competing for that expanded playoff race.

UncleMilti said:

What a wasted pick.

But...the Jer knows best and we need them there TEs and CBs relative to competing for that expanded playoff race.

Click to expand...

Garrett has the TE fetish is was widely reported he did not want to draft Escobar and Garrett pushed him for it.

Jiggyfly said:

Garrett has the TE fetish is was widely reported he did not want to draft Escobar and Garrett pushed him for it.

Click to expand...

Yea, Jerry even made him promise he'd find a way to use him

Yeah, you have to put the blame for drafting Escobar on Garrett.

Although, I supposed one could argue that a real GM would have told Garrett and co. that they'd have to make due with Hanna as the 2nd TE.

Also remember Hanna finished the 2012 season with a couple of solid performances. So he'd shown flashes of being a useful backup TE. There was certainly no need to take a stab at another TE.

Personally I don't think Escobar has been given an opportunity to display his wares. It unfortunate that he was drafted to a team that has a future HOFer.
I really Don't know how good the guy can be. He likely will not get much of a chance to play in Dallas.

i agree with LT fan

we are not into a two TE system for anything but blocking, i don't think

if we used excobar like hernandez he'd excel i think. either our other receivers are more dynamic or he just sucks

Didn't need a crystal ball on draft day to see this coming.

L.T. Fan said:

Personally I don't think Escobar has been given an opportunity to display his wares. It unfortunate that he was drafted to a team that has a future HOFer.
I really Don't know how good the guy can be. He likely will not get much of a chance to play in Dallas.

Click to expand...

Does anyone think Hanna was a blocking TE? He was basically like Escobar coming out.

He worked at it and has found his way as a blocker.

If Escobar were at Hanna's level, or even close, he'd get more than three gimmick plays a game.

Sorry, he was a miss. A big one. Not 100% his fault, but you can't just say he has been misused. He's just not good enough and may never be.

boozeman said:

Does anyone think Hanna was a blocking TE? He was basically like Escobar coming out.

He worked at it and has found his way as a blocker.

If Escobar were at Hanna's level, or even close, he'd get more than three gimmick plays a game.

Sorry, he was a miss. A big one. Not 100% his fault, but you can't just say he has been misused. He's just not good enough and may never be.

Click to expand...

Hanna did not become a plus blocker until this year calling Escobar a miss 4 games into his second year is way premature, Hanna was still a liability at that point.

And yes he is misused he has not been used to strengths coming out which is as a receiving TE, has he done anything to tell you he cannot catch passes?

Jiggyfly said:

Hanna did not become a plus blocker until this year calling Escobar a miss 4 games into his second year is way premature, Hanna was still a liability at that point.

And yes he is misused he has not been used to strengths coming out which is as a receiving TE, has he done anything to tell you he cannot catch passes?

Click to expand...

There is a big difference between a 2nd round pick and a 6th rounder.

Hanna has carved himself a role. Escobar has flopped around. Hanna is at least serviceable as a blocker and all that matters, is that he's better than Escobar. And it is not even debatable.

And let's be honest, if he had Aaron Hernandez like talent as a receiver, it would have been showcased by now.

He's just not good enough to fit what we do right now. If ever, really.

Jiggyfly said:

Hanna did not become a plus blocker until this year calling Escobar a miss 4 games into his second year is way premature, Hanna was still a liability at that point.

And yes he is misused he has not been used to strengths coming out which is as a receiving TE, has he done anything to tell you he cannot catch passes?

Click to expand...

Use some fucking punctuation. God damn.

Being a TE is about more than catching passes. If he wants Hanna's spot or even some of his snaps he'd better earn them by working harder as a blocker.

Hanna was basically a big slow WR when we drafted him (Witten wasn't regarded as a very good blocker coming out for that matter). But he's put in the time to round out his game. He's not on Witten's level obviously but he's not a huge liability our there like Escobar. The draft choice made no sense in the first place, but Escobar has made it look worse by getting bypassed by a 6th rounded.

Jiggyfly said:

This would be a great week to unveil some special packages for him and Dunbar

Click to expand...

I think you've got something there, especially the Dunbar part.

boozeman said:

There is a big difference between a 2nd round pick and a 6th rounder.

Hanna has carved himself a role. Escobar has flopped around. Hanna is at least serviceable as a blocker and all that matters, is that he's better than Escobar. And it is not even debatable.

And let's be honest, if he had Aaron Hernandez like talent as a receiver, it would have been showcased by now.

He's just not good enough to fit what we do right now. If ever, really.

Click to expand...

The point is that 5 games into his second year Hanna was not a plus blocker and draft position has nothing to do with that.

The book on Escobar is not done its not like the TE has been heavily featured this year, and we know how long it takes to get into romo's circle of trust, especially when its taking away from his BFF Witten.