DALLAS' SECRET WEAPON? Fourth-round pick could change offense

NoDak

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Bucky Brooks
NFL Media analyst
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The Dallas Cowboys' selection of Ryan Switzer with the 133rd overall pick barely registered a blip on the radar over draft weekend, but the 5-foot-8, 181-pound pass catcher could be the final piece to the team's championship puzzle.

Now, I know the thought of a No. 4 receiver playing a pivotal role on an offense that already features the NFL's best offensive line, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year (Dak Prescott), the league's rushing leader (Ezekiel Elliott) and one of the premier pass catchers in the game (Dez Bryant) seems like crazy talk, but if reports coming out of Big D are correct, the Cowboys' fourth-round selection is well on his way to adding a dynamic dimension to offense that could make the unit unstoppable in 2017.

According to those who cover the team, Switzer has been nothing short of sensational during OTAs, exhibiting the same combination of quickness, route-running ability and ball skills that made him the all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards at North Carolina.

He has capably filled in for Dallas' spectacular slot receiver Cole Beasleywith the first-team, and his success in workouts has already prompted the coaches to consider putting both diminutive playmakers on the field at the same time.

"[Switzer is] a classic slot receiver," Cowboys' offensive coordinator Scott Linehan told the Dallas Morning News following a recent practice." He has a similar game (to Cole Beasley), but he has his own things. We would really like those two guys to complement each other and run real similar route trees."

Naturally, whenever you think about a team maximizing the slot position to create an offense that drives defensive coordinators crazy, the New England Patriots come to mind. Bill Belichick has used the likes of Troy Brown, Deion Branch, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola to create mismatches. As catch-and-run specialists in the Patriots' "dink and dunk" offense, the slot receivers are asked to run a variety of routes within 12 yards of the line of scrimmage. These routes (pivot, jerk, option and short crossers) are designed to get the receivers the ball on the run and take advantage of their dynamic running skills in the open field.

(It is not a coincidence that each of the Patriots' slot receivers have been experienced punt returners with exceptional stop-start quickness and running skills.) With linebackers and safeties unable to corral the jitterbugs in space, New England has been able to build an offensive juggernaut that relies on shifty playmakers gobbling up yards on low-risk throws.

In Dallas, the combination of Switzer and Beasley will give the Cowboys the opportunity to play more small ball with four wideouts on the field, including a pair of slot receivers with identical games.

"He's another weapon," Prescott said last month, via the Dallas Morning News. "He reminds me of Beasley and the things that he can do. Playing in the slot, he had a lot of production at North Carolina.

"I know he's going to add another dynamic to this offense."

While the thought of taking Jason Witten off the field will make some long-time Cowboys' fans cringe, a four-receiver offense could help the 15th-year veteran have a greater impact down the stretch, due to a reduction in snaps during the regular season. Not to mention, subbing Switzer in for Witten would give the Cowboys more speed and quickness over the middle of the field.

"I love Witten, but he doesn't scare defenses any more," a former NFL defensive coordinator told me. "If they went to more four-receiver stuff with Switzer and Beasley on the field, it would cause more problems for defenses from a matchup standpoint."

Conceivably, Dallas could roll out a package with Bryant and Terrance Williams on the outside and the diminutive duo (Switzer and Beasley) on the inside. This lineup would allow the Cowboys to work a variety of combination routes between the hashes to take advantage of their ultra-quick slot receivers, while also giving Bryant a chance to win on isolated routes outside the numbers. If the Cowboys elected to move Bryant to a slot position, with Switzer or Beasley playing on the outside, opponents could watch the beastly receiver have his way with nickel corners and safeties over the middle of the field. Look at how other big-bodied receivers like Larry Fitzgerald have terrorized opponents while working in the slot.

While Dallas' desire to create mismatches in the passing game is one of the reasons why Switzer is pegged to have a "significant" role on offense, I believe the Cowboys might have a bigger vision for their offense with the four-receiver lineup playing a more prominent role in the game plan. I have a sneaky suspicion that Linehan might be creating a modernized version of the run-and-shoot that allows Ezekiel Elliott to play the role of Barry Sanders behind a powerful offensive line in a spread offense that creates natural running lanes between the tackles.

Before you call me crazy, I want you to think about how every defensive coordinator slated to face the Cowboys will make a concerted effort to stop the reigning rushing king. Defensive play callers spent the offseason crafting a variety of "plus one" fronts (eight-man fronts against two-back formations; seven-man fronts against one-back sets) designed to plug holes at the line of scrimmage to prevent the Cowboys' RB1 from controlling the game as a grinder. If the Cowboys move away from their traditional lineups to feature more "10" personnel package (one running back and four receivers), defensive coordinators will suddenly encounter a different dilemma when coming up with a plan to defend the offense. I'm not alone in this line of thinking, either.

"If the Cowboys use more four-receiver sets, you have to decide whether you want to play 'big' or 'small' to match up with them," the former NFL defensive coordinator told me. "You also have to decide whether you want to load the box with an extra run defender to stop Zeke or keep another safety deep to keep Bryant in check. Plus, you also have to have a plan to slow down Beasley and Switzer if they are wearing out your nickel and dime defenders over the middle.

"This is same problem the Detroit Lions used to give defensive coordinators in the 1990s with Sanders, but their offensive line wasn't nearly as good. With the Cowboys' personnel up front, they are nearly impossible to defend when they spread you out."
Scary, huh?

But that's not the end of it. The move to more spread formations with "10" personnel on the field could also help Prescott settle in as a second-year starter. The 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year shined running an offense that wasn't necessarily built for him. Sure, he was effective and efficient directing an attack that was ideally suited for Tony Romo, but imagine how good he could be if the offense was specifically designed to fit his strengths as a player. Remember, Prescott played in a spread offense at Mississippi State that routinely opened up the formation to make it easier for the QB to read coverage at the line and find passing lanes down the field. The Cowboys used a lot of empty formations a season ago to create similar advantages, but they could certainly enhance their offense with four-receiver personnel packages that provide more formation flexibility for the young passer.

With Switzer in line to play a key role on a Cowboys offense that could spark a Super Bowl run, it looks like Jerry Jones might've stumbled upon a missing piece to the championship puzzle on Day 3 of the draft for the second year in a row.
 

midswat

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Okay. I'm interested.

Not sure I trust our offensive staff to utilize this correctly, but lets give it a shot.
 

skidadl

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Being the slot receiver whore that I am, I've always wanted our offense to go this way. Have an extra dimension to the offense is huge is keeping drives alive. High percentage throws, using all areas of the field and having additional check-down opportunities - I love it.
 

boozeman

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I hate that I am excited for Switzer, but I also know inevitably our offensive scheme is rigid and they love them some Witten too much.
 

ravidubey

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They are emulating the Patriots. Right away these kinds of WRs help fill in the gaps between big plays. In NE, now they are also directly making big plays.
 

p1_

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I hate that I am excited for Switzer, but I also know inevitably our offensive scheme is rigid and they love them some Witten too much.
Witten is on the way out, slowly maybe but on the decline still. This could help the transition to whomever will eventually replace him. Rico Suave Gathers?
 

lostxn

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I don't know why we need a tight end and FB to run. Screw it, run out of 4 WR sets. Then you have one LB to block. I like Zeke's chances against any CB.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I don't know why we need a tight end and FB to run. Screw it, run out of 4 WR sets. Then you have one LB to block. I like Zeke's chances against any CB.
The FB especially. I've always thought he was kind of in the way. No running ability, no real plays designed to give him the ball, and generally they block far worse than an O-lineman does. So what exactly is the point of a FB in todays NFL?

But it worked last year and I really don't want to mess with our running game. We know what we are doing there.
 

Simpleton

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This guy is going to be solid but there are going to be some times where he gets rocked up big time with those little baby arms of his and the lack of ability to extend to make catches.
 

Cowboysrock55

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This guy is going to be solid but there are going to be some times where he gets rocked up big time with those little baby arms of his and the lack of ability to extend to make catches.
Yeah his catch radius seems to be his biggest downside. I'm not really worried about him getting rocked. These guys with low centers of gravity tend to take less big hits and sustain fewer injuries. But that limited catch radius means he needs more separation in order to run specific routes. Dez basically needs no separation on a deep route to be able to come up with it. Someone like Switzer is going to need substantially more separation than that.
 
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