Dimensions at Receiver

I think these quotes give some good insights into what the coaches are thinking about the passing game, and why they chose not to draft a WR and still feel confident about the air attack, even beyond the existing WR corps.

Kevin Sharrington, DMN on Dan ny Amendola:

Can he be another Welker? He certainly has the pedigree and the quarterback. Leach tells us that Amendola isn't as quick as Welker, but he's faster.

Bottom line: If Jason Garrett takes advantage of Amendola's special set of skills, he could give the Cowboys a different dimension at receiver.

Tim McMahon on Martellus Bennett:

Bennett is eager to serve as Pro Bowl TE Jason Witten's "apprentice," but the Cowboys wouldn't have used a second-round pick on him unless they thought he could help them win this season. He'll be given a chance to earn the No. 2 tight end role, and his versatility should give Jason Garrett more freedom to create mismatches with the Cowboys' two-tight end packages. His size could add a dimension to the Cowboys' passing game. 

COWBOYS TE COACH JOHN GARRETT on Martellus Bennett (same link as above):

He's a good enough athlete to be a motion guy, be an on-the-line tight end or be in the slot. ... I expect him to challenge for playing time. That all hinges on how fast he can pick things up. I envision him seriously contributing in a significant part of the offense.

Tom Osborn on Martellus Bennett:

Owner Jerry Jones sees all kind of possibilities for Bennett in the red zone. The same goes for coach Wade Phillips, who suggested Bennett could follow in the footsteps of Antonio Gates because he's a former basketball player, just like San Diego's Pro Bowl tight end.

“(Bennett) just has a feel for where other people are,” Phillips said. “He's got that body control to rebound, where you have to go up and get the ball. I've already noticed him kind of put his hip in there and catch the ball on the side, like basketball players do.”

Phillips also raved about the way Bennett, who will wear No. 80, runs routes and gets open.

“I like the way he moves,” Phillips said. “He separates from the defensive backs or linebackers. He naturally does that well, which is a real positive.”

Another Bennett asset is his ability to block, something he did often for the Aggies. Because of that, the Cowboys can play Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten more in the slot, a move that could result in a mismatch if the defense covers him with a defensive back.

“(Bennett) gives us versatility,” Phillips said. “That's what we were looking for. If (he) can play ‘Y' (the in-line tight end), you can play two tight ends where you don't know which one is going to be the receiver.”

The Cowboys are counting on Bennett, who had 49 receptions as a junior last season, to make an immediate impact.

COWBOYS RB COACH SKIP PEETE on Felix Jones:

He's a guy that has the ability to be a runner inside and outside and be utilized in the passing game.

[...] 

That [route running] was something we had the opportunity to see [during minicamp]. He had the opportunity to run routes out of the backfield and catch the ball. He seems very comfortable doing that. He's very fluid. The guy is a very special kid in my mind. I had an opportunity to coach a guy who had a lot of similarities to him as far as impacting the game - a kid by the name of Charlie Garner.

Charlie Garner:

He was a multi-talented running back and an excellent receiver. In the 2002-03 season with the Oakland Raiders, he was the team's leading rusher with 962 yards and 7 touchdowns, while also leading all NFL running backs in receiving with 91 receptions for 941 yards and another 4 touchdowns.