More Witten please!!!
by JohnnyRender on Nov 17, 2009 7:58 PM CST
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It is hard to look at a guy who is projected to catch 87 passes and say that he is in a "slump."
But doesn't it seem like he is disappearing from games? In the past several years, defenses constantly had to worry about Witten finding a pocket in the zone over the middle and getting hit in stride by Romo for 35 yards. Now, we see him catching 6 yard outs on 3rd and 9.
Don't believe me? Here are some numbers to ponder. Last season, he had 14 catches of 20+ yards (12 and 10 the years before that), and this year he has only THREE (his longest reception is only 22 yards). He has only scored one TD--ONE! Another disturbing trend is his yards per catch--8.9 yards per catch compared to 11.8+ each year between 2006-2008. Think about that for a second: He is averaging almost 10 feet less PER CATCH. Stand up and pace off 10 feet for some perspective. Again, that is PER CATCH.
Dear Mr. Garrett: I know everyone wants you to get Roy Williams, Miles Austin and even guys like Ogletree more into the mix, but our #1 concern should be upping the numbers of Romo's "best friend" Witten!
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I hate to be the negative nancy here but during last weeks game i really have begun to worry about witten. obviously in the interview you mentioned his numbers are down and thats not really an issue with the way austin has stepped up recently but during the felix jones non fumble recovery did anybody watch jason witten on that play? he looked like the slowest person on earth. i sware to god wade phillips can beat him in a race. witten has been my favorite player for a while now and i know hes never been the fastest but im really beginning to wonder if hes beginning to lose it. hes taken so many hits and played through alot of injuries i really do wonder if they have started takinga toll on him. i see the same kind of thing in marion barber and felix jones although they have taken nowhere near the ammount of punishment that jason witten has throughout his career. to me this team looks like it really needs a bye week, not 2 games in 5 days. theres still alot of football left, i hope this team has enough left in the tank to finish strong.
Thats what i posted in the jason witten interview thread. I was gonna start a seperate topic about this yesterday but i didn’t wanna get yelled at for making a fanpost when it should have been a fanshot or whatever. I don’t mean to complain about witten who has been one of the best tight ends and strait up football players ever…but he sure doesn’t look that way last week. I think he could use some rest. Give marty b a little more playing time against the giants and raiders IMO
I made the same point
About looking a step slow in my Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down post. Something is just not right. I agree that the years of blocking and flat out knock down play (the kind we love from Witten) may have taken its toll. Unfortunately, I think it is going to get worse now that Columbo is out. Witten may find himself at almost full time max protect. Teams have figured out just to blitz the hell out of the Cowboys in shotgun.
by WhatsUpPorkchop on Nov 18, 2009 11:17 AM CST reply actions
he benefitted from the coverage TO drew
i was afraid of a drop in production this year
This strikes at the heart of my bet with Terry
The long ball is not as much a part of the Dallas Cowboys namely because we don’t have #81.
Now before people start going all nut-case and assume I am lobbying on 2’s behalf, I’m not. I’m glad he’s gone and have made that repeatedly clear.
Nonetheless, I said Dallas’ offense would be more controlled through the air this year and that any big yardage plays would be more of the YAC variety than those where the ball travels 20+ yards in the air.
I love what Austin brings in terms of straight line speed, but he isn’t as adept at shaking free of a good CB as you-know-who was…
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Except
Doesn’t Dallas lead the league in plays over 20+ yards? I may have that fact wrong. I actually think they may be relying on the home run hope a little too much.
Don’t disagree with you on Austin. I would like to see him work free more in the short and intermediate routes.
by WhatsUpPorkchop on Nov 19, 2009 2:01 PM CST up reply actions
True,
But how many of those 20+ yard plays were there because of YAC?
Smart man
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Maybe not after last week
Oof!
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
lol, nice try bling
but you know as well as I do Austin can blow by CBs just as well as the Cancer.
In Romo we Trust
No...he can't
Maybe some day, but he doesn’t have the mental understanding of how to set up corners and do the little things 2 did.
Austin is straight line competent, but he isn’t yet where 2 was…
"Emotion is highly overrated in football. My wife Corky is emotional as hell but can't play football worth a damn."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I disagree
He’s not using straight speed to burn theses CB’s, he definitely sets them up. Someday soon, you will be forced to admit you under estimated Austin, because you’re a stand up guy Blings ;)
You can't stop Patrick Crayton, you can only hope to contain him.
by APerfectStar on Nov 20, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions
Why are we calling him 2?
The Knights season may have just ended, but the Cowboys year is just begining!
by aussie_cowboy on Nov 22, 2009 9:42 AM CST up reply actions
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