He’s Back! Jason Witten returns to the Cowboys
He’s Back! Jason Witten returns to the Cowboys
Early Thursday afternoon, reports have come out that Hall of Fame Tight End Jason Witten has come out of the booth and back on to the field, as he announced he will be returning to the Dallas Cowboys for the 16th season in the NFL. There were reports that Witten might be leaving the booth, but it was unknown whether he would be returning to play again. Now the big question is, what does he have left in the tank?
Witten, an 11x Pro Bowler and 2x All-Pro selection and the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year, is a lock for the Hall of Fame and the numbers speak for itself. On top of the accolades just stated, Witten has started all 16 games in 12 of the 15 seasons. He has totaled 1,152 receptions for 12,448 yards with 68 TD. Before this year, Witten had the most receptions by a tight end in one season with 110. Zack Ertz broke that record this year with 116. Witten held this throne for 6 seasons. Besides the stats, the Hall of Famer will seal the edge or create a hole better than some offensive lineman. His run blocking should not be undervalued as it could pay Dallas huge dividends this year in the run game. Let’s dive into the aspects of the game that Witten can help in.
Safety Blanket
Is he the fastest? No. Is he the most explosive? No. But he will always get the job done when you need him to. Throughout his career, Jason Witten had become known as Ol’ Reliable. Whenever there was a play to be made or a third down that needed to be converted, you always look Witten’s way. With the style of checking down, middle of the field passing by Dak Prescott, getting Witten back can possibly complete the Dallas passing attack. Cole Beasley, a free agent, is likely to be done in Dallas, and he was the guy that was targeted the most on third down. Gaining Witten back can give the Cowboys the safety blanket that Dak needs, and it will come at a lot less of a cost than it would to keep Beasley. If Witten can still be that reliable target that will do the dirty work and get the job done, Dallas’ offense can beat up defenses from a lot of different angles.
Run Game
An aspect of the game that will probably be overlooked is the impact Witten can make is in the running game. Adding a guy like Jason to the line of scrimmage is adding an offensive lineman labeled as a Tight End. His ability to pick up blitzes for Dak or open up holes for Zeke can enhance the talents of both of these stars and give Dallas a better chance to win. This can benefit Dak and his fumbling problems too. If Dak can stay on his feet a little bit longer, it could make all of the difference.
Mentor and Leadership
Going into the playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys had the youngest average age for any team in the playoffs (25.7) and sometimes lacked leadership. Sean Lee was their perennial leader, but it’s hard to be a leader when you're sidelined with an injury. With Witten back in the mix, he could be the glue that keeps a locker room together. Witten has always played the game with class and could not be a better role model for this young Dallas roster, especially their young Tight Ends Blake Jarwin, Dalton Schultz, Geoff Swaim, and Rico Gathers.
Dallas lacked production last year in Witten’s absence. Not only can Witten provide the production, but he could be a mentor to the other Tight Ends on the roster. Out of the four listed, the one that stood out the most was Blake Jarwin. Jarwin, an Oklahoma State product, finished the season with 27 catches for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns, most of it coming towards the end of the season. Jarwin can pick Witten’s brain and learn from a Hall of Famer. A Tight End position would be beneficial for the style of offense that Dallas plays in, and Witten may be able to contribute and develop the young ones too
-By: Richie Dordas