Dallas Cowboys: Why Drafting a TE Early Isn’t a Terrible Idea
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Cowboys have a long and sorted history of blowing high draft picks on tight ends. Here’s why using an early pick isn’t such a terrible idea this go-around.
The Cowboys’ laundry list of failed tight ends is ugly and painful. Anthony Fasano, Martellus Bennett, and Gavin Escobar (all second round picks) highlight the Dallas Cowboys failure to develop a tight end to play beside future Hall of Famer, Jason Witten.
From the Fasano pick in 2006, to the Bennett pick in 2008, to the Escobar pick in 2013, fans were left scratching their heads and offering up a few choice words along the way. Why would the Dallas Cowboys spend such a valuable pick when we already have Jason Witten on the roster, we somewhat rhetorically asked.
The Two Tight End “12″ Personnel Package
Bill Parcels explained the drafting of Anthony Fasano by calling the second TE a starter. In much the same way we call the nickel (or 3rd) cornerback a starter, Parcels had dreams of operating almost exclusively out of a two tight end set.
New England offered up a golden example of how great a two tight end offense could be. When Aaron Hernandez wasn’t murdering people, he teamed with Rob Gronkowski to form quite an unstoppable attack. Bill Parcels saw it and he wanted it. Jason Garrett saw it as well which is why he continued the quest to bring in that second “starting” TE.
In fact, when the Cowboys traded back to #31 in the 2013 Draft, they were hoping Tyler Eifert (amongst others, reportedly) would have still been available. As it happens Eifert was gone to Cincinnati and the Cowboys settled on Travis Frederick. Things clearly worked out great for the Cowboys but they very possibly could have ended with a first round TE lining up alongside Jason Witten. And that would have only further illustrated the desire to implement a 2-TE set.
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Advantages to the 12 Personnel
There is no harder position on the field to defend against than the tight end. Too big to cover with a cornerback, too fast to cover with a linebacker, a pass-catching tight end can be a nightmare for defensive coordinators. Some teams have linebackers who can keep up and/or cornerbacks who can stand up, but how many have two on their team that can neutralize a two tight end attack?
But besides the obvious mismatches in coverage, the two tight end set also helps significantly in the running game. Particularly in stopping eight-man run-stopping fronts.
As we all know, the Dallas Cowboys attack is built on their running game. Ezekiel Elliott and the offensive line paved the way to victory week after week forcing defenses to move a safety into the box. The extra defender allowed defenses to cover every gap and in an attempt to stop the run before it starts. An extra tight end takes that advantage away. And renders the fullback position virtually worthless.
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Finally, playing out of a 12 personnel package won’t tip the hand of the offenses intentions. It could be a run, a pass, or a play-action. It could be shotgun, spread, bunch, or motion. With two capable tight ends on the field, the defense wouldn’t know it until it was too late.
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Disadvantages to the 12 Personnel
Sadly, there are also disadvantages to the two tight end formation. One of which is that it often comes at the expense of the slot receiver. If the Cowboys line up two tight ends and a running back, they only have room for two receivers. That means slot receiver Cole Beasley would likely get the boot and that is a waste of a perfectly good Bease.
Beasley, playing on a 4-year / $13.6M deal, is for all intents and purposes the Dallas Cowboys second receiving option. He led the team in receptions last season and would likely be looked to again even if the Dallas Cowboys effectively employed a two tight end base package in 2017.
Beasley isn’t a good option on the outside as an “X” or “Z” receiver so the Dallas Cowboys would have to find a way to keep in the slot in a 12 package. Using a Tight Wing formation (which places both tight ends on one side) the Cowboys could move both receivers to the side opposite their tight ends. Dez Bryant would obviously be the X receiver on the outside and Beasley (the second receiver) would be the inside receiver playing the slot role.
The Cowboys could also line up in Dubs or Trips, stacking Beasley behind them. At the end of the day, using 12 personnel doesn’t have to exclude Cole Beasley as long as the Cowboys are willing to adapt and work around the issue.
In coming weeks, particularly after the NFL Combine (2017 NFL Combine Schedule), we’ll look at the tight end class and identify some players who could help the Dallas Cowboys dreams of a two tight end offense finally come to fruition.
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If the Dallas Cowboys could find that second tight end they’ve been searching for, it may make them all-the-more unstoppable on offense in both the running game as well as the passing game. Jason Witten will be retiring at some point, but proactively replacing him shouldn’t be the motivation. The two tight end offense should be the motivation.
So while drafting a tight end early certainly isn’t preferable to me, the idea isn’t as terrible as it has seemed in the past.