The Dallas Cowboys and Their ‘Switz’ Army Knife

The Dallas Cowboys fourth round pick, Ryan Switzer, is multi-tool weapon that may put Dallas over the top in 2017.

Not many people would have predicted the Dallas Cowboys drafting a slot receiver in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Not with so many players on the board and so much more worthy “wants” and “needs” still left to address.

But alas the Cowboys did just that, when they selected the 5’8” 183lbs slot man out of North Carolina, Ryan Switzer, with the 133^rd pick. Admittedly, the move was tough to make sense of at the time. The Cowboys already had a top-5 slot receiver in Cole Beasley. Bease, one of Dak Prescott’s favorite targets, pulled in 75 receptions last season from the slot. And at only 5’8” 180lbs himself, he’s a poor fit anywhere but the slot.

Punt Returner

Ryan Switzer, a man of many tools, prides himself on his punt return skills, calling himself the best in the draft. He fearlessly (sometimes foolishly) charged into the belly of the beast fielding tough punts and gaining tough yards.

The Dallas Cowboys, desperate to upgrade their return game, likely drafted Lucky Whiteead’s replacement when they picked up the multi-tool Switzer. Switzer doesn’t just appear to be a better return man, but he also has experience carrying the ball as a runner (former running back) and should be able to instantly take over the jet sweep opportunities of Whitehead’s as well.

Two Slot Receivers

For years I’ve been talking about Jason Garrett’s affinity for the 12 personnel group that uses two tight ends and two receivers. And while I don’t think that dream has escaped Garrett’s mind, I think the idea of using two slot receivers in a 10 personnel package may have taken the front seat in Garrett’s fantasies.

And why not? The Cowboys already found increased success with Beasley in the 11 group, adding another slot man to the formula may prove to be unstoppable.

Rather than seeing Ryan Switzer as a replacement to Cole Beasley, he should be seen as a compliment to Cole Beasley. With Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams primarily at the X and Z receiver spots, Beasley and “The Switz Army Knife” can man the receiver spots in the slot – at the same time. Unless the opposing defense is in dime coverage, they will have to cover someone with a linebacker (or leave Dez in single coverage).

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I don’t know about you but I like my odds with Bease or Switz matched up with a linebacker. And I like my odds even more with Dez in single coverage.

It all goes back to the same appeal that the 12 personnel group had: it created difficult matchups.

12 personnel with pass-catching TEs is supposed to force opponents to pull their plodding LBs and replace them with an extra defensive back.

The same thing goes for the 10 personnel group. When the extra DB hits the field in the dime package, the offense flips the script and runs the ball – creating a brand new mismatch.

I don’t know about you but I like my odds running Ezekiel Elliott against a dime defense.

The Future?

It’s easy to get caught up looking down the road and predicting Ryan Switzer as Cole Beasley’s eventual replacement, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Bease is still just 28 and under contract for the next two seasons (buyout option following 2017). He’s Dak Prescott’s favorite target and play-for-play, the most open receiver on the Cowboys.

Ryan Switzer is an unproven rookie with an abrasive personality. The fire and competitiveness that make him a good player also make him a bit unlikeable. Let’s wait and see how he blends with the team and develops as a receiver before we hand him Cole’s job.

Next: What the Draft Taught us About the Cowboys

But Jason Garrett may be on to something with the addition of another slot receiver on offense. Obviously no one is banishing Jason Witten to the bench, but this kind of innovation could make the Cowboys offense even more unstoppable than it already is.

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