Dallas Cowboys rookie Jake Ferguson can replace Dalton Schultz
By Reid Hanson
The word, “seamless” comes from early textile, indicating superior quality and workmanship to the point you cannot tell where one piece of fabric ends and another begins. The word has been used as a common descriptor to indicate smooth transitions in a variety of topics, up to and including personnel moves on the Dallas Cowboys.
To think a rookie like Jake Ferguson can slide in and replace an accomplished veteran like Dalton Schultz seamlessly, is probably a bit misguided, if not insulting, to the Dallas Cowboys franchise TE.
But we’re not talking about seamless. We’re talking more along the lines of “suitable” and that’s a big deal in itself. After Dalton Schultz fell to injury on Sunday, his status for Monday Night’s affair doesn’t look good. Replacing him will be rookie fourth round pick, Jake Ferguson.
Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot should have no problem playing TE for the Dallas Cowboys this week.
His untimely fumble notwithstanding, Dalton Schultz has been having a decent season this year. His blocking seems to have gotten better and his route running has been it’s normal reliable self. But Schultz is a free agent this winter and the Dallas Cowboys seem hesitant to lock him in long-term. Perhaps Ferguson can show them what life is like without Schultz on the field.
A Dallas Cowboys sneak peak?
Ready or not, it’s audition time for Jake Ferguson. The Wisconsin rookie has impressed every step of the way and seems light-years ahead of your average rookie tight end. If he can hold his own now, just the third game of his professional career, the Cowboys have to feel good about his ability to take over TE1 next season when Schultz departs.
Can the Dallas Cowboys still play 12 personnel?
12 personnel (2 TE sets) has been a fixture in Kellen Moore’s strategy guide. Before Blake Jarwin was hurt last season the Dallas Cowboys were top-5 in the NFL in 12 personnel usage. And just last week they ran 12 personnel 49% of the time – by far their most used grouping.
But like last year, Kellen could cut back on it’s usage if he doesn’t like the injury replacements. He clearly didn’t want to keep using 12 last year without Jarwin. He could feel the same way this year without Schultz.
Michael Gallup isn’t going to make his return tonight. It would have helped facilitate a shift back to 11 personnel if that’s the direction Moore wanted to take. But the viability of Jake Ferguson and Payton Hendershot at TE means Kellen could opt to run things the way he did last week. The two rookies should be more than capable of picking up Schultz’s slack.
Ferguson is every bit the blocker Schultz is (and more) and can play the traditional in-line role. While Hendershot is more Jarwin-like who can line up a variety of places as a pass catcher. Neither guy should be expected to execute assignments with the proficiency of Schultz, but for rookies they are probably going to happily surprise some folks.
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Must Read. WHY, the 2TE offense works so well for Dallas. light
What will the Cowboys offense look like in New Jersey tonight? We’ll see but just because Dalton Schultz might be out does not mean Kellen can’t lean on 12 personnel anymore.