Can TE Rico Gathers be More Than a Just Receiving Threat?

Rico Gathers, Rams — Dallas Cowboys TE Rico Gathers

Rico Gathers is trying to follow in the footsteps of Tony Gonzales, Antonio Gates, and Jimmy Graham as someone who has successfully made the transition from college basketball player to tight end in the NFL. Unfortunately, that transition hasn’t gone quite as smoothly as he probably would’ve hoped.

To date, Gathers really hasn’t been able to put a lot on tape. He spent his rookie season on the practice squad with the Dallas Cowboys, but did gain some valuable experience working with Tony Romo. Last year he was just beginning to show what kind of threat he could be in the passing game when he unfortunately sustained a concussion in practice, pretty much ending his season.

As you can imagine, Rico Gathers still has a lot to prove heading into the 2018 season. In no way is his roster spot guaranteed right now. He may still be the most talented and physically gifted TE on the Cowboys roster, but that will only get him so far.

I for one think Gathers can be a tremendous threat in the passing game. I think the flashes we saw in preseason a year ago are exactly the kind of weapon he can turn into for Dak Prescott. He is even working a route running guru, David Robinson, to become even better in the passing game. But, we all know the Cowboys coaching staff demands a lot more from their tight ends.

Rico Gathers, Dalton Schultz — **Dallas Cowboys TE Rico Gathers**

In the Cowboys offensive scheme, the tight end is an important position. They have to be able to block in several different areas depending on the formation, especially at the point of attack as an in-line blocker, sometimes being left one on one against a defensive end. That means they have to be assignment sound pre and post snap, with the ability to make the right adjustments in a split second.

For Rico Gathers, this is the area of his game holding him back the most right now. We all know what kind of threat he can be in the passing game, but the Cowboys coaching staff wants someone they can trust to leave on the field down after down. This is where Gathers will have to prove himself the remainder of the offseason.

The Dallas Cowboys knew Rico Gathers was a developmental prospect when they drafted him in the sixth-round of the 2016 NFL Draft. They didn’t know how long it would take for him to be be able to contribute, but that time may be running out. Year 3 could be his last chance to prove himself in Dallas.

Gathers is a mismatch player in the passing game against smaller defensive backs, but that might not be enough for the Cowboys coaching staff to keep him around. I would personally get him involved in the receiving game, especially with all the new faces Prescott will be throwing to this season, but unfortunately I’m not making those decisions.

Do you think Rico Gathers is more than just a passing game threat?

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Brian Martin

Level C2/C3 quadriplegic. College graduate with a bachelors degree in sports and health sciences-concentration sports management. Sports enthusiast. Dallas Cowboys fanatic. Lover of life with a glass half-full point of view.

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28 Comments

kabob 7 years ago

Oh yeah, Rico looking so great in training camp.... NOT. Dude is about to be cut from the team.
Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago

Yesssss And it will allow for much pressure off the up & coming-together receiving corp
SmittyW 7 years ago

Rico if you spent more time training instead of using a fake name to comment on articles about you, it’s possible though unlikely you will make the team.
Russ_Te 7 years ago

If RG is just too much of a liability as a blocker, that will show up and he'll be cut this preseason. If he has upside there, then get him in the pre-season games a lot and let's see how much of a target he is. The team needs an inside weapon badly enough this year, to tolerate a learning curve as a blocker.
Not your goat 7 years ago

I understand the concern over his pass/run blocking but on a team short of potential passing mismatches or just targets period it would be foolish to not give Rico every chance to contribute on offense. If you honestly look at this Recieving core as a whole the only 2 guys that have the potential physical ability to do things that are undefendable are Rico and Tavon. That's a scary balance of size and speed and pure speed to gameplan against. Unproven but again on a team short of difference makers I'd give every opportunity to the guy who can impose his will and make plays that other options on the team can't.
1. Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago
  
  Question If Rico is on the field with (say for example) Swaim & Jarwin or Schultz & Swaim in a 2-3 TE set defenses just cant assume run or pass Just how hard is this to phantom for God's sake?! I agree with you
  1. Not your goat 7 years ago
    
    Schultz was widely considered the 2nd best run blocking TE (w/ a min. catch amount) in College Football, the best 1 we picked up as a UDFA. If we can use a 4th rd pick in hope of teaching a man to catch we certainly can teach a blue chip athlete how to block or at least do the bare minimum. Don't forget we have a few All-Pro Linemen that love to pull and clean up linebackers. Those 2-3 TE sets would be so scary to teams. Most people think defenses stacked the box because we had Zeke, no the did it because Witten never left the field and he's not fast. Imagine running the Wishbone over and over on a hurry up offense and Rico slips past a safety or 8 plays later on 2nd down we sub Austin, Thompson and Cedric Wilson. Doesn't seem very scary yet but considering those guys all run legit 4.3's and we just punched it down the throat of your heavy D-sets these guys will be running wild. I can't wait, this team is so complete I can't stand waiting anymore.
    1. Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago
      
      Philly, LA Rams & others are employing more college schemes with success Dak says part of Dak-friendly is spread offense & other techniques he's accustom to So yeah, I can see something of the sort
Chet Horton 7 years ago

No he won’t and he isn’t even a threat in the passing game. He is an awful football player. He is a horrible route runner and can’t block even a little bit. He doesn’t know the offense. He isn’t any faster and definitely not as quick as any of the real TE’s on the roster. The only thing he has on even the worst TE in the NFL is height and he can rebound. As a pro football player he is a waste of time, space, and money. The sooner we cut him and move on the better.
1. Not your goat 7 years ago
  
  Did you watch the Cowboys in the preseason last year? Rico played like what Marty Bennett wanted to. Caught balls in traffic, red zone, on the run, all hand catches. I understand you have heard this and that about how bad he blocks but honestly it benefits keeping a practice squad player from getting plucked. After the initial hype over Jarwin last year we heard the same kind of stuff. The Cowboys have always been good at and emphasized teaching so Rico is definitely in the right spot. This team needs difference makers and I see 2018 as the year Jerry gets some credit for a few of these risky but high reward decisions he's made recently. This team is seriously on the verge of not just being good but dominant and if TE, FS or WR is holding us back come camp the Cowboys will undoubtedly make a move anyways. We still have the cap to sign any contract we want besides a QB and if this team wins this year there's enough cap next year to re-up EVERYONE!
  1. N0L0VEThezzzhos... 7 years ago
    
    ✔...
  2. Chet 7 years ago
    
    I do agree we are really close to being very special just disagree about how.
  3. Chet 7 years ago
    
    I have watched every pre-season and regular season Cowboys game for the last 10 years. Rico caught 7 passes last year against 3rd string pre-season players. He had very little separation from any of the defenders and any non drafted TE the Cowboys have ever had could have caught all of them. He is a horrible player both as a receiver and a blocker. The TE’s they have are so far superior than Rico he would never see the field then they drafted Schultz who is also a far better TE than Rico which further cemented Rico as the worst TE on the roster. In no way shape or form is Rico a difference maker, he is a liability. That sums up Rico so now let’s address why the Cowboys don’t need the type of TE you think Rico is. This is a running team and whether this team is dominate or not has nothing to do with the passing game and everything to do with the running game and the defense. The passing game is like Roger Clemens change up and slider both are good pitches but they are nothing without his fastball. Our running game is the single most important and only difference maker we need on offense to win a super bowl. So a slow, weak, poor blocking, poor route running, football ignorant TE is not a difference maker and is a waste of time, money, and air by those discussing him. He is irrelevant and will never be anything in the NFL but irrelevant.
    1. Not your goat 7 years ago
      
      Hahaha, I couldn't even read 3 lines of that stat search contradiction. No separation but somehow still making uncontested catches anyone could make, hahaha, I wasn't aware anyone could score in the NFL, I really need to look into this. Like I said, go watch the tape, you clearly just googled stats because those weren't ordinary catches, 1 of them was tipped in front of him while another guy was lining him up and he outperformed every TE on the roster, not against 3rd stringers like you say either. And I'm pretty sure you might be the only person denying Rico's physical ability, he's a superior athlete at his position and denying that for the sake of your argument just sounds silly. I'm just curious where this analysis you have of Gathers comes from? Your own private practice sesh with him or just pure esp? My 1st cousin that I grew up w/ has an office in the Star and works for the NFL Network (you know who this person is) tells me Rico is a monster and not only is he running better routes but he's becoming a physical blocker. Don't believe everything you read and when a coach not known for dropping any information on any player suddenly drops negative info, it either had a different purpose or he simply wanted to motivate his young player.
    2. Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago
      
      Witt couldn't get separated either these past few years like he use to But your point solidify Gathers ability tohighpoint a catch & Dak being able to advantage his tight window throws genius in using Rico & others Rico's height advantage makes up for any speed deficiencies Plus Rico has NFL preseason experience to schultzs
  4. Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago
    
    They just won't believe it until they see it And I doubt some see it even then Other teams have rewritten the TE position with Rico type players, hybrids, etc It's like we complain about staleness in coaching but play couch-coach in suggesting we should settle for being left behind by teams that do employ fresher schemes that keeps teams guessing I honestly feel J Jones, JG, & Co have damaged fanbase ability to rationalize anymore Now that the writings on the wall as far as extreme measures to adapt by the FO, the FANBASE is still stuck in the old mold
2. N0L0VEThezzzhos... 7 years ago
  
  Rico will be a pro bowler anywhere he goes & gets an opportunity on the field... he's special soft hands plays big... Cowboys hid Rico Gathers last year on the injured list... Gathers could have played more than half the season... The cowboys have very weak player development coaches/program... Release Rico & i guarantee he starts & becomes a pro bowler on the team that signs him...
  1. Chet 7 years ago
    
    No way no how will he ever even be a 3rd string TE in the NFL. He isn’t special. He isn’t fast. He isn’t quick. Every TE on the roster is as fast or faster than him and they are all quicker. He looks like he is running in slow motion when running routes. He gets zero separation. He doesn’t catch any better than any of the other Dallas TE’s. He doesn’t have soft hands his hands are average for the NFL. He can’t block. He can’t take a hit. The only thing he has going is that he is tall. He wasn’t even an above average Division I basketball player or he would be in the NBA making a lot more money. He is a horrible football player and will never amount to anything in the NFL.
  2. SmittyW 7 years ago
    
    A pro bowler? Is that you Rico? Seriously, what evidence do you have that a guy who cannot make the roster is going to be an NFL active player much less a pro bowler ?
3. Sidney Montgomery 7 years ago
  
  I wouldn’t say he’s the worst TE from what I’ve seen. I liked his receiving ability, I don’t know if by design but the Cowboys don’t show much tape on his technique. I don’t think they are happy with him but are afraid he might turn out to be pretty special on another team. I guess training camp will tell. Just don’t take too much time from other developing TEs.
  1. kabob 7 years ago
    
    I honestly don’t think how a player would do for another team factors into the Cowboys’ roster decisions at all. In the past, they’ve parted ways with multiple players with potential that didn’t work out for them but could have or later did better on other teams. Heck, they’ve made a living banking on those same players on other teams working out here in Dallas with different coaching and scheme fit. If Gathers can succeed for another team, that’s a benefit to both him and the Cowboys. The other NFC East teams are stacked at TE so it’s not like a division rival would pick him up and start him.
    1. Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago
      
      Wrong in your point about no NFC east team not picking him up Philly tried to pluck Jarwin just this past season I can see them using Rico like Ertz By the way, coaches, writers, & experts have the same bones with Jarwin blocking deficiencies & Yes Rico is a receiving threat He outshined them all last preseason & with all 3 Qb's Experts favors Jarwin ahead of Swaim who has all 9 catches between TE's So this dies cast a good light on Swaim & They say Schultz has quite a ways to go before he's NFL ready Bottomline Dallas coaches say Witten can't be replaced & they're not trying PLUS The NFL is a copy cat league & we just assume Dallas will stuck withbthe status quo JG says Rico just needs to play more ball Practice won't be enough This means he intended to play him to get him up to par Dallas is moving towards change & implementation & Why will they give opponents a heads up on our plans Haven't we said we're too predictable? So why assume we're gonna stay the course TE-wise ? Or concerning any true gameplan for that matter? May the spirit of Bill Belichek supersede our coaching tendency to give family secret recipes away prematurely
      1. kabob 7 years ago
        
        What you think now that training camp has proven Rico can't run routes properly still, is slow out of his stance and he's completely out of place with his hand, feet, and direction? Still looks like a beginner.
        
        Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago
        
        Schultz doing OK but blowing assignments Jarwin outdoing em all but has missed assignments Rico is progressing & being blasted for his missteps Ain't been hearing much on Swaim Rico been showing out receiving wise He's not far tat with Jarwin He's also making very nice blocks This is from several days of padded practices & From analysists reviews Your point is secondary to what I plainly can see in video footage pointed out by staff writers & experts And by no means am I saying Rico makes the team But he made the 4TE roster with Jason Witten last year Why can't he not make a 4TE roster this year?
    2. Sidney Montgomery 7 years ago
      
      It’s not so much of what he will do for another team but they took a raw talent and in my opinion he is ok as a receiver but his blocking technique is lacking. If they still had a Jason Witten on the roster they could continue to develop that but they have too many young other young TE to work with. Perhaps if he goes to another team short at TE they would have time to work with him. I think at some point he will become a decent player. Remember, he is learning the position at the Nfl level.
      1. kabob 7 years ago
        
        A team that picks up a player off another's practice squad has to put him on the active squad. No team's going to do that when he can't even come close to making it with the Cowboys. He'd have to be cut and picked up off waivers.
4. SmittyW 7 years ago
  
  Chet is pretty much on the money. With coaches still criticizing Gaither’s efforts and skill set, it’s pretty obvious a failed experiment. He either makes the team (which I doubt) or is cut by the end of this training camp.
  1. N0L0VEThezzzhos... 7 years ago
    
    Chet is wrong about Rico...