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Jason Witten wants to come alive inside 20
July, 30, 2010
By Tim MacMahon
SAN ANTONIO – The Cowboys need to get their red zone offense right.
“When you’re top five in offense and 15 in scoring, there’s a flaw there,” Witten said. “That’s a huge area for us to get better.”
They actually ranked 14th in scoring (22.6 points per game), but you get Witten’s point. Red zone execution is a point of emphasis for good reason.
Witten wants to play a bigger role in the red zone. He was often used in pass protection in that area last season, with the two throws to Sam Hurd against Champ Bailey with the game on the line in Denver the most glaring example.
“That’s where tight ends need to come alive,” Witten said.
Witten was targeted in the red zone only seven times last season, catching three balls and scoring two touchdowns. There were 24 tight ends targeted more often in the red zone than the perennial Pro Bowler. Tony Romo went to Miles Austin (10-17, three touchdowns), Roy Williams (8-14, six touchdowns) and Patrick Crayton (7-12, two touchdowns) in the red zone much more often than his 6-foot-5, 260-pound security blanket.
It wasn’t just a season-long trend. Witten was targeted only six times in the red zone the previous season, catching four balls and scoring twice.
It wasn’t an issue in 2009, because Romo was efficient in the red zone (97.7 passer rating). That dropped to 81.5 last season, which ranked among the worst for starting quarterbacks.
The addition of Dez Bryant gives Romo a receiver with a big body who excels at fighting for the ball in traffic. Austin and Williams also have big frames well suited for the red zone, as do Witten and tight end Martellus Bennett.
The Cowboys worked on the red zone passing game during Thursday’s practice with mixed results.
Romo had trouble connecting with Witten. There was one play that Witten made a great out fake to get linebacker Jason Williams to bite and got wide open in the back of the end zone, only to have Romo throw too low and out in front of him.
For whatever reason, Romo and his most trusted target haven’t clicked inside the 20 the last two seasons. If that changes, the Cowboys’ rank among scoring offenses could skyrocket.
July, 30, 2010
By Tim MacMahon
SAN ANTONIO – The Cowboys need to get their red zone offense right.
“When you’re top five in offense and 15 in scoring, there’s a flaw there,” Witten said. “That’s a huge area for us to get better.”
They actually ranked 14th in scoring (22.6 points per game), but you get Witten’s point. Red zone execution is a point of emphasis for good reason.
Witten wants to play a bigger role in the red zone. He was often used in pass protection in that area last season, with the two throws to Sam Hurd against Champ Bailey with the game on the line in Denver the most glaring example.
“That’s where tight ends need to come alive,” Witten said.
Witten was targeted in the red zone only seven times last season, catching three balls and scoring two touchdowns. There were 24 tight ends targeted more often in the red zone than the perennial Pro Bowler. Tony Romo went to Miles Austin (10-17, three touchdowns), Roy Williams (8-14, six touchdowns) and Patrick Crayton (7-12, two touchdowns) in the red zone much more often than his 6-foot-5, 260-pound security blanket.
It wasn’t just a season-long trend. Witten was targeted only six times in the red zone the previous season, catching four balls and scoring twice.
It wasn’t an issue in 2009, because Romo was efficient in the red zone (97.7 passer rating). That dropped to 81.5 last season, which ranked among the worst for starting quarterbacks.
The addition of Dez Bryant gives Romo a receiver with a big body who excels at fighting for the ball in traffic. Austin and Williams also have big frames well suited for the red zone, as do Witten and tight end Martellus Bennett.
The Cowboys worked on the red zone passing game during Thursday’s practice with mixed results.
Romo had trouble connecting with Witten. There was one play that Witten made a great out fake to get linebacker Jason Williams to bite and got wide open in the back of the end zone, only to have Romo throw too low and out in front of him.
For whatever reason, Romo and his most trusted target haven’t clicked inside the 20 the last two seasons. If that changes, the Cowboys’ rank among scoring offenses could skyrocket.