What is happening with Rico Gathers? Last year the Cowboys took a chance and drafted the athletic former basketball player, who had not played football since junior high, because of his potential as an offensive weapon. This year we saw flashes of that potential in the preseason but a concussion suffered in practice has sidelined him indefinitely. Currently he is wasting away on IR with no indication of when or if he will return.
There were many doubts over whether or not Gathers would even make the 53 man roster. Those doubts were centered on the fact that he is still relatively raw and his ability to block leaves much to be desired. This Cowboys offense is predicated on the run game and the ability for their tight ends to be able to block consistently and effectively is important to this coaching staff. Furthermore, the Cowboys could have used the additional roster spot to address other key areas of need such as offensive line and secondary depth.
Granted, those are all valid points, yet the Cowboys decided to sacrifice a roster spot and keep Gathers. In Rico Gathers they have a weapon with unique size, hands and athletic ability. Having a player with those kind of tools could give the Cowboys the advantage to be able create mismatches and exploit defenses. This is an opportunity that this coaching staff must not squander. Great coaches and great organizations should not try to mold players to fit their style of play. Instead, they should evolve their strategies to accommodate the talent that they are given in order to get the most out of it.
There are plenty of examples of teams that have had success by evolving in such a way. Look no further than the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. They continue to adapt their philosophy to suit the talent that they obtain. Whether it is employing two tight ends or switching from a 3 -4 to a 4-3 defense they are consistently changing how they play. It is one of the main reasons why they have been successful for so many years. Another great example is the Arizona Cardinals with their star safety Tyrann Matthieu. Many teams passed on him in the 2013 draft because of size limitations, scheme fit or character concerns. The Cardinals saw his talent, drafted him, and created a role for him. He has now become one of the best players in the league. This season the Giants drafted Evan Engram, not because he is a TE that can block, but because they have a plan to use his unique skill set. Unlike those teams, the Cowboys have failed in this regard. Specifically, they have failed at the tight end position where they have wasted several draft picks. Martellus Bennett and Gavin Escobar are two prime examples in recent memory. If only the Cowboys could have found a way to allow those guys to coexist with Jason Witten.
The Cowboys need to get on board and think outside the box. It is a little too convenient, in my humble opinion, that Rico Gathers remains on IR when the Cowboys clearly do not want to waive him and yet seem reluctant to trust him as a pass blocker. They need to activate Rico Gathers and find a way to use his talents. Whether they use him as a red zone target, in two tight end packages, spread him out wide as an extra receiver or simply create specific packages for him, they need to find a way. This offense is struggling right now because teams understand what they do and are shutting it down. Perhaps it is time to change what this offense does.