There’s no denying that the future holds a gold jacket for Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten. With everything he’s done in his career, he’ll go down as one of the three best tight ends in the history of the NFL when he finally hangs up his number 82 for good.
Most of the questions that have come surrounding the offense have focused on the tight end position this offseason. Even prior to Jason Witten announcing his return from the broadcast booth at ESPN to the NFL, tight end was one of the areas that was considered a draft need by most analysts. Since coming back, the questions may have altered, but they’re there all the same. Now, we’re wondering how much Jason Witten will play? Will Blake Jarwin and/or Dalton Schultz see significant playing time in the offense? Will Jason Witten be able to return to his pre-retirement form?
It’s that last question that was answered pretty directly by Witten’s former quarterback and NFL on CBS Analyst Tony Romo when he was on with Ben and Skin of 105.3 The Fan. In the way that only Tony Romo can, he illustrated what exactly will allow Jason Witten to return to the game without missing a beat.
“He’ll pick up right where he left off. I don’t think it’s a big challenge for Jason (Witten). The reality of it is as long as, if you know the game the way he does, there are certain positions — he plays one of them at tight end — he’s always going to have the nuance to get open. Let’s say he runs the exact same he always did, to me , it’s just that at that position, your ability to use leverage against somebody, make you think this and then do that. It’s like the back pick in basketball. Just all of a sudden it gets you and you didn’t even know it was coming and that guy is wide open. He’s very intelligent with the game of football. I think he’s going to pick up right from when he retired. I think you’re going to see the same guy.”
Tony Romo on 105.3 The Fan via Jon Machota of SportsDay DFW
Jason Witten has been one of the best route-running tight ends in the NFL during his time with the Dallas Cowboys. He’s always been able to win with his intelligence and route running despite not ever being the quickest or most athletic tight end in the NFL.
Because of Jason Witten’s knowledge and feel for the game, it’s easy to see why a player like that could walk back into the NFL after taking a year off and remain a productive player for the Dallas Cowboys. It’s why they didn’t hesitate to bring him back in the offseason. Though it’s been relayed that he’ll have a somewhat reduced role, he’ll be the starting tight end week one against the New York Giants.
While it’s uncertain exactly how much Jason Witten can play, you know that he’ll be available to play. Prior to his retirement, Witten played in 235 straight regular-season games. Not only is Witten’s availability great to have, but so is his ability to win on third down and in the red zone. It will be a welcomed addition to a Dallas Cowboys offense that struggled in both of those areas in 2018.
In 2018, they were 10th in third-down conversion percentage in the NFL at 41.4%. That’s down from ranking fifth in the NFL in 2017 at 42.9%. 1.5% may not seem like a huge difference, but that’s two to three more first downs on the season. Being able to convert on third downs increases your chances of scoring. Scoring more helps you win.
They were 29th in red-zone scoring rate at 48% in 2018. The only teams in the NFL that were worse than the Dallas Cowboys were the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Francisco 49ers. Only one other team in the bottom 10 in the league in red-zone scoring rate made the playoffs; the Houston Texans. In 2017, the Dallas Cowboys were sixth in the NFL in red-zone scoring percentage at 59.6% and that was without Ezekiel Elliott for six games and without Tyron Smith for three games.
Having Jason Witten’s ability to get open in confined spaces will help everyone on the offense. Even after having a year off, Witten is a player that will have to be accounted for in those high-leverage situations.
There isn’t a person in the world that knows Jason Witten the football player better than Tony Romo does. Their careers have been so intertwined that it’s hard to think of one without thinking of the other. It’s why one day when they’re inducted into the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor, that it would be fitting for it to happen together.
If, as Romo believes, Jason Witten can pick up right where he left off, his veteran presence, leadership, and on-field ability are going to be a huge asset for a team that has Super Bowl aspirations in 2019. For the Cowboys to reach the Super Bowl and win their sixth Lombardi Trophy, they’re going to need “Gold Jacket” Witten to return to his pre-retirement form.
And if Tony Romo believes he will, there’s no reason to doubt Jason Witten. Do so at your own peril.
