The Dallas Cowboys drafted Ryan Switzer in the fourth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft last April. He was supposed to come into this team to become the kick returning specialist the Cowboys were looking for.
Since the moment he was drafted we started comparing him to WR Cole Beasley, who has been a very important weapon for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense.
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot to work on. On offense and on defense. Yes, they've put up points on the board, but the offense needs to find the way to execute for four quarters. They need to play their game for 60 minutes. Not just the first half, or the second half.
And to do that, they have a lot of adjustments to do.
Earlier this week I wrote about how Cole Beasley must be involved on this offense. It seems like this team has been forcing a chemistry between Dak and Dez that isn't there. It's time for them to change things up a bit.
This offense needs to leave the jumbo packages behind, or at the very least tone it down. They should try to use 10 and 11 personnel more times. They need to use every weapon that they have.
That includes Beasley. That includes Witten. And… that includes rookie WR Ryan Switzer.
Ryan Switzer is a fourth-round pick. He's not a late round selection. He is not an undrafted free agent. Scott Linehan and the offense should be using him way more than what they are right now.
I completely understand the fact that the Cowboys want to use Switzer for plays such as the jet sweep. What I don't understand is why that's the only thing they're using him for.
As I mentioned earlier, the Cowboys should be playing in 10 and 11 personnel. Imagine the possibilities of running plays with two receivers like Cole Beasley and Ryan Switzer at the same time. With defenses double-teaming Beasley, taking care of Bryant… someone has to be open. It would even help the running game.
According to Pro Football Reference, Switzer has 18 snaps on offense this season. That's less than 7% of the possible snaps he could have.
I'm not in any way opposed to using the rookie for special plays such as the jet sweep or to use him from the backfield. But I do think that Scott Linehan is making a mistake by only using him for those kind of plays.
By turning Switzer into a gadget player. By turning him into Lucky Whitehead 2.0.
He can be much more than that. He can help this team in a lot of different ways. But not if the Cowboys don't give him the chance.
