Dallas Cowboys rumors: More snaps for Gavin Escobar?
By Bryan Rose
Having effective offensive weapons hasn’t exactly been a problem for the Dallas Cowboys in recent years, but you can never have too much of a good thing. Given that, it’s the expectation of many that tight end Gavin Escobar will see increased usage during the 2014 season.
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That’s also the sentiment shared by Todd Archer of ESPN who thinks the 23-year-old product out of San Diego State is set for an expanded role.
Playing mostly on special teams, Escobar didn’t make much of a name for himself with the Dallas Cowboys last season though coaches were more than thrilled with his growth which he showed during the final few weeks of the year.
Combine all of that and you’ve got yourself a recipe for more playing time.
“I believe Gavin Escobar will play a lot more in 2014 than he did as a rookie but it won’t come at the expense of Jason Witten,” says ESPN’s Archer. “Witten will still play 98 percent of the snaps unless there is an injury or a blowout or three. Escobar’s ascension isn’t about Witten’s descent. It’s about using his skills to the fullest and trying to find a role for him.”
Archer also goes on to suggest that he doesn’t believe Escobar will be much of an in-line tight end for the Dallas Cowboys but will play a style similar to that of Jimmy Graham.
There are a lot of balls to go around in Dallas, even if the offense will be a bit more balance this season and it seems more and more likely that Escobar will be able to capitalize on such moving forward.