The Cowboys new TE coach, Mike Pope, discussed the progress of Gavin Escobar...
“He’s got a flytrap for hands,” Pope said. “He has tremendous catching ability. He’s got those basketball-type skills. He can contort his body and make the acrobatic catches. He’s a very, very high percentage catcher. If the ball gets to him, he can adjust to it. And he’s very brave running down the field. Because he’s a big target, they can hit about any part of the three feet on him. He’s courageous.”
To improve his blocking, bulking up in the Valley Ranch weight room has been Escobar’s off-season regimen. Over the last week, Pope, head coach Jason Garrett and veteran tight end Jason Witten have all mentioned noticing Escobar’s added strength.
“He’s been methodically present and he’s worked really hard,” Pope said. “When you’re 6-7, there’s going to be some areas of your body that need more development. Most of the time, that’s the legs, and that was his background, being more of an athletic tight end, a space player. He’s worked hard this winter and I’ve been impressed by it.”
According to Witten, the 23-year-old is on the right path.
“We know he can run the seams and can do some things in the passing game, but we need him to be solid in there [on the line],” Witten said. “He’s worked hard. To see that package grow for him and being out on the field is going to be a lot better because he can now do both.
“I’m proud of him. I know he’s worked hard. It’s paying off for him and I think his role will continue to grow. We need that. We need that not only in the slot, but we need that other guy up the middle.”
Escobar probably won't have any redraft fantasy value until Witten is out of the way, but he's a player to watch in dynasty circles.
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