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Dallas Cowboys must use Rico Gathers as a red zone threat

By Steven Mullenax

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Rico Gathers #80 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown making the score 10-10 during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 12: Rico Gathers #80 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a touchdown making the score 10-10 during the preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys arrogant coaching staff must utilize Rico Gathers as a red zone threat and not bench or release him for not being a complete tight end.

Following the retirement of longtime veteran and future Hall of Famer Jason Witten, the Dallas Cowboys need for someone to step up and claim the starting tight end job this offseason. And for a good-sized segment of Cowboy fans, former Baylor basketball star Rico Gathers would be their preferred choice.

But it’s clear, Gathers is not currently the top choice amongst Dallas’ coaching staff. In fact, the former sixth rounder is likely considered the last tight end on the depth chart, behind players Geoff Swaim, Blake Jarwin and rookie Dalton Schultz. Rico may not even be on the roster come September.

Yet, it was Gathers who sent fans into a tizzy last preseason, scoring two touchdowns in his first two games for Dallas. The massive 6-foot-6, 285 pound tight end showcased his athleticism as a viable red zone threat during that span, exponentially increasing his fanbase and expectations.

Unfortunately, a severe concussion sidelined Gathers for half the regular season. And although the Cowboys could have brought him back to the roster, Dallas opted to stash him on IR for the entire year, setting back his development in the process.

Finally back on the field this month for OTA’s after such a long layoff, Gathers finds himself at the bottom of the depth chart trying to regain the momentum he lost. According to head coach Jason Garrett, the former basketball player simply needs to play more football. In fact, Garrett admitted that Gathers could practice five times a day and it wouldn’t be enough.

But Garrett did mention Gathers has excellent ball skills, has the ability to run routes down the field and that he can be a mismatch player. But the head coach also added that tight end is a very difficult position to learn.

Clearly, Garrett and this Cowboys coaching staff want Gathers to be a complete tight end. But this is a player who showed a natural talent as a red zone threat. And that’s an area the Cowboys passing game has struggled with the last two seasons without quarterback Tony Romo under center.

So, why not use Gathers as a niche’ player? Someone who specializes in converting those tough red zone catches who can also be a nice, big target for quarterback Dak Prescott near the goal-line.

That’s the exact same question the third-year tight end has been asking himself.

"“I feel like that’s where I really stamped myself within the two games that I played last year. I showed that I can be an asset in the red zone,” Gathers told DallasCowboys.com. “I really don’t see why I can’t be a factor in the red zone on this team. The red zone is a unique situation and it calls for unique people who can go out there and execute when their number’s called.”"

The Cowboys coaching staff is so busy wanting to make Gathers into a complete tight end, they are ignoring the fact he can make a significant impact for this team as a niche red zone target right now.

Developing a prospect to be as complete a player as possible should certainly be a goal. But utilizing their talents for the betterment of the team should be equally as important. Gathers can be a difference-maker this season if Dallas is willing to use his natural abilities to their benefit.

Next: The top 10 Dallas Cowboys to never win a Super Bowl

The biggest fear has to be the Dallas Cowboys simply giving up on Rico Gathers in favor for more “complete” tight ends, resulting in his release. Then, when Gathers is scoring double-digit touchdowns for another NFL team, this arrogant coaching staff won’t even regret cutting him because he’ll never be what they believe is the “ideal, complete player”. Ridiculous.

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