Dallas Cowboys: What Jason Witten’s return says about the offense

Jason Witten coming out of retirement fills a big need on the Dallas Cowboys offense. But what does his retirement tell us about the offense moving forward?

As you’ve all heard by now, the Dallas Cowboys‘ Hall of Fame to be tight end, Jason Witten, is returning. The All-Pro is coming back after a short stint as an analyst/commentator on ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Witten returning fills a need, but does it tell us change is coming to their lackluster offense?

In Week 9 of the 2018 season, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones honored Witten as he returned to the stadium he helped build during the team’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans. The veteran tight end was visibly moved by the gesture, but that didn’t stop him from giving his honest opinion and frustrations about offensive coordinator Scott Linehan’s offense.

Witten expressed how much it bothered him that the team played a man-beat-man scheme a majority of the game and that it simply wasn’t sustainable for success. Jason also brought some of the frustration from his time playing to the light after the Cowboys’ offense started the game off sluggish. The 15-year veteran wondered why Dallas would wait until they were desperate before going up-tempo.

Witten wasn’t the only Cowboys player to voice their frustrations about the scheme and play-calling. In a Twitter rant, former wide receiver Dez Bryant took shots at Linehan calling out his poor play-calling and the fact everyone lined up in the same spot for 17 weeks.

Wideout Allen Hurns told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that during the Week 5 game against the Houston Texans, that Linehan made the worst play call you could make against the coverage they were showing. Veteran receiver Cole Beasley made it known he wasn’t a fan of the offense as well, and may lead him to look for a better fit.

So what does the Witten return tell us about the offense moving forward? Why would the tight end that retired so abruptly to become an analyst be so eager to get back on the field? I believe he’s returning because changes are being made on offense and he wants to accomplish the ultimate goal, winning a Super Bowl.

It has been speculated by Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan that new offensive coordinator and play-caller Kellen Moore as well as tight end coach Doug Nussmeier might have been a bigger part of the game plan in the regular season finale against the Giants.

Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott put up a whopping 387 passing yards and four touchdowns against their NFC East rivals in the regular season finale. For one game during the 2018 season, in a contest the Cowboys could afford to experiment, the offense took on a new life. And ultimately it led them to their new playcaller in Moore.

Two weeks before Witten came out of retirement, he was singing the praises of what he thinks the America’s Team and Kellen Moore’s new offense will look. Here’s what the veteran tight end told Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram.com.

"“Yeah, I think he will do the things that Dak likes to do. He will do the things they have to do to win. That is the way they have to play. I think they will use the pass to set up the run. Not just the run to set up the pass. I think he will add some nice wrinkles to that offense.”"

Jason Witten also added that he sees the Dallas Cowboys’ offense taking a big step this upcoming season. And the fact the soon-to-be 37-year old has now stepped out of the booth and unretired is a real testament to just how much Witten believes this offense can find success under Kellen Moore.