For all the buzz about the Cowboys’ trio of celebrated wide receivers, opposing defenses should know there’s also now a potent one-two punch combo lurking at the tight end position.
Blake Jarwin was lost for the 2020 campaign before the opening game against the Rams had even hit halftime. Dalton Schultz stepped in and enjoyed a breakout season, snagging 63 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns in relief, all career highs for the three-year veteran.
He may have been the backup at this time last year, but Schultz has now headed into OTAs as a starting-caliber tight end.
“I had a lot of confidence going into last year, before any of those catches in those games happened,” Schultz told reporters this week. “If anything, I just think it kind of springboarded my confidence in myself and continued to lead me to focus even more on my techniques and hone in on that work with Dak and getting the little nuances down in certain coverages and different routes. So I think it opened the door to a whole new level of preparation, and I’m excited to continue to go forth in my preparation here.”
Schultz confided to media members that quarterback Dak Prescott certainly seems to be picking up right where he left off before his own season-ending injury last year, at least when it comes to his throws.
“The ball’s coming out the same as it was before the injury,” the Stanford product explained. “It all looks the same to me; ball’s in my hands the same exact way.”
Schultz has gotten in some extra time with his quarterback, along with several other Cowboys offensive players, prepping for the upcoming season. Much of that work has come away from the team facilities, even at the backyard field Prescott installed at his house.
Schultz says it makes a difference.
“It’s everything. It’s awesome. We’re lucky that he’s open and inviting us out, and he wants to put that work in in the offseason. I know, at least for our receiving corps, pass-catchers, and the offense, we chomp at the bit to get those opportunities with him. That is one of the things that we’ve done to go above and beyond. He leads that. And he’s holding guys accountable; you say you’re going to show up, you’d better show up. It’s awesome to have a leader like that. You need that in an offense.”
Now that offense has the luxury of two weapons at tight end, and possibly three. As team staff writer Nick Eatman noted on Day Two of OTAs:
“One player that seemed to stand out over and over on Tuesday was second-year tight end Sean McKeon. Looking a bit leaner and quicker, McKeon caught several passes down the field and fared well in some 1-on-1 type drills in the open field. He likely got more reps with Jarwin being held out.”
Jarwin is still rehabbing that ACL tear, but has been present at this week’s voluntary sessions and is nearing a return to the field, telling the team website that he could practice right now if needed.
“I want to get out there, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to run full speed and catch a ball,” Jarwin said. “But you’ve just got to understand and trust the plan, trust the process… I’ll just keep pushing along, and I anticipate, Day 1 of training camp, being ready to roll.”
And while it was Jarwin’s injury that allowed Schultz his opportunity to shine last season, no one is more eager for Jarwin’s imminent return.
“Dude, I am so excited for Blake to get back on the field,” Schultz said, not even waiting for the whole question to be asked. “I love working alongside a guy that I can really trust. Obviously, we’ve had a few years of work together. He is one of the hardest-working guys in the locker room. We kind of pride ourselves on that in our room, being the grinders who will go in day in and day out, do our part. I am so excited to see him back on the field. ACLs are brutal. Especially to go down like that, in Game 1. He’s putting so much hard work and time in. He’s still got a ways to go, but, dude, I can’t wait to see him finally go out and prove to everybody that he’s the tight end that everybody thinks he is. I’m excited to have that two-headed monster in the room that hopefully can take advantage of defenses this year.”
So can Cowboys fans expect to see both heads of the monster in the same huddle? Schultz jokes that he and Jarwin have been suggesting some plays that would have them on the field together in 12 personnel.
“I mean, we might slip those in. You know, say it in passing as Kellen is walking by.”
Whoever ends up getting the starts, the majority of the playing time, or the most receptions, Schultz and Jarwin don’t expect the offseason’s competition between them to hamper their relationship.
“Regardless of circumstance, we have a great friendship,” Schultz said. “That will only continue to evolve. When he got his third touchdown in that Giants game- what was it, two years ago?- I was the first one on the sidelines hyping him up. He scored the first one, I was like, ‘Now go get another one.’ He scored the second one, and I was like, ‘You’ve got one more. Hat trick.’ Boom, he gets the third. We’re hyping each other up with whatever we do, whether it’s competing on a Peloton bike in the offseason or scoring three touchdowns against the Giants. Our relationship hasn’t changed at all.”
For now, Schultz is just happy to put in the work, knowing that the rest of it- the starting tight end spot, the offense’s evolution, even his own long-term future with the team in what will be a contract year- will take care of itself.
“Whether it’s a contract year or not,” Schultz confesses, “I’ve got to improve regardless. I don’t treat this as like, ‘Okay, this is the one year, I’ve got to go ball out.’ No, I treat it like I treated last year. I’ve got to get better day to day, I’ve got to do the same things. We have this saying that I learned in college. It’s called The Law of the Price Tag. And you’ve got to make deposits on it day-to-day. And the price never decreases; it only increases. And the price must be paid in full at all times. So I’m continuing to do that. You’ve got to be better than you were the day before, and you’ve got to put more in than you did the day before.”
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