The Cowboys offense has many mouths to feed. Between Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, 2020-first rounder CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, Blake Jarwin and Tony Pollard, Dak Prescott will have no shortage of downfield targets this season.
Can Mike McCarthy and Kellen Moore unlock yet another offensive weapon in FB Jamize Olawale?
Originally a 2012 Dallas UDFA, Olawale broke into the league as a Raiders practice squad player. He spent six seasons in Oakland before returning to the Cowboys, in essentially a delayed swap of fullbacks. Just days after Keith Smith left Dallas to sign with the Raiders in free agency, the two teams agreed to send Olawale back to Dallas with a 2018 sixth round draft pick, in exchange for a Cowboys 2018 fifth.
Fullback trade! The #Raiders are sending FB Jamize Olawale to the #Cowboys, sources say. Dallas has its fullback, one who was with Oakland since 2012.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2018
A tight end in college at North Texas, Olawale arrived back in Dallas seemingly with some offensive upside. In 2016 with the Raiders, Olawale put up 274 yards from scrimmage (227 receiving on 12 receptions), and scored three total touchdowns. However the Cowboys have mostly utilized Olawale as a blocker and special teamer.
Over the past two seasons in Dallas, Olawale has seen well over twice as many special teams snaps as offensive (539 ST snaps vs 232 offensive snaps).
In Oakland, Olawale recorded 39 receptions for 425 yards over six seasons, while as a Cowboy, he’s managed just two catches and 13 receiving yards. He also has zero rushing attempts with Dallas, compared to 19 as a Raider.
He hasn’t particularly helped his cause, as Olawale has been on the receiving end of memorable and costly miscues in each of the past two seasons.
What a beautiful play design ruined by bad execution. Wish Dak placed this throw better, but Olawale needs to catch this. On top of Olawale getting open, Blake Jarwin, Rico Gathers and Dalton Schultz were all open too. Like these calls inside the 5. pic.twitter.com/MNynFcmydV
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) December 17, 2018
Third down, gotta convert.
Obviously the best choice is Jamize Olawale. pic.twitter.com/iD268HhYE4
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) December 6, 2019
Still, Olawale manages to contribute in other ways. He’s chipped in 16 special teams tackles since 2018, and this offseason the Cowboys exercised his contract option to bring him back for the 2020 season.
The Cowboys have picked up the 2020 option for FB Jamize Olawale, per source. While his offensive role in Dallas has been limited in two seasons, he’s one of the team’s core special teams players.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 10, 2020
While Dallas might be content with Olawale for his special teams contributions, he also represents an under-utilized skill position player. Olawale has shown flashes of being an offensive weapon over his career, and McCarthy certainly has experience working a fullback into his offense.
Former Packers fan favorite John Kuhn was a backfield fixture of nearly all of McCarthy’s previous coaching tenure. Over nine seasons in Green Bay, Kuhn made three Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro honors in 2014, recording 1,158 total yards and scoring 23 touchdowns.
In a league where less than half the teams even employ a Fullback, former #Packers FB John Kuhn showed just how valuable the position could be.
Whether it was rushing, receiving or blocking, @kuhnj30 did it all and did it damn well. #PackerForever #GoPackGo #KUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHN pic.twitter.com/nSZGbt6uaa
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) March 1, 2020
While the traditional fullback has largely been phased out, the position is experiencing a bit of a resurgence, as more teams are beginning to utilize different types of runners and multi-man backfields. 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk has made four straight Pro Bowls, and last season recorded 239 receiving yards on 20 catches in just 12 games, showcasing just how productive the position can be within a modern offense.
The @49ers answer right back!
Touchdown Kyle Juszczyk, the full back!! That was his first touch of the postseason! pic.twitter.com/ENjQAwCMCL
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) February 3, 2020
Olawale may not have the blocking abilities to be a Kuhn or Juszczyk-level difference maker, but he does have the athleticism and capabilities to do more damage on offense than what he’s shown far in Dallas.
If McCarthy can open up more opportunities for him, perhaps Olawale will emerge as yet another offensive threat for the Cowboys to torture defenses with.
Jamize Olawale (@jrolawale) realiza un espectacular touchdown de 75 yardas para empatar el partido. #MiPartidoMiNFL #HOUvsOAK #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/Vek8L0e2nh
— NFL México (@nflmx) November 23, 2016
Pretty fast for a 240 pound fullback right? 🔥🔥🔥 #JamizeOlawale #probowlvote #Probowl2018 #jamizeolawale49 #49 #raidernation #oaklandraiders #raiders #fullback #nfl pic.twitter.com/TXT0Hnrw9M
— Millicent A. Olawale (@MAOlawale16) December 12, 2017
So Jamize Olawale is actually a part of this DAL offense and not a figment of my imagination??
Dope. He can be a weapon in the passing game if DAL chooses to use him in that way. pic.twitter.com/G64Eyfe5wl
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) November 23, 2018
This is part of our Countdown to the Regular Season player profile countdown.
| Antwaun Woods | Tyrone Crawford | Trysten Hill | Jalen Jelks |
| Dontari Poe | Randy Gregory | Gerald McCoy | Dorance Armstrong |
| L.P. Ladouceur | DeMarcus Lawrence | Blake Jarwin | CeeDee Lamb |
| Cole Hikutini | Dalton Schultz | Noah Brown | Sean McKeon |
| Ventell Bryant | Jon’vea Johnson | Blake Bell | Justin Hamilton |
| Cody Wichmann | Tyron Smith | Ladarius Hamilton |
| Neville Gallimore | Terence Steele | Joe Looney | La’el Collins |
| Zack Martin | Brandon Knight | Ron’Dell Carter | Wyatt Miller |
| Connor McGovern | Tyler Biadasz | Adam Redmond | Luke Gifford |
| Leighton Vander Esch | Justin March | Connor Williams | Sean Lee |
[vertical-gallery id=650773][lawrence-newsletter]