Cowboys’ Jake Ferguson ‘not even scratching my surface’
Jake Ferguson was relatively unknown a year ago. As a rookie tight end with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, he caught 19 catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys were so skeptical of his potential that they chose Luke Schoonmaker in the second round.
As Ferguson enters his third season, he is unquestionably the Cowboys’ best tight end. In 2023, he caught 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
“To me, I think I’m not even scratching the surface,” Ferguson explained. “I want to improve in so many areas, and I know I can. We examine tape of different games every day, including our current workouts, and I’m like, ‘OK, I can get a lot better still.'” Tight ends coach Lunda Wells instructs his players to strive for perfection and greatness. Ferguson participated in the Tight End University program, which is led by Greg Olsen, George Kittle, and Travis Kelce. Ferguson’s goals, according to Wells, are 1,000 receiving yards and improved blocking.
“The great ones play consistently on a high level every year throughout their careers,” Wells stated. “The [Jason] Wittens of the world.” The Kelces of the world, you want to be able to maintain that consistency and play well year after year. I believe it is one of the things he is focusing on: “Hey, anyone can do it once a year, but can I do it every year?” Ferguson’s jump is similar to Witten’s from his debut year in 2003 to 2004. Like Ferguson, his receptions climbed by 52, from 35 as a rookie to 87 in Year 2. He, like Ferguson, was selected to the Pro Bowl after accumulating 980 yards and six touchdowns.
Witten was approached early in his third summer by coach Bill Parcells, tight ends coach Tony Sparano, and passing game coordinator Sean Payton. “They looked at me and said, ‘A great year. “But can you do it again?” Witten remembered. “I think that would be the challenge [for Ferguson] to put the work in.” Ferguson has been visiting The Star practically every day this offseason. He’s attempting to add some muscle to his 252-pound physique to aid with his running game. Dak Prescott is there while throwing sessions take place outside of the facility.
After his first Pro Bowl selection, Witten would earn the spot in nine of the next 10 seasons. In his 16 years with the Cowboys he became the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions and yards. If Ferguson needed any other reminder of what he is chasing, a giant mural of a helmetless Witten running with the ball hangs from the wall just outside the locker room.
“I think he can do it all,” Witten said of Ferguson. “He’s a willing blocker. He can bend. … Looks like he’s smart. He’s got great chemistry with Dak. Good charisma. He can run. He understands separation. So I think now seeing himself do it, here’s where the growth comes.”
Throughout his 13-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers, coach Mike McCarthy never had a tight end catch more than 61 catches (Jermichael Finley, 2012) or gain more than 767 yards. During McCarthy’s four seasons as Cowboys coach, the team’s leading tight end caught at least 57 catches per season. Some of it is due to how each offense is structured. With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Packers depended heavily on their wide outs for pass-game performance. Since taking the starting job in 2016, Prescott has depended heavily on tight ends such as Witten, Schultz, and Ferguson. “Jake has so much more to give,” McCarthy explained.
Read more on sportchannel.co.uk
Leave a Reply