Jason Witten Could Create Matchup Issues for Packers Defense

DeMarco Murray is going to get his carries every game for the Dallas Cowboys, and Dez Bryant is still the most dangerous receiver I’ve seen on film this season. But when Tony Romo needs to make a play in a crucial situation, the ball is likely going to veteran tight end Jason Witten.

I’m talking about middle-of-the-field throws. The same stuff we see all over the league on third downs or inside of the 20-yard line when the field shrinks. Look at the option, seam, dig, etc. Route schemes where Witten can press up the field, read the coverage and work off the defender’s initial leverage to gain separation.

The tight end will run the corner route, out cut and the flat (routes that break outside of the numbers). But based on the tape I’m watching, his value shows up inside. That’s where Witten can make the catch to move the chains or put the ball in the end zone.

This is about positive matchups for Witten when he can use his size, footwork and old school route-running ability to create just enough separation at the break point to stack versus a linebacker on the seam route or beat a defensive back on the option concept.

And that could be an issue for the Green Bay Packers defense when the Cowboys head up to Lambeau Field for Sunday’s NFC divisional playoff game.

How does defensive coordinator Dom Capers set his matchups in 3rd-and-7 to 3rd-and-10 situations when Green Bay knows the inside option route is coming? Will it be safety Morgan Burnett to start? Or do the Packers play some 2-Man with Micah Hyde underneath on the tight end?

Quarters coverage? That could work with the safety playing the vertical release up the field. Maybe it’s straight Cover 1 with rookie Ha Ha Clinton-Dix rolling down over Witten. And Clay Matthews might get a shot too.

The point here is that Green Bay has to take away the middle of the field when Witten is the primary target.

Here’s an example from the Cowboys’ wild-card win over the Lions on a 4th-and-6 call late in the game with Detroit playing 2-Man and Witten matched up versus a nickel safety.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Option route. That’s it. With the safety playing trail-man technique (inside shade), Witten releases up the field and has the “option” to run the out cut, dig or the stick/curl. Play off the leverage/positioning of the safety and sell the break.

Plus, the Cowboys run off the top of the secondary with 9 routes and release the running back on the swing. That leaves the middle of the field wide open and creates a true one-on-one for Witten to expose the man coverage underneath.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This is a sweet route for a 32-year-old tight end. I know there is a missed holding call on Ndamukong Suh (one of many missed calls in that game), but look at the footwork here from Witten as he sells the cut. That forces the safety to take the bait and jump outside—leaving a clear path to run the dig route.

Another tape to look at is the Cowboys-Eagles game in Week 15, as Witten consistently made plays on third down to beat both safeties and linebackers on the dig and option routes.

Check out the dig route (on third down) with Witten matched up versus safety Malcolm Jenkins. Again, a throw inside of the numbers with the tight end winning at the top of the route.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Witten takes a vertical release, initiates some contact and then pins Jenkins to the outside as breaks on the dig. This is all about leverage in a one-on-one matchup to give Romo a target when the Cowboys need a play.

In the red zone, the Packers have shown Quarters (or Cover 4) on tape. That does create an opportunity for the Cowboys to run the inside seam with Witten aligned at No. 3 to the closed (strong) side of the formation.

Here’s an example from the Cowboys' win over the Colts, with the linebacker carrying the seam up the field versus King/02 personnel (3WR-2TE).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

With the strong safety occupied by the seam from No. 2 (count outside-in), Witten gets that one-on-one matchup and stacks on top of the linebacker to split the safeties for six points.

For any defense that lines up versus the Cowboys, there is a lot to prep for given the ability of Murray in the zone-running schemes and Bryant’s talent at the wide receiver position. Plus, Romo is playing some of his best football with the balanced call sheet Dallas brings to the stadium every week.

But as I look at this game on Sunday, my focus is on Witten and the positive matchups that favor the tight end. To limit this offense, the Packers must take away those routes where the veteran can use his ability to just get open.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41