IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys were supposed to be more of a two-tight end personnel team on offense this season, but they have been better as a three-wide receiver team.
A lot of the focus of the Dallas Cowboys' offseason plan was to become more of a "12 personnel" team, especially with the drafting of Gavin Escobar in the second round.
With Jason Witten, James Hanna, Escobar and Andre Smith, the Cowboys covered themselves on the 53-man roster at the position. The results have not been bad. In 149 snaps with two or more tight ends, the Cowboys have 924 yards and eight touchdowns. Tony Romo has completed 65 of 93 passes and been sacked four times. The Cowboys have rushed 52 times and averaged 3.6 yards per carry.
In 167 snaps with three or more wide receivers, the Cowboys have 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns. Tony Romo has completed 80 of 106 passes and been sacked 10 times. They have averaged 5.3 yards per carry on the ground, which is a sign DeMarco Murray likes to run with the field spread more.
"We feel pretty good about both of them, how we've done in those personnel groupings and sometimes they're more favorable based on matchups," coach Jason Garrett said. "You might have a certain week and another week, a scheme they might be playing to this personnel group as opposed to that personnel group, so we like to have both those things ready and available to us. Some of the empty stuff we've done with receivers and the tight end have been effective for us as well. You're trying to create matchups with whichever personnel group that you're in. You're trying to attack the defense. Each of those personnel groups will be part of what we do going forward."