Hoop dreams over, Bennett will try to give NFL defenses nightmares

By Anthony Bialy  |   Sunday, May 04, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

Dallas Cowboys
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It’s not that basketball is easy, even though it kind of seems like it is compared to football. But freakishly athletic humans who are blessed with at least decent height tend to pick up the hardwood game fairly easily. Dallas Cowboys second-round pick Martellus Bennett, who spent two seasons as a 6-foot-6 forward for Texas A&M’s hoops team, is an exciting prospect for fans who can already picture him as a Tony Gonzalez/Antonio Gates-style tight end, a concept enhanced by the fact that he also happens to have displayed a tremendous aptitude for the sport where he’s going to make his living.

Bennett’s selection can be viewed most positively when considered inclusively as a part of the squad’s complete draft. Namely, he’ll make first round rusher Felix Jones better. A tight end with his physical gifts should be able to function effectively as a de facto sixth lineman when called upon to do so; while the 259-pounder won’t be able to rely solely on his size in the pros, the fact is that he earned a stellar reputation during his time holding back defenders as a school player. Jones’ speedster tendencies conversely mean that he’s less suited to engage in Marion Barber-style collisions, so Bennett’s ability to clear paths should help his fellow rookie shine.

On top of that, it’s not as if the former Aggie is nothing more than a right right tackle: He managed 105 collegiate receptions even though he skipped his senior season. One factor that helped Bennett achieve that total is that he didn’t wait to get started. Unlike many footballers his age, he was good enough to not only play but catch 18 passes during his true freshman season.

Scouting reports say that the Alief, Texas, native has to work at improving his speed and route-running accuracy, but his 10 touchdowns in 36 games and 11.9 yards per catch average over his university years provide evidence that he’s an already productive receiver who has the potential to keep rising.

But can he get playing time? For one, Jason Witten, listed as an inch shorter than and, at 266 pounds, close to the same weight as Bennett, possesses similar dimensions. What’s more pressing, though, is the fact that the Tennessee alumnus is an unquestioned star at the position, and the veteran has rightfully earned extensive snaps. It’s easy to question the value of adding Bennett when there’s a player on the roster of Witten’s caliber who’s more likely to jump to the NBA than lose his starting job.

That said, the counterargument is based around when Bennett was added: The Cowboys were past the point where they needed to acquire possible starters. No matter how much some dissenters may vehemently argue that wide receiver was their primary offensive skill need, the fact is that this team’s staff believed it was indeed a necessity to get a rusher who can play immediately with their first pick.

On the other hand, it’s easier for a team to make the decision to draft whoever it determines is the best player available by its third selection as it brings aboard players it expects to provide with a development phase. The Cowboys got a running back and then cornerback in Mike Jenkins with their initial pair of choices, so picking up an intriguing competitor is fine after that even if he won’t challenge the starter.

Besides, subbing tight ends isn’t exactly an unusual tactic in the NFL, and Bennett offers more upside as a blocker than Witten, although the elder Cowboy holds his own fairly well in protection. Having just turned 21 in March, Bennett creates offensive flexibility that he should be able to provide for some time.

Getting regular playing time won’t be as simple as, say, the game of basketball, but Bennett has a real shot to regularly find his way on the field due to his astonishing physical gifts. There’s more physical contact, and it’s harder to score, but he’ll surely find pro football infinitely more rewarding than the game he gave up just like a handful of superior tight ends did.
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