Cowboys coach reveals the secret sauce behind the rise of a late-round draft pick that’s now a starter
There’s no doubt who is the Dallas Cowboys’ WR3 now.
The life of a WR3 on an NFL roster is a volatile one. Specially when the roster has two high-end wide receivers and one of the most targeted tight ends in the league. Just ask Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy. He played 29 snaps of offense and got a single target.
But when he did, he caught it for the a touchdown to make the game 31-9 against the Las Vegas Raiders. It felt like the final blow of the night. It was one moment but it was a big one. That’s the job of a WR3.
And though the production has been up and down for Flournoy, it was a reminder of his increased workload on the Cowboys offense. In five of his last six games played, his snap count has been over 40%. He’s clearly overtaken KaVontae Turpin and has indirectly kept Jonathan Mingo—for whom the Cowboys gave up a fourth-rounder last year—in the inactives list. There’s little doubt he’s WR3 behind Lamb and Pickens.
So, what has been Flournoy’s secret sauce to climb up the depth chart? Head coach Brian Schottenheimer told reporters starts with his work ethic and knowledge of the game.
Schottenheimer says Flournoy can play every position
“(Flournoy) is a small-school guy that we saw the talent, the strength, the body control, the ability to run after the catch,” Schottenheimer said Tuesday. “But again, it’s his work ethic, man. This guy’s learned every position. You can put him at X, F, Y, Z — doesn’t matter. He can play them all, play them all at a high level.”
Sometimes, we think the difference between a good and bad starting wide receiver in the NFL is all about athleticism, play-making, yards after the catch, and whatnot. Sometimes, it’s all about knowing what you’re doing and earning the quarterback’s trust.
“That’s a lot of confidence that gives Dak and the coaching staff when we’re putting together the plan and different personnel groupings and how we want to use people,” Schottenheimer added. “He’s playing with a ton of confidence right now, and you saw it on the touchdown. It was an excellent route, and he’s just so strong, man. People don’t realize if you haven’t been up around Flo just how strong he’s built, just his size, and that’s why he’s a tough match for a lot of these corners.”
So whether it’s multiple small catches in a game or a big touchdown grab, you can expect Flournoy to keep being a major part of the Cowboys’ plans moving forward.
Dallas Cowboys News
Dallas Cowboys just got even better at a position they’re already looking great at with latest roster move
It’s looking scary.
