Cowboys coach explains why he thinks some don't understand key aspect of Jalen Tolbert's game-winning touchdown
I have to apologize: This the third article I put out on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert's game-winning touchdown catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But on a much more honest note… I'm not actually sorry. What can I say? I'm just fascinated by the play for several reasons.Here's a recap if you've missed my […]
I have to apologize: This the third article I put out on Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert's game-winning touchdown catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But on a much more honest note… I'm not actually sorry. What can I say? I'm just fascinated by the play for several reasons.
Here's a recap if you've missed my first two posts on the topic: I wrote about how the play almost didn't happen because Tolbert wasn't even on the field before Mike Tomlin called a timeout that allowed him to re-enter the game. Later, we heard Tyler Smith drop an all-time quote about how the receiver had sprained his (insert multiple expletives here) and I had to cover that.
And now, Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer basically begged me to make sure everyone knows just how complicated Tolbert's catch really was. Okay, he didn't. But he did talk about it on Monday's press conference.
"For (Tolbert) to come across and get there, I don't think enough people understand how difficult that catch was that he made," Schottenheimer explained. "Dak (Prescott) made a great throw, but literally, to be able to hold that ball extended away from his body with a really good safety, Elliott, coming in and hammering down his hands, for him to finish that catch is a big-time play in that situation."
The sequence shouldn't be understated. Tolbert's journey in the NFL has been a rocky one. After going through some serious rookie struggles in 2022, he stepped up as the team's WR2 on Sunday night. CeeDee Lamb, who remains the focus of defensive coverages, said postgame that he had told Tolbert he was going to have to be the reason why they win games with Brandin Cooks on IR. In crunch time, he was exactly that.
Additionally, it's a testament to Tolbert's constantly praised work ethic.
"All those things that he's done, the consistency of the notes and the preparation, and the way he works, he'll be one of the last guys out there in practice every day," Schottenheimer added. "If we miss a throw to him, or he and Dak aren't on the same page about something, he stays after. He's always one of the last ones on the practice field. They've probably repped that throw 1,500 times — I mean, the one in the end zone. Now, it doesn't always hit in the exact spot you think it's going to hit, but again, it was cool to see him reward not just himself but the team with a huge play in a big moment."
Tolbert has gone from unexperienced, mistake-prone rookie to a locker room example. Just ask Schottenheimer:
"It shows the young players, 'Hey, this is a guy that's worked his way up through hard work and busting his ass to do all the things the way you're supposed to do it.'"
