Can New Cowboys Offense Help Struggling WR Jalen Tolbert?
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FRISCO - The first step in fixing a problem is admitting you have a problem.
Jalen Tolbert just took that step.
The Dallas Cowboys enter this offseason with an almost desperate need to upgrade the wide receivers room. Since the departure of Amari Cooper via trade to Cleveland, the offense- highly rated as it was - struggled at times in large part to the deficiencies at the wideout position.
Dallas thought it addressed that need to an extent in the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting Jalen Tolbert from South Alabama in the third round, but Tolbert did not have the rookie season many expected.
Tolbert struggled to find a spot on the active roster each week, and even then, didn't find much playing time. He went from one of the most valuable picks to being perceived as a draft bust, although that label is a bit premature.
Tolbert spoke with reporters at the Senior Bowl last week and discussed his struggles.
“I had to learn multiple positions,” Cowboys’ Tolbert said. “Now I know what to work on, what I need to do and where I need to be, what positions I need to know, now I can go into next year and not have to learn and play at the same time but just go out there, be comfortable and confident and just go play and show why I got drafted.”
Can the education, and Jalen’s intelligence, benefit him under coach Mike McCarthy’s new 2023 offense?
McCarthy is shifting toward his old Packers-style West Coast Offense because he believes in it … and surely because he believes QB Dak Prescott can excel in it.
If Tolbert's rookie experience and lessons learned carry over to 2023 he could show vast improvement. And that would help him and the Cowboys, who enter April's NFL Draft still needing wideout help on the roster. … an idea that could be tamped down if Tolbert’s brain power allows him to quickly master his newest assignments.
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