Gavin Escobar Working to be “More Well-Rounded” in 2015

Last year, Dallas Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar showed flashes as a bonafide red zone threat.

Escobar had just nine catches, but four of those resulted in touchdowns. In 2015, his third season in the NFL, Escobar wants to grow beyond that role, to continue to develop into a more complete tight end.  

“Every year I want to increase my role in our offense,” Escobar said, per the Dallas Morning News. “I have little goals that I kind of tell myself, but that’s basically my goal, just to be involved in the offense, be more productive, be a more well-rounded tight end.”

Even becoming a kind of red zone specialist in this offense is quite the accomplishment for the former second round pick out of San Diego State. He’s competing for targets with, among others, Dez Bryant, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley and Jason Witten. And that’s to say nothing of the running backs who are being used more as receivers out of the backfield under Scott Linehan.

“I think Escobar when he’s gotten chances in the past has always seemed to step up and finish the play, convert a third down for us,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “When we throw the ball to him down in the red zone he seems to come up with plays. So we’ve got a few guys on our team who are kind of competing for that complementary role and that’s really a good thing for our team.”