Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy recently shed some light on the complexities behind addressing specific challenges that tight end Jake Ferguson has faced in his career.
As Ferguson continues to ascend in the NFL and carve out a name for himself as one of the best at his position, McCarthy emphasized the importance of addressing certain obstacles that have hindered Ferguson's performance.
Ferguson, who experienced a significant leap in his second year in the league, has garnered attention not only as a fan favorite but also as a formidable player on the field. In 2023, he made a notable impact by catching 71 passes for 761 yards and scoring five touchdowns.
With such an impressive performance, the expectations for Ferguson are high as he aims to solidify his status as an elite tight end in the league.
One of the key challenges that Ferguson has faced is maintaining the optimal playing weight for his position. McCarthy acknowledged that this has been a struggle for Ferguson in his first two years in the league, and it is an area that the Cowboys are actively addressing to ensure Ferguson's continued success.
"When it comes to a player's weight, we use various components of information to make an educated decision," McCarthy explained to reporters.
"The final conversation is with the player to ensure we're on the same page. Jake's a great example—he's had a lot of responsibility in both special teams and tight end.
As his tight end position has evolved, we want to be conscientious of the things he's done well early and how much of that is he going to do."
McCarthy highlighted the importance of understanding the demands placed on Ferguson, particularly as he takes on multiple roles within the team.
Ferguson's involvement in special teams, in addition to his responsibilities as a tight end, has added complexity to the challenge of maintaining his ideal weight throughout the season.
As part of their proactive approach, the Cowboys have placed an added emphasis on addressing Ferguson's weight, as well as that of other key players on the team.
McCarthy revealed that this process begins well in advance of the regular season, with discussions and planning taking place months ahead of game time.
"We take all the information from the spring, collecting data on new players, and then we come up with a recommended weight,"
McCarthy detailed. "Then we sit down and talk to each of them to make sure there's clarity on what their expectation is."
This meticulous approach involves individualized discussions with each player to establish a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities within the team.
For young players like Ferguson, these conversations also serve to communicate the vision for their future contributions and the specific expectations for their physical conditioning.
"Particularly with the young players, now that you see the vision of what their role is going to
