5 ways 49ers slow down Cowboys vaunted offense in Wild Card round
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers can’t overlook Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz
When one thinks of Dallas’ top receiving weapons, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper come to mind. They’re ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in receiving yards for the Cowboys this season, and both are major reasons why Dallas managed the league’s best offense over the course of the year.
Not discounting them, but there’s another primary threat San Francisco should be concerned about: tight end Dalton Schultz.
Schultz might not be among the prolific tight ends in the league, and he doesn’t hold a candle to the 49ers’ own, George Kittle.
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Yet Schultz quietly put together a great season for the Cowboys, amassing 808 receiving yards (third behind Lamb and Cooper) and tying the team mark with Cooper with eight receiving touchdowns.
The Niners linebackers, including All-Pro Fred Warner, have had some issues in coverage this season, so paying extra attention to the prowess Schultz offers might actually wind up being more important than focusing solely on the damage Lamb and Cooper can do.
Especially in the red zone.