Luke Schoonmaker probably didn’t anticipate the number of receptions he received during the game against the New Orleans Saints, but he caught every last one. Sure, he’s no Jake Ferguson, but perhaps he has the potential to be something even better.
Luke Schoonmaker: Capitalizing on Opportunity
How Schoonmaker Has Lived Up to the Hype
Competing under Jake Ferguson’s shadow isn’t easy, but someone has to.
When Ferguson went down in the opening game against the Browns, there were a lot of concerns. Ferguson and CeeDee Lamb were pretty much the entire offense last year. Because Lamb missed all of training camp and preseason, he and Prescott have been lacking synergy.
In a press conference after the game, Dak Prescott admitted he and CeeDee missed each other in the end zone when Prescott overthrew him. Similarly, Ferguson being out left Prescott with even fewer options than before. But then a hero comes along in Schoonmaker, who had an impressive six receptions on six targets for 43 yards. How does Schoonmaker compare in a head-to-head against Ferguson? Last season, Ferguson averaged 44.7 yards a game and around 6 targets per game. In this respect, he’s pretty comparable to Schoonmaker.
However, the difference is in the yards after catch, where Ferguson averaged nearly 6 yards after each catch. In the game against the Saints, Schoonmaker averaged just over 4.5 YAC. And this is the place that Schoonmaker has to improve.
Can Schoonmaker Make the Most of His Opportunities?
With Ferguson most likely returning in the game against the Ravens, that leaves Schoonmaker with fewer receptions. What he’ll have to do is make the most of the limited number of reps he’s likely to receive for the rest of the season. The biggest difference between his capabilities and that of Ferguson is that YAC factor.
Schoonmaker can’t just expect catching the ball to be a checkmark on his production. He has to go beyond that. Even looking at how Ferguson stretches out to extend the play is a key piece that Schoonmaker can add to his game.
Not to mention the aspect of breaking tackles and just forcing yourself forward when defenders are trying to stop you. All of these are skills that Schoonmaker can add to his toolbox. Using them when needed can only make him that much more of a dynamic player.
Watch: NFC East Fantasy Football Breakdown
Standing Out in the Near Future
Once Schoonmaker gains more trust from the Cowboys offense, he’ll also be put into those further routes and downfield situations like Ferguson. But right now, he’s playing closer to the QB because that’s all Mike McCarthy and the coaching staff see him capable of. Playing TE2 to Ferguson cannot be easy, but Schoonmaker is making the most of his opportunity, as shown in the game against the Saints.
If he wants to show up as a more reliable target, he must continue to stretch those plays. He’ll never be Jake Ferguson, but he can be Luke Schoonmaker–he can be the best version of himself. Because his best could someday be even better than what Ferguson provides now.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
