Combine Thoughts, early Saturday edition - Could Patriots use a TE?
by MaPatsFan on Feb 27, 2010 1:21 PM EST
in News/General
20 comments
It's no secret that one of my favorite non-Patriot tight ends is the Colts' Dallas Clark. At 6-3 252lbs, Clark is setting the standard for hybrid TE/WR guys in the NFL, much like Wes Welker is setting the standard for quick, underneath slot guys. The days of the huge, lumbering, bull rush tight ends are numbered. Sure, you need a guy big enough to clear the way for running backs, but in the pass happy era we're in, more and more teams may look to tight ends to give QBs target options. And they're usually cheaper than WRs.
Clark has the quickness of a WR, but possesses enough size to get busy when he needs to. Such is the case with the current crop of ends at the combine. Many of the top guys are in the 6-4 range and sitting at 240lbs. And they're FAST. I've been watching the combine, tight end 40's in particular, and these guys can move. As an example, Dorin Dickerson just clocked a 4.4 40 yard dash. At 6-1 222lbs he is lighter than most tight ends, but who cares. Again, this is a pass happy league and speed and good hands may be worth more than an ability to push defensive lineman around.
With the Patriots receiver ranks looking very thin right now, do we go after more wide receivers in the draft or FA market? Should we look for a young, fast tight end to draft? Should we just leave well enough alone, feeling like everything is ok?
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yes
i do like the iowa kid…he can block and catch…..hopefully Watson is signed
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
if we get a TE, great
other than that, as long as we sign watson, i’m fine.
We've already got that guy -- we just don't use him that way.
Clark wouldn’t be Clark if he played here.
As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead
by JohnHannahRules on Feb 27, 2010 6:17 PM EST reply actions
That's my thought, too
The best way to get a big, fast pass-catching receiver might actually be to draft a gigantic, hulking blocking-TE, and then stripping Watson of a lot of his run-blocking reps. Keeping him fresh and using him as a pass-catcher first might be the way to go. It’s not like the playcalling was creative enough to actually baffle opposition defences, so having your blocking guy out there doesn’t really cost you anything in terms of ambush.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Watson flexed outside as a catcher – only a few times when it’s an outside run and he’s there to throw a block to open the edge. Ugh.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 27, 2010 6:21 PM EST up reply actions
I know. He's a natural mis-match for an LB or a Safety, or should be.
As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead
by JohnHannahRules on Feb 27, 2010 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
Garrett Graham out of Wisconsin is a good run blocking TE, and he has pretty good hands to boot.
Jermaine Gresham, former All-American out of OU missed all of last season with a mysterious injury but is far more of the Dallas Clark type, as in he gets lots and lots and LOTS of catches. Of course, Oklahoma in 08 was a doomsday machine style offense that lost its best players in 09…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Feb 27, 2010 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
see
i love TE from Wisconsin and Iowa. They are primarily a run blocking TE but they are also heavily involved in the passing game.
I like Graham and the kid (can’t remember his name) from Iowa.
Not a fan of Dickerson….i was glued to the OSU-Oregon Rose Bowl…and he didn’t do anything.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
Tony Moeacki? Possibly mispelled, Sorry Iowa fans...
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Mar 1, 2010 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
Travis Beckum was well on his way to becoming Wisconsin's all time leading receiver in 08
Before Paul Chryst and Bret Bielema decided to just abuse the kid and Penn State put him out of his misery in that 40-7 pasting in Camp Randall…
The only problem with Beckum was that he wasn’t an overly aggressive blocker. On the other hand, you’d be hard pressed to find a TE (not named Dallas Clark or Tony Gonzalez) with his hands. He could catch just about anything.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Mar 1, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
i wanted him so badly
but the Giants took him
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
I thought it was odd when the Giants picked him
because he was basically squandered. Kevin Boss got all the snaps at TE. Beckum got 0, because he had to work behind Boss all year.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Mar 2, 2010 10:48 PM EST up reply actions
well
they run a double TE set for the most part and they had traded their blocking TE to England…who was later cut by NE.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
Watson has all the pass-catching abilities and skills, but wasn't used as a pass-catcher
Gresham just seems like another Watson (big, fast, able to catch), but without Watson’s pass- or run-blocking talent.
I wouldn’t mind taking Gresham if the Pats were going to throw to him 100 times and get 1000 yards and 10 TDs out of him – like the Colts, Chargers, Texans and Cowboys get out of their TEs – but Brady never threw to Watson that many times in a season.
I don’t know why they’d suddenly start firing passes to the TE when they didn’t do it over the 6 years Watson was in NE. And it wasn’t like they didn’t have faith in his ability; otherwise Brady wouldn’t have picked him out for crucial receptions (the Bills game comes to mind). They just didn’t scheme to use the TE for more than 500 yards and 6 TDs over a season; instead they’re primarily blockers who can receive. Gresham doesn’t fit the prototype – he’s not a blocker, and he’d be a waste of a pick if he’s only going to get 500 yards and 6 TDs as his reception ceiling.
Token southern hemisphere guy - 14,688km from Foxboro. That's 9128 miles, for you heathens.
by Comedic.Sans on Feb 28, 2010 5:13 PM EST up reply actions
You guys are kind of saying what I said a while ago
let the quicker O linemen play TE, and use an extra WR on passing plays. Blocking is blocking. The bigger guys do it a little better than the smaller guys. With the possible exception of the Kac a kac a Kaczur. A guy that size should be able to block better. What, does he sit on the couch all offseason like me or what? He should be working out with strongmen trainers. He should get back at Chong Lee, like Van Damme did. Lousy Chong Lee. He put Nuk Su Cow’s friend in the hospital. XP
i dont think he will be sitting on the couch
he needs to sell his Vicodin…or try to get some
Non Sibi Sed Patriae.
I love my ZX-6r Kawasaki.....159 mph is my top speed..will top that this spring
I bleed Scarlet and Grey...A Buckeye for Life
(formerly mathew.40)
Like him
Everything about him seems to scream “good fit” in my opinion.
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