Continuing the theme, which Team has the best group of TE's? Patriots, Alex Smith, Chris Baker, Ben Watson Jets Dustin Keller, Bubba Franks, Andrew Davie Bills Shawn Nelson, Derek Fine Dolphins Anthony Fasano, David Martin, Joey Haynos And to complete the Offensive skill positions best FB 1. Patriots...nil 2. Jets Tony Richardson 3. Bills nil 4. Dolphins Lousaka Polite Since the Bills and Pats don't appear to be carrying a Fb, this will not be a pointed part of the poll question. BTW, third Te's, I'm sure no one but the most diehard fans know who the #3 Te is on most team, so if "that guy" is not listed, don't take it personal.
I'd doubt we'd jettison DMart for Wilford, and the H-Back is a tough position to qualify as a Te or a Fb hybrid..which one? Truth be told, Keller is probably the premiere Te in the AFC East, Fasano is close to #1, and may be #1, he had a tremendous season last year.
I think it's way to early to call Keller the premiere TE in the AFC East, his blocking skills are still not very good and he's only been in the league 1 year. Kellers' main skill is catching the ball, and that alone doesn't make him an elite TE, IMO.
It's between the Jets & the Fins. I chose Miami because they have two really solid TE's right now in Martin & Fasano. However, Dustin Keller can, (and will IMO) emerge as the best receiving TE in the division this upcoming year. He will be the biggest & best target for Clemens/Sanchez and he can possibly lead the Jets in receptions & receiving yards, although that might not be saying much . Last year, he was a NIGHTMARE for opposing defenses, especially New England in the Thursday night game. He was unstoppable. I think we'll see Dustin emerge this year. But right now it's still Miami.
Well, receiving Te's have more value, the old school, block and catch Te's are a rare breed in the NFL now, guys like Sharpe and Winslow Jr and Shockey are more receivers then blockers. As I look at the poll question though, to me the Jets lost something when they let Chris Baker walk to NE, he was sort of the Jets DMart and they don't really have anyone to replace him.
Yes, that is true. However, all three of those guys are [were] better blockers than Keller. That is really is only weakness. He can't block. Think of him as a big, bulky, quick receiver from the TE position. He isn't a complete TE yet.
And DMart cannot block a JV player, Te's today are more receivers then Dave Casper types, as long as they excell at running routes and presenting themselves as a open target, that is the difference. D Keller is a difference maker in the passing game, Fasano was as well, and is probably a better blocker, however both have to prove they can do it in Yr 2.
Well, the thing about Dmart is his contract is up end of the year and he's not much of a blocker. If Wilford has better hands and creates better mismatches, then I think they keep him because of his contract.
Patriots and once again it isn't even close. The only reason the Jets or Dolphins win this one is because there are more Miami & Jet fans here than New England fans. Alex Smith, Chris Baker & Ben Watson are by far the superior group, especially when you factor in the Thomas kid from Texas.
Well, that makes sense, the one quibble is DMart was our only Legit deep threat last season, DMart down the seam was a money play for us, Wilford sipping Gatoraid was not. It could come down to whomever is more expensive to cut, but DMart averaged 14+ yds per catch compared to a theoritical Wilford as a poorly blocking H-Back.
Disagree, DMart and Fasano probably averaged more yds per catch then any other Te duo in the NFL, Fasano had 7 Td's Dmart had 3, and DMart averaged 14.5 ypc and Fasano had 13.4 ypc. Two legit deep threat Te's v Alex Smith and B Watson and Chris Baker? Smith and Baker caught a whopping 42 balls combined last season..
Chris Baker was kept in as a blocker last season because Dustin Keller was brought in to catch the football. He was the receiving Tight End in New York, not Baker. In Smith's case, remind who exactly he had back there at Quarterback. One season doesn't make them the best duo. I'll take the trio, over the duo, anytime. More like in New England, the quadruple over the duo. Receptions in 1 year do not tell the story. If you're calling your 2 TE's deep threats, Dustin Keller must be the Larry Fitzgerald of Tight Ends and Chris Baker is right behind him.
Smith and Baker averaged 10 and 9.7 YPC... Heck, Keller average 11 ypc on 48. Fasano and DMart were clearly more productive then any other Te duo in the AFC East.
When it comes to pass catching in 2008, maybe. Baker, once again, was used more as a blocker, less time to get out there and get a big pass catching play to pad the statistics. Smith was in Tampa Bay, thats all I should need to say when it comes to him. When it comes to all around, New England's 2009 core trumps Miami's and New York's by FAR.
True, he is, I'm willing to bet though, we won't see much difference between Wilford and Dmart in the negative, in that regard. I think Wilford is faster though, which I'm not scared to admit, has me salivating just a little bit, thinking of him motioning out of the back field, then watching a LB try to cover him.
Keller is agraubly the best TE in the division. But because Bubba is a bum, and Martin and Fasano are both legit, I went with miami
Gotta agree with you 100% Joe on this one, you're dead on. I wish it weren't so, but that's the way I see it.
If you're going off of last year its easily Miami. The numbers Fasano and Martin put up together were very impressive. I think they combined for 11TDs if im not mistaken?
Hello dolpns13: me too! a smash in the face, physical, tough, hard fought & bloody football game I want the kind of game played that puts fear in the hearts of opponents & respect in their words. let there be blood! no quarter asked; no quarter given. it is what it is. these guys aren't accountants, playing gulf on weekends they are making a living @ perhaps the most brutal of all professional sports the sport demands the absolute in physicality & brutality within the structure of the game along with bigger & faster & stronger & meaner & the ability to play through pain is: let there be blood! there is beauty in the conflict, an honesty in the unbridled competition pain, sweat & blood are part & parcel to the game of football without that sacrifice, you will not win in the NFL without that effort, it wouldn't be worth watching I say: Let there be blood! no more dainty dolphins being manhandled in the murky waters of NFL competition.
I'm calling it for Fasano and Martin. The Fullbacks (worth one additional point) Jets Richardson Dolphins Lou Polite Patriots..nil Bills Darian Barnes
