I haven't liked what I've seen in Clay working on the line as a TE. That means Dedrick Epps is their only option when they want to put two real TEs on the field. That's not a great option. One reason you avoid the oversized WR at TE sometimes is just because they're not physical enough. They worked Roberto Wallace at TE-like positions at times last year, it didn't make a difference. The defense still plays him like a receiver. And if he starts catching passes over the middle amongst linebackers he might get killed because he's not physical enough. One overstuffed WR that I really DID want them to sign last year as a UDFA or even to draft in the 7th round or somewhere, was Jeff Cumberland. Alas, he's now shaping up to be the New York Jets' #2 TE.
If the defense plays a guy like a WR and he's a good run blocker isn't that an advantage in the run game against an undersized CB? Wallace versus say a 190lb CB should be good for the running game no?
That would be the development story of the offseason. Andrew Quarless isn't even remotely close to being as good as Anthony Fasano is.
I don't think its necessarily the ability to stretch the field. Fasano is good at doing that. They aren't going to replace Fasano. David Martin wasn't really any better of a receiver than Fasano, he was just used differently. The problem is, they don't have anyone that is competent enough at TE aside from Fasano. Someone that has Fasano's ability as a receiver would be sufficient IMO.
I haven't watched him much but I remember Tom Crabtree of the Packers looking pretty impressive in the game they played against us last year. I wonder if I'd like him a lot if I watched more of him.
He isn't even remotely close? Are you placing a huge premium on run blocking? He's not there with him on that.
Why wouldn't you? If someone is going to be the starting tight end he better be at least pretty good at blocking.
He's been playing in preseason. I believe he caught an 18 yard pass in this last one...FWIW. I believe he's been practicing this whole time.
Never said that I would trade those players for a #2 TE. Never. If GB wants to trade Jermicheal Finley I am listening if I am Miami and wouldn't be foolish enough to say I would not trade anyone but Merling for him ... as it always should be , it is about value. We are very strong along the dline , we can't say the same for TE . Now would Miami make a major trade in this regard? probably not seeing they decided not to pursue Olsen among other TE options.
Plenty of guys on good teams that can't block worth a damn. You have to have some more speed on the field regardless. At least in 2008 we had Martin who was pretty fast at his spot and Ginn Jr. Even if a 3 WR set the fastest guy we have is Hartline or Bush out of the backfield. I wish one of Marshall, Hartline, Bess, and Fasano had some plus speed for their position.
I think the seam-splitting thing = speed is kind of overrated. Marcedes Lewis and Zach Miller are as slow as Anthony Fasano, and everyone fawns over their seam splitting prowess. It's about talent not necessarily about speed. And blocking is half of a Tight End's game. Gonzalez, Gates, Clark and Witten are excellent blockers.
I do understand that, and I have been preaching for a 2nd TE since we lost Martin. However, Fasano was the #4 ranked TE overall by PFF. He caught 39 passes for a 13.5 avg (#9 for all TE's), 5.4 YAC, 4 TDs , and 2 drops. Gronkowski caught 42 for a 13 yd avg, 4.7 YAC, 10 TDs, and 2 drops. Quarless caught 21 for an 11.3 avg, 5.6 YAC, 1 TD, and 2 drops. Are we looking for production or just someone faster? Do we believe that Fasano had an unfair advantage by having Henne, while the other two had to put up with Brady and Rodgers? And Fasano is MUCH better in run blocking than either, which is important to this team. Again, I just don't get it.
He's not remotely close at anything The guy had 500+ snaps last year, and came up with 21 receptions. Maybe he's as good as putting his helmet on as Fasano is.
i just went through every teams roster and looked at the TE´s , well regardless if the GM`s would laugh in my face i would call the redskins and ask for fred davis, i would call the colts since some here think merling is better suited to play in a 4-3 anyways and ask for jacob tamme, i would call the broncos and ask for green, the cowboys and ask for bennett in the end if any deal will go through its a guy we will never have heard about anyways, but i would like to upgrade for a seam threat and we can sure absorb the loss of merling
Would you be opposed to a 2 TE set that basically takes a guy that can't block all that well in say Virgil Green and placing him on the outside as a WR? I imagine the defense will likely respect Green's size and at least put a safety on him. If that's the case you can motion him in line. If they play a LB, let's see if that LB can cover 30 yards down the field.
We'll see. We're talking about a 6th round pick. Kept trying to warn everyone not to get ahead of themselves there. But he's playing FB/H-Back and so he'll get onto the field in those situations and hard to say how he'll contribute.
I don't think Andrew Quarless is about to take Anthony Fasano's starting job. But I do have him at 284 receiving yards on 264 pass snaps, so that's not terrible. Fasano had 528 yards on 362 pass snaps, so he was a more productive plays. But I think everyone are shooting too high and in the wrong places. You're looking for some caricature, a "seam splitter" and presumably better than Anthony Fasano at doing that. Fasano is a bonafied starter in this league and he played well last year. Just because a guy is a much weaker blocker doesn't necessarily mean he's a stronger pass catcher. Most of the guys you're going to talk about are going to be worst than Fasano as a pass catcher. All you can hope for is a fairly good player overall, because right now we don't have one behind Anthony Fasano. Beggars can't be choosers.
My only question is if this is true, then where the **** was this thought back when Greg Olson was on the block?
^^^ Is this a realistic option or no? Havent seen Tony play since he went to Detroit... but he doesnt seem to be a big part of their offense with only 300+ receiving yards last year...
Why would we spend a 3rd rd pick and all that money on a backup TE? If you want to complain about passing on Shockey for "free," then yea I'd likely agree.
Seriously though...they couldn't have anticipated their need at this position before now? With Dedrick Epps, Jeron Mastrud and Mickey Shuler battling for #2 TE roles while Charles Clay trains primarily at fullback, they couldn't have anticipated this in time to, I dunno, call me crazy, maybe sign a free agent with that $9 million or whatever they have under the cap?
Ya ya, I know the whole Daboll doesn't run two TE sets argument, but if you can get a guy like Olson you make it work. How do you know he wouldn't restructure? And I just shake my head everytime I see Shockey's name mentioned.
Absolutely. And if they were really thinking Clay would walk right in and make a big impact then yikes.
