JoeSixPat

Intersting to see in the Giants game that Guard Rich Seubert often comes into the game as a TE - really to serve as an extra blocker.

Although he's eligible to receive (and needs to be announced each time he comes in since he has a OG #) I don't think they've thrown a pass to him yet.

He's there to block and apparently does it well.

While I know a lot of people are big Daniel Graham fans - as am I at his current price tage - if Graham's primary role is blocking, I continue to question why we'd pay a $3-$4 million for a blocker when a decent guard earning a million or less - who obviously specializes as a blocker - could serve the same role.

So while there's no doubt that Graham is one of the best blocking TEs out there, can we honestly say that a cheaper guard couldn't block nearly as well for a fraction of the price?

I don't discount the fact that Graham can and does catch passes so that's certainly worth a bit more money - if he can remain healthy and on the field - so I could still justify him gettting $2 mil a season or so ... but no where near what a top TE would be making.

This of course plays into my theory that naming him Captain is sincerely to show him how appreciated he is by his team and the fans - even if that doens't translate into one of the higher TE salaries for next season.

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PatsWickedPissah

Graham can catch passes too. He made a spectacular leaping full speed catch in the Lions game. He's FAR more versitile than an OT playing as a TE. The defense must allow for the distinct possibility that he goes out on a pass route and is not trivial to cover.

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Pujo

It depends on how you use your blockers. Guards often block in-place, tackles and tight ends have to pull & swing out more often. The Giants may use him as a stationary tight end for pass protection, but I don't know how effective he'd be on a screen or running play where he has to slide down the LOS and make a block towards the sideline.

Then, let's not forget that Graham DOES catch, after all.

JoeSixPat

Who is forgetting that? Re-read my post.

But when people talk about Graham its always about his blocking ability. That's the value that he brings according to most people here.

So if blocking is that important (and on many plays it is -and certainly is if your OL suffers injuries or you're up against a very good DL), why not look to a blocker to do the blocking like the Giants are?

So if Seubert is worth $900k is Graham worth twice as much? I'd say yes.

Is Graham worth 4x as much? I'd say no.

I have a feeling that price tag might be too rich for the Patriots blood as well - so it will come down to Graham's decision on where he wants to play - and the level of appreciation he recieves for that role could be a factor.

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psychoPat

[QUOTE=Pujo;257047]It depends on how you use your blockers. Guards often block in-place, tackles and tight ends have to pull & swing out more often. The Giants may use him as a stationary tight end for pass protection, but I don't know how effective he'd be on a screen or running play where he has to slide down the LOS and make a block towards the sideline.
[QUOTE]


Plus
another poster pointed out the other day that Grahambo
excels at blocking in space, downfield,
during screens and sweeps.

RayClay

I've wondered that myself. The brain trust certainly have prioritized the position in the draft.

I know the "wham" play is a very succesful part of our run game and seems to require more athleticism than a OLinemen has.

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patsfan13

Graham is worth the 4x a backup guard playing TE IMO. Remember Bravaro has called Graham the best all around TE in the game. He is the best blocking TE, he does little things, like his chip vlocking on guys like Freeney and still get out on pass patterns. He is a deep threat also, Also he is probably a leader in the locker room, why else would he be named a team captain?

I think Graham is under rated on this board because he isn't as flashy as other guys but there is NO TE I would rather have on this team.

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JoeSixPat

Paying Graham as the best overall TE would be highly OVER-rating him in my opinion. I don't think the Patriots view him in that light, nor would they pay him anywhere near a top TE.

But I don't think Graham is under-rated in the least on this board. In fact just the opposite - after getting no credit for years because he wasn't catching many passes and his blocking was often unnoticed, now everyone and their brother wants to show their football savvy by talking about what a good blocker and pay him as the best overall TE in the game.

There's no question that he is an excellent blocker- nor is there any question that he's caught some tough passes (and dropped some not so tough ones much to everyone's consternation).

But if there's a strong feeling that paying him 4x as much as a Guard - or nearly as much as Dallas is paying Jason Witten - then I'd say the pendulum has swung far the other way and he's probably over-rated.

That's probably just not in the cards for the Patriots - nor maybe any other team - but if Graham thinks someone will overpay him like that he's not going to accept a lesser deal from the Pats.

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BruschiOnTap

Seems to me like having an OL in at TE basically faxes the next play to the defense. Having a versatile TE in on every down makes them guess on every down. Then again, the one time you do pass with that OL, it might go for six.

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JoeSixPat

Hmmm - so what message does having a LB in at TE send?

With the Patriots I don't think DC's take anything for granted. They'll throw to anyone in there.

But you're right that Graham is a legitimate receiving threat just as Vrabel has- though one not looked to all that often. Which is why he is certainly worth more than a blocking lineman - just not as much as an elite TE, which is what paying him 4x the salary of a backup Guard would equate to.

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