* 2012 Draft Tight Ends * - New England Patriots Forums

Off The Grid · 11-22-2011, 07:57 PM

3rd in a Series

Good Evening, Ladies and Gents...

I humbly and quietly offer this Thread ~ the 3rd of many, as I'll be circumnavigating the entire Roster ~ to my Fellow Patriots Fans ~ KoolAid Soaked Homers + Bile Soaked Haters, alike!!

~ as a Gathering Place ~ a common reference ~ for Tight End Prospects.

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I break down Tight Ends into 3 Positions:

Tight Ends ~ Blocking Specialists ~ Alge Crumpler
Wing Backs ~ Receiving Specialists ~ Aaron The Navigator
Flex Ends ~ Hybrids ~ Rob Gronkowski

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I should stress the point that I'm focusing on guys that have been profiled by NFL Draft Scout and National FootBall Post. I believe that both Sites get the "All 22" Film ~ an enormous advantage in evaluation, I think ~ and, as such, have the Opportunity to offer us insight that we're not privy to.

Furthermore, they've got the time and the resources to extensively study this "All 22" Game Tape and confer with other professionals.

All my positions are ultimately my own, obviously, but I consider it wise, indeed, to confer with Professionals who have the time and the access to resources that I do not, and allow them to do the heavy lifting.

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XE Dwayne Allen of Clemson ~ 6.4/256

Dwayne Allen looks like the premier Draft Eligible Flex End of the 2012 Draft.

He gets excellent grades as a Blocker. He has superior Core Strength and sufficient Core Flexibility, and he brings enough Lateral Agility and Range to make an impact DownField.

As a Receiver, his Burst is pretty good, and he gets superior grades for his Navigational Skills, as well. His Hands aren't exceptional, but he gets outstanding marks for his work DownField.

Dwayne Allen is no Zoomer, but that isn't what Moves the Chains, anyway. He projects to be a reliable, sturdy Blocker, and a tough, reliable Receiver, who should make a substantial Impact on his team's fortunes.

Beast!!

***

WB Coby Fleener of Stanford ~ 6.6/245

Caveat Emptor: I'm not entirely sure that I can be described as "objective" about Coby Fleener's prospects.

I've got a Wing Back Jones...And by GOD, does he fit the bill!!

One thing that always gets my attention is Cross Training, and Fleener is not only a former Split End ~ that's Wide Receiver, to you Earthlings!! ~ but a former BasketBall player!! Cross Training with other responsibilities and other perspectives is, in my view, invaluable, and gives the Prospect a profound edge, going forward.

Fleener brings a crispy Burst off the Line, and commands sufficient Core Strength as well as tremendous Core Flexibility as a Blocker. He's not a mauling Beast, you understand, but for a former Split End, he's pretty scrappy.

As a Receiver, he is frightening.

Coby Fleener's Navigational Prowess is second to none: He combines outstanding Lateral Velocity + Fluidity with explosive Verticity ~ that's Turn + Burn Acuity, Earthlings!! ~ and astonishing Instincts.

His Long Speed is not remarkable.

But his Diagnostic Acuity, his Savvy, and his Navigational Prowess...are destructive.

He is, for my money, the deadliest Receiver in the Draft.

And yet he's a Wing Back projected for the 2nd or 3rd Round!!

Super Beast Sleeper!!

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WB Michael Egnew of Missouri ~ 6.5/245

If Coby Fleener projects half way between Flex End and Wing Back ~ I'm thinking: Jimmy Graham ~ then Michael Egnew is pretty close to a pure Wing Back.

Fleener can be lined up as a Blocking End. Egnew...not so much.

But that is in NO way to imply that he's not a dangerous Weapon.

I'm sure you've heard of Aaron Hernandez.

Michael Egnew isn't much of a Blocker, at this point: Both his Core Strength + Core Flexibility need some work. But, again: Aaron Hernandez fit that description, 18 months ago, and he has come a long way as a Blocker. And as a Motion or Edge Blocker, he does an excellent job.

As a Receiver, on the other hand, Egnew commands an absolutely nightmarish combination of outstanding Navigational Skills, mercurial Fluidity, terrific Instincts, and exceptional Lateral Agility.

He has the Frame to box out Defenders, and yet the Long Speed to disappear.

He is one of the Top 5 deadliest Receivers coming out, yet boasts only a 3rd or 4th Round Market Value!!

Super Beast Sleeper!!

Notes

1 ~ It's no secret that I am OBSESSED with Tight Ends ~ particularly Flex Ends like Rob Gronkowski and Wing Backs like Aaron "The Navigator" Hernandez ~ so you are duly advised that I am FANATICAL about these Roles!!

2 ~ In my opinion, Flex Ends and Wing Backs offer disproportionately IMMENSE Impact on a team's Fire Power, relative to Wide Receivers...and Rapid Deployment to the Front Lines, as illustrated by Brothers Gronkowski and Aaron The Navigator, just last year...

3 ~ I believe the potential impact of HYBRIDS like Gronk, Aaron The Navigator, Jimmy Graham, JerMichael Finley and the like could RUPTURE the Tactical Landscape of the NFL, for the simple reason that these guys are deadly effective in the Running AND the Passing Game, which makes defending two of them NIGHTMARISH, and defending 3 or 4 ~ should some team wake up and realize the Full Potential of this New Breed ~ UNSPEAKABLE.

Ochmed Jones · 11-24-2011, 10:43 PM

Hernandez has dropped a ton of balls this year and his blocking has regressed. He looks to be losing brady's confidence.

Depending on how he runs, fleenor could be an ideal 3rd te and eventual replacement for dropnandez.

NinjaZX6R · 11-24-2011, 10:47 PM

I'll take one of the Stanford TE's.

Ochmed Jones · 11-24-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinjaZX6R

I'll take one of the Stanford TE's.

Yes i agree. I also think there is a big te for nc state that fits our offense.

Nc state also has a big lber, audie cole, i think, that projects well in our defense.

Stilla · 12-03-2011, 12:47 PM

I think BB wants to attempt to play the 3 TE formation as it is conceived. I am not sure if this was planned prior to the 2010 draft or if it came to fruit after Gronk and Aaron developed into the players they are today.

This became apparent to me after BB drafted Vereen, Ridley, and Lee Smith (TE in the 5th round.) And even this week BB worked out tight end/receiver Dorin Dickerson, who has the size to play fullback or H-back.

The fact that BB likes to play the 3 TE formation with Nate, shows me he wants to work out this system now, and it gives Nate some experience with a system that would be very complex under BB.

I wouldn't be shocked if BB adds some real depth at TE next year. We could carry 4, 5 or even 6 Tight Ends.

I like Dwayne a lot, BB needs to pick him up asap.

Just imagen if NE had depth at tackle next year and Nate could still play some situational TE. You could have Gronk, Nate and Dwayne in with little Vereen and Woodhead running around invisible from the defensive side of the ball.

Stilla · 12-04-2011, 11:38 AM

Its pondering to see if BB coaches up Nate Solder to play as a tackle-eligible receiver. His current experience claims he is capable.

Can be done by having two linemen (including the "catching tackle") on one side of the center and four linemen on the other, and you have to tell the field judges.

It just adds more layers to the confusion that the 3TE formation brings to the game. If Nate goes out for a pass and no one covers him, thats gold to me. I would love to see Nate just run over a DB.

Off The Grid · 12-06-2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilla

Its pondering to see if BB coaches up Nate Solder to play as a tackle-eligible receiver. His current experience claims he is capable.

Can be done by having two linemen (including the "catching tackle") on one side of the center and four linemen on the other, and you have to tell the field judges.

It just adds more layers to the confusion that the 3TE formation brings to the game. If Nate goes out for a pass and no one covers him, thats gold to me. I would love to see Nate just run over a DB.

Interesting Stratagem, Bro...

Myself, I favor an extremely radical 1 Flex End ~ 3 Wing Back Set:

XE Rob Gronkowski
WB Coby Fleener
WB Aaron Hernandez
WB Michael Egnew

HB Shane Vereen

The frightening beauty of deploying such a Set is that you have 5 guys, every one of whom are legitimate threats as Run Blockers, as Receivers, and as Receiving Blockers.

They're fast enough and big enough to prevent Secondaries from clogging the middle: they'd either get pulverized, or beaten Long. And they're tall enough and such skilled Navigators that they're virtually always open!! Clogging the middle simply doesn't work when you're covering 4 or 5 different guys that all need double coverage!!

We can run virtually every play in the Book, with the same 11 guys. The Hurry Up possibilities, alone, would be nightmarish to Defenses!! All Brady would have to do, is read the Defense, diagnose the best match up, and audibilize. We would terrorize people!!

I'm not suggesting we run this 4 Tight End Set all the time, mind you...But a 3 Tight End Set with one Split End and one Back like Vereen or Ridley would make one hell of a Meat + Potatoes Set, for much of the same reasons.

There is a tremendous Opportunity to exploit the quicker, smaller Defenses out there.

Stilla · 12-06-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Off The Grid

Interesting Stratagem, Bro...

Myself, I favor an extremely radical 1 Flex End ~ 3 Wing Back Set:

XE Rob Gronkowski
WB Coby Fleener
WB Aaron Hernandez
WB Michael Egnew

HB Shane Vereen

The frightening beauty of deploying such a Set is that you have 5 guys, every one of whom are legitimate threats as Run Blockers, as Receivers, and as Receiving Blockers.

They're fast enough and big enough to prevent Secondaries from clogging the middle: they'd either get pulverized, or beaten Long. And they're tall enough and such skilled Navigators that they're virtually always open!! Clogging the middle simply doesn't work when you're covering 4 or 5 different guys that all need double coverage!!

We can run virtually every play in the Book, with the same 11 guys. The Hurry Up possibilities, alone, would be nightmarish to Defenses!! All Brady would have to do, is read the Defense, diagnose the best match up, and audibilize. We would terrorize people!!

I'm not suggesting we run this 4 Tight End Set all the time, mind you...But a 3 Tight End Set with one Split End and one Back like Vereen or Ridley would make one hell of a Meat + Potatoes Set, for much of the same reasons.

There is a tremendous Opportunity to exploit the quicker, smaller Defenses out there.

I would love to see NE play the magic 3, but with it you have to have an o-line that can bring the run game to fruit. Meaning for every TE we bring on to the team, I would love to see the same capability within a tackle or guard. NE has depth on the o-line, and we need to continue that paradigm. The 3 tight end set still needs an effective o-line to bring about a great run game. Only then will defenses buy into the play action, as to where the safety's pull up and leave Welker and or another wide out free deep down field.

I need 50 posts to link a web page so.... not there yet. (had to put link on 2 lines)

www dot.
footballtimes.org/Article.asp?ID=218

Off The Grid · 12-06-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilla

Its pondering to see if BB coaches up Nate Solder to play as a tackle-eligible receiver. His current experience claims he is capable.

Can be done by having two linemen (including the "catching tackle") on one side of the center and four linemen on the other, and you have to tell the field judges.

It just adds more layers to the confusion that the 3TE formation brings to the game. If Nate goes out for a pass and no one covers him, thats gold to me. I would love to see Nate just run over a DB.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Off The Grid

Interesting Stratagem, Bro...

Myself, I favor an extremely radical 1 Flex End ~ 3 Wing Back Set:

XE Rob Gronkowski
WB Coby Fleener
WB Aaron Hernandez
WB Michael Egnew

HB Shane Vereen

The frightening beauty of deploying such a Set is that you have 5 guys, every one of whom are legitimate threats as Run Blockers, as Receivers, and as Receiving Blockers.

They're fast enough and big enough to prevent Secondaries from clogging the middle: they'd either get pulverized, or beaten Long. And they're tall enough and such skilled Navigators that they're virtually always open!! Clogging the middle simply doesn't work when you're covering 4 or 5 different guys that all need double coverage!!

We can run virtually every play in the Book, with the same 11 guys. The Hurry Up possibilities, alone, would be nightmarish to Defenses!! All Brady would have to do, is read the Defense, diagnose the best match up, and audibilize. We would terrorize people!!

I'm not suggesting we run this 4 Tight End Set all the time, mind you...But a 3 Tight End Set with one Split End and one Back like Vereen or Ridley would make one hell of a Meat + Potatoes Set, for much of the same reasons.

There is a tremendous Opportunity to exploit the quicker, smaller Defenses out there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilla

I would love to see NE play the magic 3, but with it you have to have an o-line that can bring the run game to fruit. Meaning for every TE we bring on to the team, I would love to see the same capability within a tackle or guard. NE has depth on the o-line, and we need to continue that paradigm. The 3 tight end set still needs an effective o-line to bring about a great run game. Only then will defenses buy into the play action, as to where the safety's pull up and leave Welker and or another wide out free deep down field.

I need 50 posts to link a web page so.... not there yet. (had to put link on 2 lines)

Three Tight End Offensive Formation magic 3

You don't think we already have a strong O Line?

I actually go the other way with that thought: I believe that with the radical 3/4 Tight End Offense that I propose, the Back 7 or 8 would have such a rough time dealing with those guys ~ and deploying accordingly ~ that it would open up the running game's Opportunities to such extent that our grannies could man the down linemen positions, and we'd still manage 4.5 a pop!!

I am intimately familiar with that Article. Well done, sir.

Snake Eyes · 12-06-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Off The Grid

You don't think we already have a strong O Line?

Silly Grid, you can NEVER have too much firepower!