BB Self Scouting...Lay Off Drafting TE's?

[Captain Cliche]

What's up with that? Now he's treating TE's like LB's and picking up vets instead of drafting 3 a year?

 

[efin98]

Might not have liked the draft pool. Might have rated other positions higher need this year. Might have liked what he already had or gotten a trade offer too good to pass up. Might have prefered the free agent pool. Frankly I've never been a fan of the constant drafting of TEs, I'd rather the picks get used on other positions than on one that has a log jam or that is already set with starters and backup like TE.

 

[RayClay]

They've wanted versatile tight ends all along and have acquired quite a few by both methods. Seems they're still trying to find the best way to get value at the position IMO.

 

[xmarkd400x]

As everything I have ever read from BB, the TEs make the offense versatile. A TE who can block AND receive well will cause matchup problems for the defense. IE If they bring in a light LB, bring in the TE to block. If they bring in a heavy LB, send the TE out on a pattern.

What I think has happened, that BB never expected to happen, is that the pure passing is good enough that you can't really defend it without over-committing. In effect, Randy Moss forces the defense to put another light defender (nickel back) on the field. IE, if you try to play honest, the pass will beat you. If you play pass, the run will beat you. If you play the run, god help you. This way, BB gets versatility out of his offense without needing to get it from the TE.

That's why I think the TE spot is now less of a priority.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

As everything I have ever read from BB, the TEs make the offense versatile. A TE who can block AND receive well will cause matchup problems for the defense. IE If they bring in a light LB, bring in the TE to block. If they bring in a heavy LB, send the TE out on a pattern.

What I think has happened, that BB never expected to happen, is that the pure passing is good enough that you can't really defend it without over-committing. In effect, Randy Moss forces the defense to put another light defender (nickel back) on the field. IE, if you try to play honest, the pass will beat you. If you play pass, the run will beat you. If you play the run, god help you. This way, BB gets versatility out of his offense without needing to get it from the TE.

That's why I think the TE spot is now less of a priority.

Well spoken.

 

[unoriginal]

What's up with that? Now he's treating TE's like LB's and picking up vets instead of drafting 3 a year?

I don't recall BB ever drafting more than 2 in a year.

 

[signbabybrady]

BB touched on the Tight End position at the Belichick dinner a few weeks ago and he had some interesting things to say.

Paraphrase:

he was talking about how hard it is to find TE who can block and catch well. He was saying they usually do one much better than the other. And he said that the key is getting a group that can do it all.


Now my own comments combining what he said and the premise of the thread. I think with his noting how difficult it is he thought it would be possible to get one who does it all in rd one and while both were pretty good at both each clearly excelled more in one area than the other. So now maybe he has decided throwing 1s at the position doesn't neccessarily guarentee a great all around TE.

More Paraphrase:

he did mention top to bottom he thought this is one of the most talented groups of TEs he has worked with.

 

[Deus Irae]

BB touched on the Tight End position at the Belichick dinner a few weeks ago and he had some interesting things to say.

Paraphrase:

he was talking about how hard it is to find TE who can block and catch well. He was saying they usually do one much better than the other. And he said that the key is getting a group that can do it all.


Now my own comments combining what he said and the premise of the thread. I think with his noting how difficult it is he thought it would be possible to get one who does it all in rd one and while both were pretty good at both each clearly excelled more in one area than the other. So now maybe he has decided throwing 1s at the position doesn't neccessarily guarentee a great all around TE.

More Paraphrase:

he did mention top to bottom he thought this is one of the most talented groups of TEs he has worked with.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any tight end in the league that is known as both excellent at blocking and an excellent receiver. Can anyone?

 

[TriplecHamp]

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any tight end in the league that is known as both excellent at blocking and an excellent receiver. Can anyone?

Jason Witten.....

 

[Deus Irae]

Jason Witten.....

He's not a great blocker, although he's not bad. He's about as close as I could think of, though, so we were at least on the same page.

 

[signbabybrady]

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any tight end in the league that is known as both excellent at blocking and an excellent receiver. Can anyone?

Belichick mentioned Witten as being probably the one and he also mentioned Bavoro....


That was kinda what his point was....if you cant really find one to do both than you can find a couple to do it all and he almost seemed as if he was saying using a one might not be the best idea or spending big money on it because the guy likely still will be limited.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

As everything I have ever read from BB, the TEs make the offense versatile. A TE who can block AND receive well will cause matchup problems for the defense. IE If they bring in a light LB, bring in the TE to block. If they bring in a heavy LB, send the TE out on a pattern.

What I think has happened, that BB never expected to happen, is that the pure passing is good enough that you can't really defend it without over-committing. In effect, Randy Moss forces the defense to put another light defender (nickel back) on the field. IE, if you try to play honest, the pass will beat you. If you play pass, the run will beat you. If you play the run, god help you. This way, BB gets versatility out of his offense without needing to get it from the TE.

That's why I think the TE spot is now less of a priority.

Plus you have Welker, who makes pass catching TEs less of a priority. [Seriously—did anyone here watch the Colts game in 2007 and not think "Brady to Welker for the first down" on that last pass?]

 

[Deus Irae]

Belichick mentioned Witten as being probably the one and he also mentioned Bavoro....


That was kinda what his point was....if you cant really find one to do both than you can find a couple to do it all and he almost seemed as if he was saying using a one might not be the best idea or spending big money on it because the guy likely still will be limited.

I'm a huge fan of BB's scouting acumen and commentary, but I just can't buy into the Bavaro hype. I never have, and I doubt I ever will.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any tight end in the league that is known as both excellent at blocking and an excellent receiver. Can anyone?

People seem to think that Pettigrew might end up fitting that bill, but it's obviously way too early to say.

 

[unoriginal]

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any tight end in the league that is known as both excellent at blocking and an excellent receiver. Can anyone?

Tony Gonzalez when Belichick yells at him.

Heath Miller is a really good all-around tight end. I'd add Todd Heap as a good all-arounder for the past decade.

Both of those guys were drafted at the bottom of round 1.

 

[State]

I'm a huge fan of BB's scouting acumen and commentary.

The truth is out.

BB has had mixed results, at best, in drafting TEs. He does now have one who is good at both receiving and blocking. Official New England Patriots Biography

This guy will flourish with Brady. It'll be nice to see.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The truth is out.

Anyone who isn't a huge fan of Belichick's drafting acumen is... something that I can't say here because it would probably get me banned.

 

[State]

Anyone who isn't a huge fan of Belichick's drafting acumen is... something that I can't say here because it would probably get me banned.

You sound like a groupie.

Are you saying you're ecstatic over the drafting of TEs during the Belichick regime? If so, please justify. I stand by my statement that it's been mixed--some good news, some not so good.

 

[PatsCanDoIt]

There's always a mix of youth and veterans on this team. With so much coaching to do with the young defense, perhaps Bill wanted his offense to have more experience. Others have mentioned TE may be more important for kickoffs with the new rules. I'm sure he'll go back to the well in a year or so.

 

[BradyFTW!]

You sound like a groupie.

Are you saying you're ecstatic over the drafting of TEs during the Belichick regime? If so, please justify. I stand by my statement that it's been mixed--some good news, some not so good.

Nope, I wanted Karlos Dansby instead of Ben Watson. It is what it is, though, and I hesitate to even call it a miss since Watson has been a decent starter for a few years now, which is acceptable for the #32 pick. But if that's the worst that you're getting from the Pats on first round picks, then that's awfully impressive.