Talking TEs - 2014 Draft

[manxman2601]

They do react slowly. I remember them having Nick Fairley ranked in the 500's about the time Box picked him out as a high 1st rounder. Similar thing with you and Ansah. Talent that obvious is obvious.

Bobby Wagner and Mychal Kendrick's were the two that stick in my mind. cBS had them as UDFAs or late rounders for a long time and of course in the end, both went ahead of Lavonte David. Mark Barron and Stephon Gilmore were pegged as second rounders almost right up to draft week too.

 

[kennyb]

I think they sign chandler and pitta and draft a late round guy like Bolser or gilmore.

 

[DocHoliday]

I think they sign chandler and pitta and draft a late round guy like Bolser or gilmore.

Balt will not be letting Pitta go

 

[JPsPats]

I think amaro has a low ceiling. He looks like a hard worker that has heart but if theres @ 29 and so is ASJ, 11 out of 10 times i go with ASJ. See what I did there hehe. I wouldnt take Amaro until the 2nd-3rd round... He probably goes early in the 2nd.


I am really hoping we grab ASJ, I am prepared to be disappointed of course.

 

[Wilfork#75]

I know this is the draft forum, but one name I am going to keep an eye on as a potential free agent is Jermaine Gresham from Cinci. He is a potential cap casualty who could save the Bengals over $3mil in cap space if cut. If he is made available, even as a possible trade candidate I would certainly have to look long and hard at him. Former 1st round pick, solid receiver, good blocker and should fit well in the system, I think he would be an excellent #2 TE for us.

 

[Username]

I think amaro has a low ceiling. He looks like a hard worker that has heart but if theres @ 29 and so is ASJ, 11 out of 10 times i go with ASJ. See what I did there hehe. I wouldnt take Amaro until the 2nd-3rd round... He probably goes early in the 2nd.


I am really hoping we grab ASJ, I am prepared to be disappointed of course.

I'm not a huge fan of Amaro either. I don't see him as a serious red-zone threat as he struggles making contested catches. The offense can move the chains but we seriously lack a red zone threat and Amaro isn't it, in my opinion.

That coupled with his inconsistent blocking makes me not want him in the first round.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

The thing about ASJ the more I watch him is he can run the entire route tree and unlike Dobson and Tompkins he already understands how to execute a back shoulder throw when he lines up wide. He can go up for a ball on the outside especially in the end zone as well as most of the big WRs.

I really think he's gone by 29.

This is an excellent point. ASJ received NFL type coaching at Washington and in that area where he is ahead of players like Amaro and Ebron.

In ASJ I see a fairly athletic player who is a willing blocker, has decent hands, runs good routes.

Yes he needs to get stronger and yes he does need to learn how to beat LBers off the LOS, but his skill set fits very nicely in our offense.

If he has a good combine/pro day, then I agree, he is off the board by #29.

 

[State]

It's obvious we need to draft a TE early, along with linemen for both offense and defense. I like your insights here, Ochmed.

 

[DaBruinz]

Cutting Amendola will result in more of a cap hit than keeping him, I'm not sure about trading him though.

Actually, If the Pats make him a "designated Veteran" meaning he counts as a june 1st cut, then the hit is spread over this season and next and would not be more of a cap hit. In fact, It would save 3 millillion this year, but have a 3.6 million hit in 2015.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm not a huge fan of Amaro either. I don't see him as a serious red-zone threat as he struggles making contested catches. The offense can move the chains but we seriously lack a red zone threat and Amaro isn't it, in my opinion.

That coupled with his inconsistent blocking makes me not want him in the first round.

This x 100. We can move the chains, but we need to do a much better job of converting in the red zone. That's where the bang for the buck is.

 

[manxman2601]

Almost everything about Ebron is fantastic but every time I watch him I'm left disappointed by some really bad drops. But then he does something wonderfully athletic and I forgive him.

I can see him being a frustration for the fanbase of whomever drafts him though.

 

[mayoclinic]

I know this is the draft forum, but one name I am going to keep an eye on as a potential free agent is Jermaine Gresham from Cinci. He is a potential cap casualty who could save the Bengals over $3mil in cap space if cut. If he is made available, even as a possible trade candidate I would certainly have to look long and hard at him. Former 1st round pick, solid receiver, good blocker and should fit well in the system, I think he would be an excellent #2 TE for us.

Seems like a long shot to me, but interesting.

 

[DaBruinz]

When thinking about the "Red Zone" offense, we need to look at how the Patriots did this year.

For the Red Zone, the Patriots were 8th in the league at 58.11%. (Denver was tops at 72.73%), but it was down from 67.5% from 2012.

So, it's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be, but it does need to be worked on.

I think that solidifying the O-line by replacing Wendell and upgrading Connolly would do wonders for the Red Zone Offense. I also believe that a healthy Thompkins and healthy Dobson also made it better. Could we use a TE? Sure. But it's honestly behind the OC in terms of need. However, you can get good OCs in the 2nd and 3rd and even 5th round.

I am unlike other people. I think that getting someone like Fiedorowicz is a better deal, long term, than getting a ASJ, Amaro, or Ebron. I don't believe that there are any Aaron Hernandez or Jimmy Graham types in this draft. Only Amaro and Ebron have the timed speed. ASJ might have the route running, but does he have the cutting ability to get open or to break through jams at the line. Fiedorowicz has similar speed to ASJ but has the power to break through jams. He's also a great blocker. To me, that makes him and upgrade over Hoomanawanui AND Mulligan. And I beleive he helps both the running and passing game from the blocking standpoint. And I think his height will help in the Red Zone offense as well.

 

[everlong]

Almost everything about Ebron is fantastic but every time I watch him I'm left disappointed by some really bad drops. But then he does something wonderfully athletic and I forgive him.

I can see him being a frustration for the fanbase of whomever drafts him though.

Yep, which is why I prefer ASJ. Ebon reminds me so much of Vernon Davis but the hands kill it.

 

[manxman2601]

Yep, which is why I prefer ASJ. Ebon reminds me so much of Vernon Davis but the hands kill it.

Ebron still edges it for me - he has rare athleticism. But I'd happily settle for ASJ or Richard Rodgers later.

 

[mayoclinic]

When thinking about the "Red Zone" offense, we need to look at how the Patriots did this year.

For the Red Zone, the Patriots were 8th in the league at 58.11%. (Denver was tops at 72.73%), but it was down from 67.5% from 2012.

So, it's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be, but it does need to be worked on.

I think that solidifying the O-line by replacing Wendell and upgrading Connolly would do wonders for the Red Zone Offense. I also believe that a healthy Thompkins and healthy Dobson also made it better. Could we use a TE? Sure. But it's honestly behind the OC in terms of need. However, you can get good OCs in the 2nd and 3rd and even 5th round.

I am unlike other people. I think that getting someone like Fiedorowicz is a better deal, long term, than getting a ASJ, Amaro, or Ebron. I don't believe that there are any Aaron Hernandez or Jimmy Graham types in this draft. Only Amaro and Ebron have the timed speed. ASJ might have the route running, but does he have the cutting ability to get open or to break through jams at the line. Fiedorowicz has similar speed to ASJ but has the power to break through jams. He's also a great blocker. To me, that makes him and upgrade over Hoomanawanui AND Mulligan. And I beleive he helps both the running and passing game from the blocking standpoint. And I think his height will help in the Red Zone offense as well.

I'm not wild about Fiedorowicz, but I agree with you in generally about not using a 1st on ASJ/Ebron/Amaro. I'd love to get Brandon Pettigrew in FA as a red zone target and depth at in - line TE, then add someone like Richard Rodgers, Arthur Lynch or Xavier Grimble.

 

[Coach42]

When thinking about the "Red Zone" offense, we need to look at how the Patriots did this year.

For the Red Zone, the Patriots were 8th in the league at 58.11%. (Denver was tops at 72.73%), but it was down from 67.5% from 2012.

So, it's not nearly as bad as people make it out to be, but it does need to be worked on.

I think that solidifying the O-line by replacing Wendell and upgrading Connolly would do wonders for the Red Zone Offense. I also believe that a healthy Thompkins and healthy Dobson also made it better. Could we use a TE? Sure. But it's honestly behind the OC in terms of need. However, you can get good OCs in the 2nd and 3rd and even 5th round.

I am unlike other people. I think that getting someone like Fiedorowicz is a better deal, long term, than getting a ASJ, Amaro, or Ebron. I don't believe that there are any Aaron Hernandez or Jimmy Graham types in this draft. Only Amaro and Ebron have the timed speed. ASJ might have the route running, but does he have the cutting ability to get open or to break through jams at the line. Fiedorowicz has similar speed to ASJ but has the power to break through jams. He's also a great blocker. To me, that makes him and upgrade over Hoomanawanui AND Mulligan. And I beleive he helps both the running and passing game from the blocking standpoint. And I think his height will help in the Red Zone offense as well.

I totally agree with upgrading the interior O-Line, however I think TE is a pressing need. With Gronk playing we had the #1 offense in the NFL. When he didn't we had the pile of rubbish that showed up in the AFCCG. Certainly the O-Line had something to do with that stink fest. I believe the line can be more easily fixed with in house remedies and later picks than TE can. I don't think we can allow that kind of talent gulf between TE1 and TE2 to exists again. We can't allow one player (other than Brady) to dictate what our offense is going to look like.

 

[JPsPats]

I'm not wild about Fiedorowicz, but I agree with you in generally about not using a 1st on ASJ/Ebron/Amaro. I'd love to get Brandon Pettigrew in FA as a red zone target and depth at in - line TE, then add someone like Richard Rodgers, Arthur Lynch or Xavier Grimble.

pettigrew has stone hands, he would frustrate us many people.

 

[Get it shawtaay]

Fiedorowicz won't separate in the NFL. Good blocker but not worth a day 2 pick, which is where he's being projected.

Richard Rodgers is frustrating from what I've seen. #1 TE upside but uncoordinated catching the ball and awful blocker for his size.

Give me "fullback" Gator Hoskins of Marshall as a move TE. Better than Dobson.

 

[gobesmug]

I'm far from being as educated as you guys are, and haven't watched any of these guys beyond youtube videos. But Troy Niklas is the one TE that really stands out to me. I love how he lines up like a traditional tight end and takes on DEs in the blocking game. Even more so, the way he fakes a block and explodes into the middle of the field is beautiful to my eyes. I think it was Mayo who said he looked like a lesser gronk, and I couldn't agree more. He would make the perfect back up. I love the way he drives through dbs trying to block him, and catches contested passes.

Amaro, Ebron, and ASJ just don't do it for me. ASJ would be my fave from these 3, but Amaro and Ebron seem to just run wr routes and do nothing in the run game. At least I could't find any videos showing any blocking skills, so I could be way off.