OT:It Begins. Eifert tongue bath

Nikolai said:

People tried putting Jimmy Graham on the same pedestal in 2011, and that comparison lasted a couple years. At this stage, people realize how silly that is. I'm thinking we'll see the same thing for Eifert.

Actually, I noticed the Bengals WR corps is just physical all around. They really push hard for extra yardage, fighting through tackles. I wonder if it's the coaching.

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Jimmy Graham was the happiest man on Earth when Hernandez was busted - it gave him an honest shot at being the #2 TE in football.

Concussion Protocol said:

Kelce is a very good blocker. Not sure about Olsen.

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Do you have any review footage to cite? I hate how the media doesn't care about blocking when it comes to tight ends. It feels like 2011 and Jimmy Graham all over again.

Wheelman said:

Do you have any review footage to cite? I hate how the media doesn't care about blocking when it comes to tight ends. It feels like 2011 and Jimmy Graham all over again.

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It was considered one of his strengths coming out of college and I remember reading somewhere that he graded out highly in KC too. I'll have to dig around to find something though, it's a lost art that doesn't get much analysis these days.

Travis Kelce pushing to be NFL's No. 1 TE

I know PFF is loved on this forum, so this will be universally accepted I'm sure . My association with Kelce being a good blocker really goes back to when I was studying up on prospects for the draft a few years back. Obviously that doesn't mean it has translated to the pros, but a lot of people believe it has.

i knew this would happen. lol
not just bengals fans who have lost their mind. gronk is the most unstoppable force in the nfl and it's not even close.

eifert's good but come on. he had a good game against one of the worst teams in the league.

tasmlab said:

Question: is there a likely chance that Ghost has the same experience as Automatic Adam? I seem to forget why the Pats let that great kicker go.

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$$$

Joey007 said:

People have been ooing and aweing over Dion Lewis as well this year and we're not complaining about it are we?

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Well, pretty sure nobody has called him the best to ever play or the best in the game today. Just a bunch of people noting he's a nice little player, a good find, and an interesting story.

TheFlyingWedge said:

Graham is soft.

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Water is wet.

AzorianPats said:

Hell no!!

Kelce is soft. Eifert isnt. Eifert not gronk, but he is a complete TE, thats good at receiving and decent at blocking

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Do you have any footage or examples of this?

Wheelman said:

Do you have any footage or examples of this?

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Wheelman, here are some college profiles of Kelce and Eifert. Very different when it comes to blocking. Interestingly enough, their comp for Kelce is Gronk, and for Eifert it's Olsen. I've looked for reliable analysis of TE blocking at the NFL level but it's hard to come by.

Travis Kelce Draft Profile – NFL.com
Tyler Eifert Draft Profile – NFL.com

Bleacher Report likes Kelce's blocking, for what it's worth

NFL 1000: Ranking Top 60 TEs

Concussion Protocol said:

Wheelman, here are some college profiles of Kelce and Eifert. Very different when it comes to blocking. Interestingly enough, their comp for Kelce is Gronk, and for Eifert it's Olsen. I've looked for reliable analysis of TE blocking at the NFL level but it's hard to come by.

Travis Kelce Draft Profile – NFL.com
Tyler Eifert Draft Profile – NFL.com

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I agree, measurements don't really help a lot to determine if the guy is a good blocker. It's a real shame what "fantasy" football has done. That's all the media cares about now. I find it very annoying.

The only tight ends that I know can block are Gronk, Witten and Dwayne Allen(BB mentioned how his blocking was good)

I'm going to focus on tight end blocking from opposing teams now when I watch Pats games again.

I can compare players from different teams, years, etc w/out bias as long as I have seen them w/ my own eyes. For example I know Peyton has played w/ #1 defenses statistically speaking but none of those defenses were better than what he has now. I can do the same w/ Eifert etc.

But the only reason I and so many other pat fans come off as insecure/jealous is because the REVENGE TOUR demands that of us. This is no ordinary year where we can acknowledge others. We are on a mission to show how superior we are(for the fans anyway). It may blow up in our face like 07 but until then Im going to enjoy this ride of pure arrogance.

JMC00 said:

I don't get why you are so sensitive that Pats fans are laughing about the media making it out as Eifert is as good or better than Gronk. So what if some Pats fans think it is laughable that the media has rushed to anoint Eifert as equal or better than Gronk. Why do you want (need) to ***** about Pats fans rolling their eyes at the the media and their anti-Pats bias rushing to anoint a player that plays the same position that a Pats player is currently the best in the league at playing?

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because it comes across as whiny...everyone has their own opinions, shouldn't matter one bit if someone
believes player x is better than a player on your favorite team. It just seems some here are just looking for ways to be offended....sort of like society these days.

Some comments on the comments

1. We shouldn't take it so personal when mediots tongue bath athletes. That's what they do. 4 years ago Andrew Luck, Kapernick and RGIII were the next generation Brady, Rodgers and Manning. How is that working out today. Luck has regressed to one of the worst passers in the league, Kapernick got benched, and RGII, runs the Washington scout team.

The mediots can't wait to anoint someone a superstar. (the most over used sports term in history). Remember if they don't build them up, then they can't get to tear them down. And if you are a mediot, THAT is even more fun, and for most of them, their real goal in life

2. How is this different from what was going on 2 years ago when the mediots wanted to equate Jimmie Graham with Gronk. Now we are finding out that Graham has been exposed as NOT really being a TE who was made as much by Drew Brees and the NO offense, as by his own considerable skill as a receiver

3. Eifert is a premier TE who is having a breakout year on a talented team that hasn't had much in the way of injury issues. There isn't a single person on this board who wouldn't love to have him on this team.

4. BUT he is no Gronk, because there is no other Gronk. Gronk is the exception that proves the rule. He can pass block your best rusher one play, then run by your best defender on the next. And best of all, he is JUST as happy to do either for your team. Anyone who knows football will admire Eifert's abilitiy, but there is only ONE Rob Gronkowski,,,,,and by God, his a Patriot.

5. Think about it. We as Pats fans have had the good fortune to watch TWO GOAT's play on the same team. Three if you count the HC. GOD are we spoiled. BTW- we didn't have to spend a first round pick on either one of them.

Chevy said:

Jimmy Graham was the happiest man on Earth when Hernandez was busted - it gave him an honest shot at being the #2 TE in football.

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Stupid Hernandez...goddammit I loved watching him play imagine him in this offense.

judas priest........do we need to go through this every time someone references a pats player in comparison?

can't people just take it as the admission of gronk being top dog?

As for the topic on hand, teams game plan for AJ Green first against the Bengals. Eifert has had the luxury of playing with a top 5 WR which opens things up for him(credit to him though for making plays and from what I see a very good player) where in Gronk defenses game plan for him first, but all they can do is limit him and even then a pedestrian day for Gronk is 5 catches for like 80 yards

tasmlab said:

Question: is there a likely chance that Ghost has the same experience as Automatic Adam? I seem to forget why the Pats let that great kicker go.

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It Starts with: 1. he couldnt put outdoor kickoffs deeper than the 5 anymore (Note he Doesnt Do kickoffs at Indy)
2. he Hand already Bern franchised and there was no Wayne he was Wirth the franchise döst to retain (See 1above)
3. He wanted to get paid like the #1 Kicker in league at a Time when TB was highest (or 2D) highest paid qb and there wasnt the cap room. ( and that Showdown be enough, but....
4. he wanted to get to a Dome or high altitude City to extend his Career span
5. he wanted to get to a ab on a Team nötig leid by BB/TB so that he Hand a netter Chance to someday be a Kicker in canton.

All-in-all it wirkend Pretty well for him, he got another ring, Kicks in a dome and is still Planung (was passt his Prime)

Why do we care what the media says? According to media, Manning was the best qb of the 2000s and Rodgers is the best of this decade.

ViperGTS said:

Make room, Rob Gronkowski, Tyler Eifert is on the tight end scene, too

"Whether you believe Eifert deserves to be regarded in the same breath as a tight end of Gronkowski's caliber or not, you must know that all of this has been a long time coming for him."

Eifert is good. I get it. Until he drags 3 or 4 guys 10 yards into the end zone we can speak Gronks name. Once he can seal off a good defensive end on a run play, he can talk.

Jimmy Graham lite 2.0. Nothing more.

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Eifert isn't as good as Gronk, which isn't a dis on him since nobody in history has ever been as good a TE as Gronk is. He's better than Graham ever was, but I do like the comparison because Eifert is pretty one-dimensional in TE terms as well. To his credit, he's become a better blocker, but it's nowhere near a strength. Anyone who puts Eifert anywhere near Gronk in TE rankings is basically advertising that they don't consider blocking to be part of a TE's job.

Gumby said:

It Starts with: 1. he couldnt put outdoor kickoffs deeper than the 5 anymore (Note he Doesnt Do kickoffs at Indy)
2. he Hand already Bern franchised and there was no Wayne he was Wirth the franchise döst to retain (See 1above)
3. He wanted to get paid like the #1 Kicker in league at a Time when TB was highest (or 2D) highest paid qb and there wasnt the cap room. ( and that Showdown be enough, but....
4. he wanted to get to a Dome or high altitude City to extend his Career span
5. he wanted to get to a ab on a Team nötig leid by BB/TB so that he Hand a netter Chance to someday be a Kicker in canton.

All-in-all it wirkend Pretty well for him, he got another ring, Kicks in a dome and is still Planung (was passt his Prime)

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How many drinks are we in, Gumby?