So, we've seen the 2009 figures, now for the 2008 figures. Remember, it's the 'consensus top 4' TE's and the remainder of the best pass catchers. I'll post Ben's totals at the bottom as a reminder. RR = Route Running - RRT = Routes resulting in a target:
Tony Gonzalez - 974 snaps - 588 routes - 150 targets - 96 receptions - 60% RR - 26% RRT
Jason Witten - 929 snaps - 487 routes - 119 targets - 81 receptions - 52% RR - 24% RRT
Dallas Clark - 874 snaps - 502 routes - 103 targets - 77 receptions - 57% RR - 21% RRT
Antonio Gates - 889 snaps - 549 routes - 84 targets - 60 receptions - 62% RR - 15% RRT
Owen Daniels - 1036 snaps - 529 routes - 90 targets - 70 receptions - 51% RR - 17% RRT
Chris Cooley - 982 snaps - 479 routes - 106 targets - 83 receptions - 49% RR - 22% RRT
Zach Miller - 954 snaps - 386 routes - 83 targets - 56 receptions - 41% RR - 22% RRT
Tony Scheffler - 422 snaps - 259 routes - 59 targets - 40 receptions - 61% RR - 23% RRT
John Carlson - 716 snaps - 360 routes - 77 targets - 55 receptions - 50% RR - 21% RRT
Ben Watson - 875 snaps - 368 routes - 42 targets - 22 receptions - 42% RR - 11% RRT
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So, to sum up......even more damning really - he had more snaps, but ran less routes. It doesn't get any better for Dave Thomas by the way, who despite being seen as Dallas Clark reincarnate, saw 487 snaps - and ran routes just 185 times - 38% of the time.
When comparing Ben's numbers against the others in 2008, this is what you see:
Gonzo - Targets; 28% - Routes; 63%
Witten - Targets; 35% - Routes; 76%
Clark - Targets; 41% - Routes; 73%
Gates - Targets; 50% - Routes; 67%
Daniels - Targets; 47% - Routes; 70%
Cooley - Targets; 40% - Routes; 77%
Miller - Targets; 51% - Routes; 95%
Scheffler - Targets; 71% - Routes; 142%
Carlson - Targets; 55% - Routes; 102%
In comparison to the top 'pass catchers' and the elite TE's in 2008, only Zach Miller, of the sodding Raiders and with JaMarcus fecking Russell at QB, came close to matching Watson's lack of routes - and yet he finished 6th in receiving yards for the position. Look at the Scheffler numbers (who had an amazing year all in all) - Ben ran going on for almost 50% more routes, yet was targeted basically 30% less. A 71% disparity. That is absolutely amazing. Even against John Carlson (a rookie!), he ran 8 more routes, yet was targeted only around half as many times. Ditto for Miller.
So basically, in 2008, he was used even less than he was last year. And there's an even bigger disparity between his numbers and the top guys at his position.
If I get chance tomorrow, I'll have a look at the 2007 numbers.
