Okay, obviously we all know about the change that took place last year in the TE aspect of the offense, but recent news has told us of 2 pretty serious and significant injuries and surgeries. Both Aaron Hernandez (hip surgery) and now Alge Crumpler (significant shoulder surgery + age) have gone down, and we aren't sure when exactly they will be back. More importantly, we don't know to what extent, and if they will be able to contribute the same the first year back, a la Brady, Welker, etc.
It seems we are all in the consensus of being worried about Ty Warren playing up to par, so why wouldn't we be worried about Hernandez and Crumpler in the same regard?
As crazy as it sounds--does anyone think there is any chance of Belichick grabbing another TE, in the mid to late rounds? And I'm not just talking about the one that he probably would've grabbed already before the surgeries, I'm talking about someone who can actually come in and contribute, should Gronk get hurt throughout the year, or Hernandez/Crumpler not playing to full potential, or even coming back at all.
Is there a possibility? And if so, who and when (predictions/comments)?
Splendid idea for a thread, sir.
I've been aggressively espousing the idea of augmenting our unusual advantage at Tight End for a long time, and these concerns exacerbate that desire.
For the sake of accurately describing a player's true role, I like to break down Tight End into 3 emerging "sub positions":
Tight End ~ Alge Crumpler ~ 80-90% Blocking ~ 10-20% Receiving.
Wing Back ~ Rob Gronkowski ~ 50/50 ~ often In Motion.
Wing End ~ Aaron Hernandez ~ 10-20% Blocking ~ 80-90% Receiving. But a 40/60 guy would actually be much more
dangerous.
I favor our exploiting the breach we've opened up on the strategic front, with the rise of Crumpler, Gronkowski, and Hernandez, last year. I believe that the more Super Hybrids ~ like Gronkowski + Hernandez ~ that we can bring on the field, the better. And I believe that if we make the moves to turn our O Line from good to Great, in conjunction with that...we will become UNSTOPPABLE.
For a few years, anyway. And that's as much as anyone can ask.
Prospects on My Wish List
Tight End
Will Yeatman ~ 6.6/275 ~ Free Agent
Will Yeatman is my favorite, here: an ADP Free Agent who I have us drafting in the 7th, in my current Mock. He's a formerly devout LaCrosse player. 6.6/275. He is an exceptional athlete, and raw as ALL get out, but has IMMENSE potential not only as an All Pro Blocker, but as a pretty good receiver, as well. Wes Bunting has suggested that he might be better served converting to O Tackle, a la my 2010 Super Binkie and current Patriot,
Steve Maneri.
I'm not so sure that it's the best way to go: I place great value on a Tight End who can ~ potentially ~ develop into the weapon that I believe Yeatman could. And there're some exceptional O Tackles coming on line, next year, to say nothing of my current Super Binkie,
Willie Smith, who is, amazingly, still looking at an ADP of the 5th or 6th round. But considering that Yeatman only just recently got off the LaCrosse ~ where I presume he needed to aggressively keep the pounds off ~ and is already currently listed at 275, it strikes me that he might much more naturally put on another 30 pounds than, say, Steven Maneri, himself.
Maneri was listed at about 265 last year, currently at 290. And while that number's been up there for a while, giving me hope that it's up beyond 300, where it seems that it needs to be...I have my doubts as to whether he's going to be able to project the violent, explosive blocking he produced, as a college Tight End, to an equally violent and explosive Pro O Tackle. Mind you: Steve Maneri actually made a point to
target us, last Autumn, and that is certainly encouraging.
Lee Smith ~ 6.6/265 ~ 7th Round
Lee Smith carries the same concerns in my eyes, being 6.6/265, the same weight as Maneri, a year ago. To get to 305, Maneri or Smith would have to increase their body mass by a full 15 PERCENT. I am just very skeptical that either will be able to do so in a way that will allow them to retain the explosiveness and violence that rocketed them both up my Boards in the first place. In any case, Lee Smith, one of my very first Binkies in this year's Draft, back in Autumn, remains on my list, and even gets a bump up, with Crumpler's serious concerns.
I should also add, though, that if the Rosters do not get expanded to 60 ~ and there is little reason, at this point, to think that they will be ~ I might prefer to reduce or eliminate the presence of the predominantly blocking ~ Alge Crumpler ~ Tight End from the roster, in favor of expanding the other two roles. It seems to me that a Tight End who is an equally serious threat to Block OR Receive ~ the Rob Gronkowski "Wing Back" position ~ is FAR more menacing than a guy, like Crumpler, who is almost certainly going to be blocking, on any given play.
Wing Back
Jordan Cameron ~ 6.5/255 ~ 3rd Round
Jordan Cameron is FLYING up the boards, of course, which is a damned shame, because he was looking phenomenal as a Deep Late Rounder. Now, his current ADP is the 3rd. Even there, however, he'd be a bargain, for he has an INTOXICATING receiving skill set, and the perfect frame to become an exceptional Blocker in time. Now he is a VERY recent BasketBall conversion ~ just caught his first pass just this past year!! ~ so he is raw as hell...But he is catching on RAPIDLY, and carries unmistakable Star Potential.
Brett Brackett ~ 6.6/240 ~ Free Agent
Brackett is currently lighter than you would like for Wing Back, though he's certainly got the frame to put on another 20 pounds. He's a former high school Quarter Back and college Wide Receiver, and he's not too fast, either. Even so, I think the kid is a really natural, instinctive route runner and receiver who could be very effective in the short passing game. And his unusual resume should be of great help in mastering those aspects of the game. Best of all, though, is his well earned reputation as a violent, passionate, and FEROCIOUS blocker.
Wing End
Lance Kendricks ~ 6.3/243 ~ 3rd Round
Lance Kendricks is a kid I am just flat out CRAZY about ~ a true
Priority Binky. His size makes him a Wing End, not a Wing Back, but this guy is an absolutely FEROCIOUS Blocker. Everything I read about him lauds LAVISH praise about his tenacity, his passion, his technique, and his FEROCITY as a Blocker. And as a Receiver, he is DEADLY: Good Burst, superior Navigational Skills, excellent Speed, and soft hands, but what makes him truly dangerous are his INSTINCTS. I'd see him as more of a 60/40 Receiver/Blocker than Hernandez ~ my
Alpha Priority Super Binkie, last year ~ making him much more of an Hybrid, and, therefore, much more
dangerous.
Julius Thomas ~ 6.5/245 ~ 5th Round
Julius Thomas has a startlingly similar story to Jordan Cameron: A BasketBall conversion who didn't catch his first pass until just this past year. High Upside. Raw as hell, but learning VERY rapidly. He doesn't quite have the size or speed that Cameron has, though. And he's rawer. Even so, the size + speed combo is very intriguing.
