The Second Tight End Spot

[Chuck Walden]

Gronk's obviously #1, and a lot of people assume Dwayne Allen will retain the #2 spot. While he's a great blocker, I could see the Pats turning more towards Jacob Hollister if he improves in the blocking game. Mike Reiss and a bunch of other reporters say he'd added muscle weight, so he has the potential to grow there.

 

[jah]

We'll see. I didn't think Hollister looked that great last year (Will Yeatman and Lee Smith looked way better) but the reports from early practices are positive and he spent all last year on the 53 so what do I know?

 

[Chuck Walden]

We'll see. I didn't think Hollister looked that great last year (Will Yeatman and Lee Smith looked way better) but the reports from early practices are positive and he spent all last year on the 53 so what do I know?

I think the biggest reason he didn't see the field more was that he was undersized and just couldn't block. He's reportedly added weight, which should improve his work as a blocker. I think he's got great potential as a receiver

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Let’s not count Troy niklas out just yet.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Paying Allen $5m to block aint happening. I'm sure BB will need to see some things play out before finally cutting him but if he is the same receiver during TC as he was in 2017 he's gone.

 

[signbabybrady]

No way Dwayne Allen makes this team.

 

[RobertWeathers]

No way Dwayne Allen makes this team.

I'd keep him for 1/2 of what he makes now. Maybe not even that much.

 

[patriot1136]

don't forget Will Tye

 

[BlueThunder]

Only 19 more days to TC opening........Football finally on the horizon

 

[Chuck Walden]

Only 19 more days to TC opening........Football finally on the horizon

Can't come soon enough

 

[supafly]

Can't come soon enough

You sure? There are plenty of other interesting subjects to discuss, here.

May I suggest something with politics, or perhaps drumming up the Malcolm Butler thread?

 

[Huckleberry1]

Let’s not count Troy niklas out just yet.

That’s my thinking as well. I still don’t see Allen on this team at that number. A 1/3 of it maybe, but even then he sucks.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Paying Allen $5m to block aint happening. I'm sure BB will need to see some things play out before finally cutting him but if he is the same receiver during TC as he was in 2017 he's gone.

Yep, I think he’s saving that $ until the season gets closer.

 

[TheBeers]

If Allen can gain some confidence, and more importantly get Brady to trust him, he’s clearly the #2. He was an excellent blocker last year and obviously underperformed receiving.

Tye and Hollister are not blockers at least to this point in their careers.

And I agree the cap number is too high for Allen if he still can’t catch passes.

 

[Brick27]

Reality is they’ll have atleast 3 TEs on the roster, so TE2 vs. TE3 isn’t necessarily a competition between the two. More so, it’s a competition for specified roles, that fill two TE spots.

 

[Chuck Walden]

Reality is they’ll have atleast 3 TEs on the roster, so TE2 vs. TE3 isn’t necessarily a competition between the two. More so, it’s a competition for specified roles, that fill two TE spots.

I could see them rolling in with two. They've done it in the past, and we really didn't use Hollister at all his rookie year, so we essentially only had two.
If Hollister can block, I think he kicks Allen off the team

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Only 19 more days to TC opening........Football finally on the horizon

Can't come soon enough

Enjoy the summer. Summer always flies by quickly.

 

[Bruins29]

Trent Brown has never played LT and Cannon was IRd last year and was injured in 2016 also. Given this it might be smart to hang on to one of the best blocking TEs in the league.

Also, 3 of Bradys most trusted quick read targets (Lewis and DA) are gone with JE gone for the first 4 games. Other than Hogan who has mostly been used a a mid to deep threat Brady is working with a pretty much new receiving group.

Brady may need a bit more time this year particularly in the beginning of the year. Extra protection with all of these unknowns (line and WRs) might be necessary.