Does anyone see the possibility of a late round TE?

[supafly]

On one hand Crumpler is temporary, so a roster spot for a TE will open up in the near future. The thing is unless there is an injury to one of the three TE then it's doubtful there will be an opening this year. So unless somebody gets hurt that could result in a situation like last year with Larsen: draft a guy, cut him and hope to get him on the Practice Squad.

Yes, I do realize that was not the intention when they drafted Larsen, but the point is that drafting a TE is a dicey situation, almost setting yourself up for a wasted draft pick. Take somebody in the 3rd-4th-5th, and unless you go with four TE on the 53-man roster then he's probably going to be gone and not coming back after final cuts because somebody else will sign him (short of a phantom IR). Take somebody in the last round or as an UDFA and it's a slim chance he'll ever be as productive as Crumpler was last year.

Of course drafting a TE is a possibility, but I would not expect the Pats to draft one until the 7th round.

So then I take it you are pretty confident that both Hernandez and Crumpler not only come back, but can play at the same level, post surgery year 1. I suppose there isn't much reason not to be confident, but it's the worry wart in me that sometimes creeps back up

I suppose if it's Alge, replacing a blocking TE would not be as hard, although there will be obvious drop off in the talent, technique, and leadership that he brings. If it's Aaron, I would tend to worry a little more, as he brings a more versatile skill set.

FWIW--I'm hardly claiming that we should be prepared to have to worry at the moment, but I wondered about the specifics of coming back from a major hip surgery, etc. I do not know anything about that particular injury at all. Crumpler should be okay, I would imagine--although age is not on his side.

 

[CTHuskies]

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)?

My hope was that we could pick up a blocking TE and my binky was Maryland’s Will Yeatman (6-7 275 with 34¾ inch arms who ran in the 4.7).:rocker:


Unfortunately, this article came up today on National Football Post about Will Yeatman. The kid has not played a lot of football and was an All-American lacrosse player. He decided to commit himself to football now. According to the article, “….When talking with an NFL scout this past week, he told me that if someone made him (Yeatman) a offensive tackle three years ago, the guy would be 310-pounds right now and could be a first round pick.” I thought he could eventually replace Alge as our blocking first TE but Bunting has him 118 on his big board.

 

[Snake Eyes]

At the moment I'm high on DJ Williams from Arkansas, 6'1, 250lb who is a bit of tweener, some think he'll have to be a fullback at the next level, I see him as a match-up issue for defenses. Anyway, the guy can catch and is a very good blocker, and could probably be trained as a FB as well.

YouTube - DJ Williams Arkansas Razorback Junior Year

 

[VJCPatriot]

Where BB is concerned, I would never overlook tight ends in the draft. I really don't have a problem with us taking a late round flier on a tight end because I'm unsure how well Hernandez will recover. Plus Crumpler is a short term vet who won't be here forever.

 

[Off The Grid]

Any chance Crumpler hits PUP?

Not unless he hangs out with his old Quarter Back.

 

[Off The Grid]

Wait...so there's a Cameron Jordan, and a Jordan Cameron too ?

That's mildly amusing to me, as it doesn't take much these days.

If we drafted BOTH of them, would that create a Paradox that would tear an hole in the very fabric of the Universe, causing Time and Space to collapse upon themselves, and creating a Cosmic Black Hole that would consume us ALL???

I HATE it when that happens.

 

[Off The Grid]

My hope was that we could pick up a blocking TE and my binky was Maryland’s Will Yeatman (6-7 275 with 34¾ inch arms who ran in the 4.7).:rocker:


Unfortunately, this article came up today on National Football Post about Will Yeatman. The kid has not played a lot of football and was an All-American lacrosse player. He decided to commit himself to football now. According to the article, “….When talking with an NFL scout this past week, he told me that if someone made him (Yeatman) a offensive tackle three years ago, the guy would be 310-pounds right now and could be a first round pick.” I thought he could eventually replace Alge as our blocking first TE but Bunting has him 118 on his big board.

Brother Bunting first brought Will Yeatman's name up a LONG time ago.

I've broken him down on this thread, and in several other places, over the Winter.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

My hope was that we could pick up a blocking TE and my binky was Maryland’s Will Yeatman (6-7 275 with 34¾ inch arms who ran in the 4.7).:rocker:


Unfortunately, this article came up today on National Football Post about Will Yeatman. The kid has not played a lot of football and was an All-American lacrosse player. He decided to commit himself to football now. According to the article, “….When talking with an NFL scout this past week, he told me that if someone made him (Yeatman) a offensive tackle three years ago, the guy would be 310-pounds right now and could be a first round pick.” I thought he could eventually replace Alge as our blocking first TE but Bunting has him 118 on his big board.

Hush now, don't be letting Mr. Bunting's dream house lead you to despair for the cruel fate awaiting poor Willie Yeatman. 118 is top half of the 4th round - Randy Moss trade value, the old broken down Raider version anyway.
-- Yeatman needs to add 30 lbs of muscle and learn how to block at an NFL level for an offensive lineman - at minimum.
-- Maneri, whom Bunting was also praising at this time last year, was undrafted by Houston, who then waived him at final cut-down while weighing 296 (up from 265 at the Combine). Please note that Maneri was also worked out by Coach Scarnecchia, so the NFL had no illusions about how NE viewed Mr. Maneri.
-- NE claimed Maneri off waivers, kept him on the roster for three weeks, then waived him. No one claimed him and he was free to re-sign with NE for the PSquad. He was also free to re-sign with Houston if he so chose, and he apparently did get other offers before signing with NE (that silver-tongued Coach Scar), but by waiting three weeks NE ensured no other team felt there to be any value in carrying the kid on their roster when he offered no immediate return on investment - which gave the kid the opportunity to make his own choices, smart lad that one.
-- A year later Maneri's been exercising and working at whatever weight Coach Nash set for him, he's growing into that weight, he's been working on his Master's in Applied Blocking Techniques of the Scarnecchia Big Man Dancing Academy, and he must be doing well since he wasn't cut from the PSquad and he was re-signed to a futures contract for the 2011 season.

Given the development curve for Maneri, what NFL team is going to spend a fourth round pick on Willie Yeatman who is not as experienced a blocker or general football player? If the kid gets drafted at all, it will be very late - I'm betting that he goes undrafted and his agent gets him working with a performance school that specializes in offensive line development to get a head start on his transition. If the CBA squabble drags on too long, he may not even get signed until teams are putting together their Practice Squads. Mr. Bunting provides some interesting data on various players, he's worth reading, but he's the football equivalent of a reporter with a GED diploma summarizing doctoral theses in physics for readers of the Podunk Falls Gazette.