stronger, faster, taller etc.
MrTibbs said:
He only weighs 239 lbs and is 6' 3"
he'd have been considered regular size no more than 20 years ago. as i recall russ francis and kellen winslow were the first of the big tight ends.
the chiefs had morris stroud, 6'10" and aout 265, in the early '70s. but the rest of the HOF guys, john mackey, mike ditka, ozzie newsome were about 6'3', 235-240. winslow and dave casper were 6'6" guys.
IMO the duties given the GTE are about the same as in 1975.
working with the OT to take a DE/D out of a play, moving out to take on LBs and seal off a play. Stretching the field to extent that SS/FS have to ignore the play of the CBs/WRs and stay on the hash marks.
todays' TE seem to me to be 6'3"-6'6", 260-270 to be to hold their own against DLs. remember DEs and DTs in that era were 265-275 (carl eller, deacon jones, jack youngbl0od, even howie long). now we see these 310-pounders (big sey, reggie white) who need more force to move anywhere.
giving up 60-70 lbs, i don't know how a TE can get the job done. so he'll have to be a "pass-catching" TE.