Year of the TE

[Vinny]

But in a broader, leaguewide sense, it's the year of the tight end in the NFL.

Antonio Gates of San Diego, Johnson, Jason Witten of Dallas, Tony Gonzalez of Kansas City, Randy McMichael of the Dolphins, Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants, Jermaine Wiggins of Minnesota and Alge Crumpler of Atlanta.

All are going to catch at least 50 passes this season, maybe 60. A year ago, only four tight ends -- Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, Todd Heap and Freddie Jones -- totaled as many as 50.

And this year's list would be longer if Heap, Baltimore's leading receiver in 2003, hadn't been injured early in the season and if Kellen Winslow Jr., a former University of Miami star now with Cleveland, hadn't lost his rookie season to surgery.

There's a tight-end revolution in progress in the ever-trendy NFL and, suddenly, everyone is looking for a 240- to 260-pound receiver with enough savvy to find the holes in the underneath zones or with enough speed to streak up the middle, where one can often exploit the growing number of cover-2 defenses.

McMichael, who will be on the same field with Johnson when the Dolphins play the 49ers on Sunday, says it's a position that has been "long overlooked.

"Now teams are drafting people like me, Gates, Gonzalez, Shockey, Crumpler ... there's just so many of us in the league now we're getting mismatches because we don't just catch the ball and fall down. We're going to do some damage with it. We're going to make a lot of people miss, break tackles and get into the end zone."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...7nov27,0,11912.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front

 

[beerlover]

Nice post Vinny

The Texans cannot afford to sit idle & continue to ignore the TE as a weapon in their game planning. Miller needs to see the ball at least a couple of times every game, hopefully starting today.

What is the issue thats caused our Tight Ends to disappear this season? Carr needs the blocking, but also a safety valve, how difficult can it be

The article points to several excellent young Tight Ends one of whom is a free agent at the end of this year Alge Crumpler. This is his chance to really set his family up with a really big contract (coming off the intitial 3 year rookie signing) he has developed thru experience, is a proven playmaker and just coming into his own with his peak performing years ahead. Just do it.

 

[edo783]

Atlanta will probably put the Franchise tag on him. If not, it will be VERY expensive to get him, Atlanta will naturally want to keep him and other teams will have noticed also. It could turn in to a bidding war pretty easly. I don't see Charlie C. playing that game. If Bennie J. is deemed to be to big of a question mark, I suspect that they go and get a TE on the first day of the draft.

 

[beerlover]

thankyou, thankyou Texans for throwing the ball to Miller & once to Brunner. Each play was positive & one for a very important touchdown.

The Falcons would be making a mistake to franchise Crumpler they need to make a generous market value offer anything less & resulting in a franchise tag would be negative for the Falcons. I'm not sure how good the ownership group in Atlanta is? Are they cheap or willing to spend either way Casserly needs to force the issue. I've looked at the College TE ranks this year and nobody strikes me as first round material, in this situation free agency makes a lot of sense.

 

[nunusguy]

I don't think any TE was ever drafted as high as Kellen Winslow was in this
years draft (#6 overall ?). I don't know if that's the new emphasis of the TE in the offense, or that Winslow was perceived to be that much of a potential
talent in the NFL. Maybe both.

 

[wags]

I don't think any TE was ever drafted as high as Kellen Winslow was in this
years draft (#6 overall ?). I don't know if that's the new emphasis of the TE in the offense, or that Winslow was perceived to be that much of a potential
talent in the NFL. Maybe both.

He was drafted that high because he is considered the best TE prospect in a long time, maybe ever.

 

[beerlover]

Arthur Blank is probably one of the NFL's better owner. I'm sure you have shopped at this stores. He's a pretty sharp cookie. There is no way they let Crumpler get away.

Thanks for the info. Seems like a top notch owner, I'm not going to give up all hope just 99% of all hope

 

[El Tejano]

Well you can throw that last 1% away too because they signed him to a 6 year extension today.