The TE thread

I know that you think so, but I honestly think that comes from not understanding NFL offenses. Most teams structured like ours simply don't use the tight end much in the passing game, regardless of who the coordinator is. Now I'd be fine with throwing to Mangum more, but the calls for a high priced free agent or a first round draft pick are unreasonable.

 

Deal is this. It really depends on the defense you're playing and the matchups. A good coach exploits teams that don't defend the TE position well, such as the Panthers. It would be nice to have a decent receiving TE for those times and another decent blocking TE or 2 when you are playing a team that is not easily exposed at the TE position.

Game planning is everything. Good teams play to other teams weeknesses, whatever they may be. Like run defense is a weekness for ATL and pass defense is week for NE(not terribly but it is one of their week spots)

anyway

that was my 2

 

I would say he's not being a homer, if he's talking about this guy. Ranked #8th!

TE
[SIZE=-1]*Greg Olsen, 6-5, 250, Miami[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]*Zach Miller, 6-4, 255, Arizona State (X)
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Joe Newton, 6-7, 260, Oregon State (X)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]*Martin Rucker, 6-5, 245, Missouri
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Matt Herian, 6-4, 245, Nebraska (XLg)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]Clark Harris, 6-6, 255, Rutgers
Matt Spaeth, 6-6, 270, Minnesota
*Jonny Harline, 6-3, 245, BYU[/SIZE]

 

What other teams do you consider to be structurally like ours? Graham may command a high price tag but I would not think the same would be true of Eric Johnson, the 49ers drafted a replacement for him and he has had some injury issues.

 

I have heard it said that we would actually be better for us to have a good TE if for nothing else than to learn how to defend him during practice. There have been times when our D looks like they have never seen one before.

 

what about King? is he worth developing?

 

jeez.

weakness.

 

King is a little undersized compared to our other TE's. I think he could develop into rotational guy, but nothing great. We didn't see enough of him this year. Supposedly, he was a strong special teams player in college, so hopefully he can make a contribution in that area if we decide to keep him around.

 

Most teams structured like ours don't have that much of a passing attack, either. On the really dangerous teams, the TE is probably more important than the 2nd WR. I don't have time to name them now, but I think getting a good TE is very, very important. Our guys stink.

 

Most ball control offenses use the tight end a lot. Baltimore for example has run ball control for years and they have had a good tight end that whole time with either Sharpe or Heap. The Giants back in the 80s ran ball control and threw to Bavaro a lot.

If you listed the best tight ends in the league we would probably worst than last since some teams have two tight ends better than our best guy.