A look at (some) tight ends in the draft
by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 24, 2010 4:09 PM CST
in 2010 NFL Draft
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PrintOklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham will be working out fully at the Combine, according to draft guru Rob Rang. That's exciting news for draftniks because Gresham is considered an elite talent at the position, but comes to the draft with big question marks after missing the entire 2009 season.
If Gresham puts to rest questions about his health this weekend, then it's a sure bet he'd get drafted in the first round. The St. Louis Rams could really use a tight end of Gresham's ability in their offense. An addition like that would instantly add another dimension to the offense, making our receivers and Steven Jackson that much more potent.
Of course, there are a few other TEs to keep an eye on this year. Arizona's Ron Gronkowski, who also missed the 2009 season, is considered by many to be the second best TE in the draft, on an equal level with Gresham by plenty of folks. He'll only participate in the weight lifting portion of the Combine. His back injury is a big question mark.
Some other TEs to keep an eye on:
Aaron Hernandez, Florida
At 6' 2" his height has found its detractors. He also should be the fastest of the top tier TEs at the Combine. He has nice hands, but can he play big enough to be a reliable threat at TE?
Ed Dickson, Oregon
If he makes it to the third round, he could be an intriguing possibility for the Rams. Scouts like his ability on the seam routes and his hands and strength make him an option in heavy traffic.
Jimmy Graham, Miami
Raw, but filled with possibility. The former basketball player will shine in Combine drills. The rawness of his ability will make him available on the second day.
Andrew Quarless, Penn State
A little bit of rap sheet, questions about his maturity and inconsistent hands have hurt his draft stock. He's been showing up on radars with an 8 catch performance in Penn State's appearance in the Capital One Bowl and some solid days at the prospect events since then.
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Dickson and Graham
In a perfect world, I’d take both and blow off wide receiver in this draft altogether. I’m sure we couldn’t afford 2 much less 1 though. We need more pass-catching production from the position though. I’d be happy with 2 O-liners and 2 TEs and the rest defense in the draft. It would require that Graham fell to the 5th though.
Suh, JPP, OG, Dickson, Graham and/or Veldeer, OLB, CB, and Safety
Drafting one of those guys
seems like the best route to me. They can both run, they can catch, and they are athletes. We have more pressing needs in the first two or three rounds, but we should be able to get one of them in the fourth.
Basketball is good training for receivers
Boxing out and rebounding in baskeball lend themselves nicely to going up for passes and using your body to shield defenders from the ball. Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates were both basketball players.
Graham also was noted to have
been crisp at route running and on a fast improvement rate up the learning curve for separation and isolation in the routes as they developed.
Loves me some good route runners!
That’s a “feel” thing and is harder to teach than catching. Well, it’s harder for me to teach it even though I understand it very well.
by CoachConnors on Feb 24, 2010 5:47 PM CST up reply actions
All this is out there though
which makes his and Dicksons availability a big question mark when the 4th and 5th rounds come up. I’d almost be willing to go 3rd and 4th for them, but we absolutely need more help on the O-line.
I don't think Devaney agrees with that
Take a look at his recent chat, recapped and linked elsewhere on this site
by CoachConnors on Feb 24, 2010 5:46 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, I heard and barring injury I'd have to agree
That O-line may be one of our stronger areas this year, but it still needs addressed. I’m just looking at what it’s gonna take to feel comfortable with eventually drafting a franchise QB. His opinion of our O-line is the one obviously that counts, and to be fair we haven’t had everyone healthy. However, there are certain areas of our team that I’d want to have firmly in place before we drafted said QB, one of which is O-line. I think this could be accomplished this year and is an area that can’t wait until after we get our QB. It has to come first.
That being said I think we’re one starting guard and one backup OT away from where I think we need to be. It doesn’t have to be done in the third though, especially if Dickson and/or Graham are available, but I think we need to protect against the injury bug that killed us the last 2 years. I target this draft because I want Locker/ Mallett/ Gabbert next year, and I want our O-line to be in place. Call it an objective to the long term goal.
I also have to admit I’m a closet Veldeer and Brandon Carter fan so I’m OK with waiting till the 5th.
Maybe its just me.
But TE isn’t high on the list of priorities for this team. Its a ‘nice to have’ but not a definite must have. I think Fells did a good job last year at the position and could man it for 2010. I know McMichael can go, but lets see what we currently have on our roster. It’s true that the free agent TE’s look awful, but there are so many other greater holes on this team and this draft is loaded and I mean loaded with defensive talent. It would be CRAZY to draft TE this year. As a matter of fact the only position I’d draft on offense would right tackle.
Thats kind of what I think about WR
Until we have an effective offense in place it’s hard to place value in the TEs but when we have our WCO going it’ll clear up.
playmaker
a playmaker at wr or te would do wonders for the rams.
Turf Show Times
by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 24, 2010 9:21 PM CST up reply actions
I would like to give the guys we have a chance.
Bajema- a blocking specialist
Fells- a solid blocking TE with deent hands
and newly acquired Fines- an athletic, receiving TE.
Plus, I would like to see other positions addressed with our early picks. Although I do think a good receiving TE would do well in our offense.
I think a top flight TE helps the QB considerably
I would just love to have a new QB be able to check down the a TE with great hands. I think it would be exponentially beneficial. A healthy O-line, a beast future HOFer at RB, and a TE that can catch and run…yes, that would be a decent situation to bring in a new QB.
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