Buffalo Barbarian Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 "The tight end is now a movable chess piece, a gifted athlete who can align anywhere in the formation. We have come a long way since the 1995 draft, when the two tight ends taken in the first round, Kyle Brady with the ninth overall pick and Mark Bruener with the 27th, were primarily blockers in the run game. As we move toward the 2012 season, the tight end has evolved into a dynamic receiving threat who can threaten all levels of the defense and cause all kinds of coverage problems. So the question, in this constantly changing NFL world, is how do defenses match up to the likes of Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Jimmy Graham, and Vernon Davis? They represent the new frontier of offensive football, and it is only in its infancy. The defensive coaches I spoke with all addressed this issue, and they did so voluntarily. One common theme was the increased importance of the safety position — more specifically, the need to find safeties who can cover man-to-man. In the not-too-distant past, safeties were rarely viewed as players to be chosen in the first or even second round of a draft, unless they were believed to be truly special athletes. The conventional wisdom was you could always find a quality safety in the third or fourth round, like a Chris Hope, chosen in the third round in 2002. Hope has been an eight-year starter with Pittsburgh and Tennessee with a Pro Bowl season in his tool kit." http://nflfilms.nfl.com/2012/03/02/cosell-talks-the-tight-end-factor/ Hopefully Chan realizes the mismatches TE's bring and implements them this year. With that in mind we should draft Colby Fleener in the second. "A tall, athletically put together tight end with a leaner frame, but has the ability to add more girth as he matures. Is natural sitting into his stance. Fires off the ball low and doesn't waste any motion getting into his routes. Does a nice job exploding off the line and can get into his routes quickly. Is a good straight-line athlete when asked to run vertically down the field. However, it's his savvy that really makes him a tough cover. Knows how to use a subtle head/shoulder fake in order to set up defenders and does a nice job changing gears as well. Accelerates quickly down the field, tracks the football well and is coordinated enough to adjust. Also, displays good fluidity and balance on his sharply breaking routes. Stems his route well, is sudden/quick footed in tight areas and displays burst out of his breaks. Does a nice job using his strong hands and long arms well in order to separate vs. defenders who want to get physical. Likes to use their momentum against them as he gets them off balance and accelerates toward space. Finds soft spots well underneath and isn't afraid to work the middle of the field." http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_player_scouting_report.html&player=37072 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Cubed Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Not going to happen. He'll be selected by the Colts at 34, giving Luck a familiar target. FWIW, there isn't a Gronk or Hernandez or Graham or Davis in this draft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted April 27, 2012 Author Share Posted April 27, 2012 Not going to happen. He'll be selected by the Colts at 34, giving Luck a familiar target. FWIW, there isn't a Gronk or Hernandez or Graham or Davis in this draft. Fleener could be Hernandez and Johnathan Martin is going to the Colts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSBill Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Would love to get him, but I doubt he will last to us. And, even if he does, and there is a top quality OT or WR, I suspect we'll go with one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Not going to happen. He'll be selected by the Colts at 34, giving Luck a familiar target. FWIW, there isn't a Gronk or Hernandez or Graham or Davis in this draft. How do you know this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpan Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Buddy straight up said they wouldn't draft a TE in this draft. I believe him. reference the fan chat thing from tuesday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Cubed Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 How do you know this? sorry, should have clarified that IMO, he won't be there. And IMO there aren't TE's like Gronk, Davis, Graham, etc. in this years draft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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