Jump to content

Tight Ends 2015


Rocky Landing

Recommended Posts

Who will be our tight ends for 2015? I have read several posters comment that we should be going after some of the free agency stand-outs: Gresham, Cameron, Thomas. But, do we need a significant upgrade at this position?

 

Scott Chandler. What is it about this guy? He seems like such a quintessential Bill. Chandler's YAC seem to be predicated by which direction he falls over. A girl scout could tackle him. But, he led the team in receiving yards in EJ's first year, beating out Stevie Johnson. And, at 6'7", he remains a (relatively, by Bills' standards) consistent red zone target, and short yardage target. Just don't throw to him behind the line of scrimmage.

 

Lee Smith. As a FA this year, I have to believe he will walk.

 

Marqueis Gray. Like a lot of people, when he showed up late in the season, I had no idea who he was. But, with the few touches that he had, and considering the limited experience with the team, he had an immediate impact. I suspect that we will see a lot of him in 2015.

 

My hope/prediction: We keep Chandler, and Gray. Gray becomes our go-to TE. We pick up a third in FA with good market value, and prototypical size. Anthony McCoy from Seattle? Matt Spaeth from Pittsburg?

 

I'm very interested in TBD's opinions on this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 43
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Greg Roman said in his press conference that you would see the Bills put a big emphasis on the TE position this offseason (don't remember the exact quote). They wanted to upgrade last year but couldn't. Chandler and fake Sammy will be on the roster but there will be a new #1. If I had to guess I would guess Jordan Cameron but the kid from Minnesota is another possibility.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 receptions and 3 TD? Definite upgrade time.

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/10572/scott-chandler

 

My guess is Gresham if they really want to upgrade the position. He's the most well rounded in the top tier of FA TE's, in my opinion. He's a solid blocker in the run game (which will be important to this coaching staff) and runs decent routes for a big man.

My belief is that we have already upgraded with Marqueis Gray. I think he's going to be a stud. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, but I don't think we need to go after top talent at this position. If we do, I would think that Gresham should be the first choice.

Greg Roman said in his press conference that you would see the Bills put a big emphasis on the TE position this offseason (don't remember the exact quote). They wanted to upgrade last year but couldn't. Chandler and fake Sammy will be on the roster but there will be a new #1. If I had to guess I would guess Jordan Cameron but the kid from Minnesota is another possibility.

Did that quote exclude the possibility that we would focus on the talent that we have? Was he suggesting that we would reach outside of the organization, or could he have been talking about scheme?

 

I feel like we could inject a lot more Gray into the playbook. Maybe it's just me, but I saw a lot of potential in the few touches he had at the end of the season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not being a homer really but if Williams is gone, I would wait until the 5th and pick up Huermann from OSU. He has virtually no stats from 2014 due to injury and Urban's offense but I think he will be a really good pro and a steal late if he drops that far, which I think he could. He's a great blocker, great size, athleticism, and hands and super clean off field.

Edited by YoloinOhio
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1. Jordan Cameron

2. Juluis Thomas

 

Give either lots of money. Chandler is below average but serviceable.

 

I think they will keep an extra OT and play him at TE in a three tackle formation like the Pats did.

I'm not convinced Thomas is worth the money he will attract. I think he benefitted greatly from being a Bronco under Manning, and he is certainly getting a lot of press as a result. I think a lot of teams are going to pursue him, and whoever gets him will likely have overpaid, IMO. I don't think he would be as big an upgrade over what we already have for what he will cost. Didn't he drop a lot of passes?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

My belief is that we have already upgraded with Marqueis Gray. I think he's going to be a stud. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, but I don't think we need to go after top talent at this position. If we do, I would think that Gresham should be the first choice.

 

Did that quote exclude the possibility that we would focus on the talent that we have? Was he suggesting that we would reach outside of the organization, or could he have been talking about scheme?

 

I feel like we could inject a lot more Gray into the playbook. Maybe it's just me, but I saw a lot of potential in the few touches he had at the end of the season.

Outside 2 well designed plays what did he show you as far as being "the guy"?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Outside 2 well designed plays what did he show you as far as being "the guy"?

It's really just intuitive (wishful thinking?) on my part. But, it seemed to me at the time, having been so new to the team, and in such a dysfunctional offense with a mediocre QB, and crappy O-line, that Gray performed remarkably well in his situation. Good hands, strong, fast, good blocking, caught passes in stride without taking his eyes off the ball, and fought for extra yards.

 

And, if I remember some of those "well designed plays," (I feel like I do), he ran precise routes, and turned at exactly the right time, and got himself wide open-- made it look easy, as they say. A well designed play only looks well-designed when it is executed properly.

 

I also like his story. He's played a lot of different positions in his short career, including WR, FB, and QB. In my opinion, TE is something of an all-purpose position, with blocking, running, and receiving, and therefore requires a high degree of "football intelligence." Forgive me for using a punditry cliche', but I think it applies to him.

 

But, it seems that with his career in Buffalo being so short up until now, that he has been all but forgotten in conversations here in the offseason. And, at the moment, Chandler is "the guy." From the little we've seen, Gray appears to be head and shoulders above Chandler, albeit three inches shorter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Greg Roman said in his press conference that you would see the Bills put a big emphasis on the TE position this offseason (don't remember the exact quote). They wanted to upgrade last year but couldn't. Chandler and fake Sammy will be on the roster but there will be a new #1. If I had to guess I would guess Jordan Cameron but the kid from Minnesota is another possibility.

I prefer to call him "big Sammy" rather than "fake Sammy"-- but both are acceptable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Always wanted him to be a Bill.... Good Blocker.... Great hands.... Would LOVE to have him, Kaepernick, and Rishard Matthews together again... A Nevada wolfpack reunion!

The key thing is he has become a good blocker much better than Chandler, which is funny because out of college he was a pass catcher with good speed and considered a blocking liability

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The key thing is he has become a good blocker much better than Chandler, which is funny because out of college he was a pass catcher with good speed and considered a blocking liability

 

I've seen him stick people real good for Manning... maybe too much firepower on that offense for him to be worked in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Who will be our tight ends for 2015? I have read several posters comment that we should be going after some of the free agency stand-outs: Gresham, Cameron, Thomas. But, do we need a significant upgrade at this position?

 

Scott Chandler. What is it about this guy? He seems like such a quintessential Bill. Chandler's YAC seem to be predicated by which direction he falls over. A girl scout could tackle him. But, he led the team in receiving yards in EJ's first year, beating out Stevie Johnson. And, at 6'7", he remains a (relatively, by Bills' standards) consistent red zone target, and short yardage target. Just don't throw to him behind the line of scrimmage.

 

Lee Smith. As a FA this year, I have to believe he will walk.

 

Marqueis Gray. Like a lot of people, when he showed up late in the season, I had no idea who he was. But, with the few touches that he had, and considering the limited experience with the team, he had an immediate impact. I suspect that we will see a lot of him in 2015.

 

My hope/prediction: We keep Chandler, and Gray. Gray becomes our go-to TE. We pick up a third in FA with good market value, and prototypical size. Anthony McCoy from Seattle? Matt Spaeth from Pittsburg?

 

I'm very interested in TBD's opinions on this.

 

Lee Smith!!!! B-)

Chandler

Gray

Cameron

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can see Marquise Gray sticking with the Bills and Greg Roman using him in the Delanie Walker role. Gray is a Walker clone they both have the same body type and speed. Look to see MG lined up everywhere in the bkfield, Slot and on the LOS. MG was a great pick up at the end of last yr and I'm thinking he's gonna flourish in Romans scheme. Look for the Bills to still add another TE in the draft and free agency and maybe via trade Vernon Davis is in the last yr of his deal maybe the 9ers will entertain a trade scenario.

 

Looking forward I would like to see the Bills take a TE in the 3rd round maybe Walford or Funchness and add a guy like Gresham or Lance Kendricks via free agency. Over paying for injury prone players like JC or JT might not be the best move considering the money there looking for and the fact that these guys have both missed a lot of time recently due to injury.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/tight-end/

According to that source these are the TEs available this year that are under 30 yrs old and don't play for The Bills.

Except as noted on the list, they are UFAs.

 

Jermaine Gresham

Jacob Tamme

Robert Housler

Jordan Cameron

Charles Clay

Anthony McCoy

Lance Kendricks

Luke Stocker

Julius Thomas

Niles Paul

Virgil Green

Davis Ausberry

Ed Dickson

Garrett Celek * RFA

Bear Pascoe

Michael Palmer

Larry Donnell * ERFA

Chase Coffman

Brian Leonhardt * ERFA

Demetrius Harris * ERFA

Andre Smith * RFA

Fendi Onobun

Tony Moeaki

Brett Brackett

Richard Gordon

Kellen Davis

Phillip Supernaw * ERFA

Brian Linthicum * RFA

Aron White * RFA

Collin Franklin * RFA

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...