Dawson Knox: “I want to be in a conversation with the elite of the elite” (good article, paywall)

[Logic]

Great Ty Dunne feature about Knox today, though I know some still have hurt feelings from past Dunne articles. I’ll post just a couple excerpts.

 

https://www.golongtd.com/p/dawson-knox-i-want-to-be-in-the-conversation?s=r
 

Where were you at this point last year as you went into the offseason? It seemed like everyone viewed this offense as “a tight end away.” It was a position that people wanted. You were a name easily discarded as, “he’s not part of the plan.” 

 

Knox: Last year, it was frustrating knowing that I was an afterthought in the offense. I wasn’t really featured to do much. I was still playing most of the game but I wasn’t getting play calls tailored to me. I wasn’t getting route concepts where I was the first guy Josh was looking at. Because I really hadn’t shown enough to get that respect from our offensive coordinator and Josh. So, I just knew I was going to have to earn confidence from them through the whole offseason. It was huge for me last year to go to California for four or five weeks, get extra reps in with Josh and then to be up in Buffalo for all of OTAs and to show them I’m dedicated to developing into the player they needed me to be for the offense. So, it was a slow trust-building process. After the first couple of games, getting a few more balls thrown to me and making big plays, it just started building that confidence with “Coach Dabes,” and he started giving me more play calls and Josh started looking for me more on different routes. So, it was a very gradual process that started as soon as the season ended last year.
 

 

When you lost to Kansas City last year, it was that instant?

 

Knox: I took about two weeks off to let my body recover and to reset. And then everything I did from there on out was with the focus of trying to become a premier tight end in the league. Whether that was going to do hand-eye coordination drills or doing extra run blocking with run-blocking specialists or doing the “Tight End U” deal. Everything I did last year was a totally different motivation I had after my rookie year. After my rookie year, I thought I had a solid year for a rookie and that I’d naturally make another jump after learning the offense. I was a little too complacent going into Year 2. I really didn’t have that same hunger that I had for most of my career — because as a walk-on you’ve got to fight harder than everybody just to have a spot. That’s what helped me so much in college. And then when I finally go to the league, I was a starter as a rookie. So, I went from being a walk-on to Day 1 in the league I’m a starting tight end. I lost that edge of trying to prove everyone wrong and just trying to outwork everyone. So going into Year 2, I still worked hard. Everyone in the league does. But I didn’t have that same walk-on mindset that helped me so much in college and helped me get to where I was at. So it was really a mental flip. I had to flip that switch. I guess it really was this time last year — to not just be happy being an OK starter. I wanted to be one of the elite guys when the tight end position was brought up. That’s the same mentality I’m going to take into this offseason, too. The second you start getting complacent is the second guys start taking peoples’ jobs.
 

 

And last offseason, from afar, it seemed like you had reasons to feel doubted and reasons to get pissed off. The GM said at a press conference…

 

Knox: …Yeah, he said “We don’t have a tight end that defenses fear.” Something like that. That re-lit that competitive spirit. I came into the league and it wasn’t easy but I didn’t have to work as hard as I had in the past. It re-lit that fire of, OK, I really need to go back to that dog mentality of, “I’m going to outwork everybody. I’m going to prove everybody wrong.” I needed that. That is something that really motivated me. I’m going to do my best the rest of my career to remember that feeling. That motivation, that competitiveness is what I think will drive people to be the best player they can possibly be.

 

 

Were you pissed off when you heard that?

 

Knox: Oh yeah. Being pissed about it is the greatest motivation you can have. That anger of people saying things. I never read the media. I don’t look at all the tweets or comments because that’s all poisonous to begin with, whether it’s good or bad. You can’t really read into the media. But when your own GM says something like, “Oh, we need to find a tight end that’ll be a weapon who defenses fear,” I was like, “Alright! It’s time to go.” That was huge for me. I’m glad he said that.

 

 

And I felt like all offseason long, the Bills were on Tinder trying to swipe right on Zach Ertz.

 

Knox: And you can’t control anything like that. Part of me wanted them to bring him in. I knew that’d elevate my play, too. I was excited to compete with him. I thought it was going to happen the way everyone was talking about it. But then going into camp we had our meetings with the whole front office and the coaches and they were like, “You’re our guy. We’re ready to see what you got. We have all the faith in the world in you.” So, I was like “Alright. I guess they’re not bringing him in. Time to get to work.” But part of me wanted them to bring him in so I could say I beat out Zach Ertz for the starting job. 

 

Back in college, coming in behind an All-American, I knew that it’d take some serious, serious work to get to his level. Then, when (Engram) left, they brought in three tight ends to the same recruiting class. I was going into my redshirt sophomore year. So I was going into my third season and they brought in, I think, three four-stars all at tight end. So I said, “Alright. It’s time to beat all of these guys out.” It’s just that competition that’ll fuel any athlete to be the best they can be. The better the room is the better the player’s going to be.

 

[Rocky Landing]

Great interview. After reading this, and hearing his thoughts on competing with his peers, it makes me think that OJ Howard could really be a great fit as TE#2. I know Howard underperformed out of the draft, but he is super athletic. I could see he and Knox really pushing each other to be a great tandem.

[Warcodered]

It did kind of feel like after that initial success he had early in his rookie season that he started to coast somewhat.

[SirAndrew]

I’ve been critical of Knox in the past, but he really sounds like a guy who “gets it”. He isn’t going to fail due to lack of effort. 

[MJS]

Hopefully he keeps working and keeps that competitive fire burning. He had a good year, but he needs to show that it wasn't a fluke and that he can continue to develop.

 

Excited for what he does next season.

[msw2112]

The combination of Knox's athletic ability, his desire to be great (with a recognition of what it takes and that he didn't do enough after his rookie year), and a QB with Allen's talent throwing to him give him a chance to be one of the best in the league.  I'm optimistic that Dorsey will make the TEs a regular part of the offense and that Knox and Howard will produce.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

He still has a lot of work to do if he wants to be elite. 

 

Godspeed, Daws.

[badassgixxer05]

Hes already thought of as one of the top TEs. He had a really good year. I think he can make that jump to elite by staying consistent and producing again this year. I think he will.

[Aussie Joe]

 

Another player that Beane is going to have to find some cap room for…

 

Draft.. develop… re-sign…

[BillsFan4]

Nice interview. Thanks for sharing!

 

Knox seems motivated to build on last year. Excited to see what he does this season. It was Interesting to hear how motivated he was by Beane’s comments. It makes me think Beane purposely made those comments to motivate Knox. Or at least in part. I do think the Ertz interest was legit. But we all know how calculated Beane and McDermott are. I’m sure motivating Knox was part of Beane’s goal.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, Warcodered said:

It did kind of feel like after that initial success he had early in his rookie season that he started to coast somewhat.

 

Yeah, I think the "Rambo" run against the Bengals and some of the team PR featuring and GMFB coverage and stuff might have gone to his head a little bit.

It sounds as though he got pissed off in a good way at the end of the season.

 

I'm pulling hard for him to take another step

 

Nice writing from Ty Dunne too - "all offseason long, the Bills were on Tinder trying to swipe right on Zach Ertz."Interesting to hear that Knox worked with Evan Engram at Ol' Miss and gives him a lot of credit for helping him develop, and wow! about Walk-ons have to get a "to go box" and can't even eat with the team.

[Logic]

I've been thinking about Knox a lot lately, and how 2022 might be his year to take a firm step into the upper echelon of tight ends in the NFL.

Specifically, last year, if you were to ask "who are the Bills' main weapons in the passing attack?", the answer would've probably been "Diggs, Sanders, Beasley" early on, and "Diggs, Davis, Beasley" later in the season. Throughout 2020, the Bills' passing attack was WR-centric. Knox became more of a featured player in 2021, but I'd argue it was still mostly WR-centric.

As we watched Beasley walk out the door and be replaced only by a high floor vet on a one-year deal in Crowder, I thought to ask myself the question again. "Who are the Bills' main weapons in the passing attack in 2022?". I think now my answer would be "Diggs, Davis, and Knox". That is, I think that -- more than Crowder or McKenzie, or whoever they add in the draft -- Knox will be one of the top three options. In terms of targets and receptions, he may actually be the second or third leading pass catcher on the team.

When you think of the Chiefs' passing attack in the same light, the answer to the "who are the top options?" question is indisputably "Hill and Kelce, then some other guys". Hill and Kelce are so good that it doesn't even matter that they're surrounded by "just some other guys". I wonder if Knox can get to that level this year. I think he can. The level where you say "it's Diggs, Knox, and Davis", and it doesn't even matter who the other guys are, because those are the top three, and they're more than potent enough on their own.

I think 2022 will be Knox's year. I think he can do it.

[hondo in seattle]

To me, it was always: Dawson Knox/Hands of Rocks."   

 

His first couple years, he only caught about 55% of the passes thrown to him.  While Josh may have been off target a few times, Roxy Knoxy dropped way too many balls.

 

Last year, though, he caught 69% of the balls thrown to him.  His improvement as a pass-catcher has been fun to see.  

[Freddie's Dead]

Dropping 4 balls and costing us the Jagoffs game didn't help.  More Dawesome, less Dropsome....

[Beast]

4 hours ago, badassgixxer05 said:

Hes already thought of as one of the top TEs. He had a really good year. I think he can make that jump to elite by staying consistent and producing again this year. I think he will.

 

I don't think so. He has to string two or three years together in a row first. He's considered, IMO, an up and comer that has a ways to go before he is mentioned with the best in the game. Potential for sure.

Edited March 22, 2022 by Beast

[badassgixxer05]

4 minutes ago, Beast said:

 

I don't think so. He has to string two or three years together in a row first. He's considered, IMO, an up and comer that has a ways to go before he is mentioned with the best in the game. Potential for sure.

Whos better that isnt elite? Hes a top 5 TE. Hes someone teams have to gameplan against now after the break out.

[stevewin]

Quote

And last offseason, from afar, it seemed like you had reasons to feel doubted and reasons to get pissed off. The GM said at a press conference…

 

Knox: …Yeah, he said “We don’t have a tight end that defenses fear.” Something like that. That re-lit that competitive spirit. I came into the league and it wasn’t easy but I didn’t have to work as hard as I had in the past. It re-lit that fire of, OK, I really need to go back to that dog mentality of, “I’m going to outwork everybody. I’m going to prove everybody wrong.” I needed that. That is something that really motivated me. I’m going to do my best the rest of my career to remember that feeling. That motivation, that competitiveness is what I think will drive people to be the best player they can possibly be.

 

 

Were you pissed off when you heard that?

 

Knox: Oh yeah. Being pissed about it is the greatest motivation you can have. That anger of people saying things. I never read the media. I don’t look at all the tweets or comments because that’s all poisonous to begin with, whether it’s good or bad. You can’t really read into the media. But when your own GM says something like, “Oh, we need to find a tight end that’ll be a weapon who defenses fear,” I was like, “Alright! It’s time to go.” That was huge for me. I’m glad he said that.

Wow - don't let anyone ever yell you that what a coach/gm says at a PC doesn't matter

[Beast]

16 minutes ago, badassgixxer05 said:

Whos better that isnt elite? Hes a top 5 TE. Hes someone teams have to gameplan against now after the break out.

 

Ummm, aren't the top players at a position considered elite?

 

Anyway, I don't believe for one second that teams have to "gameplan" specifically for Dawson Knox.

 

Dawson finished 18th in receptions, 15th in yards and 1st in TD's (missing a couple games I believe). Don't let the last number blind you. He had a nice year. He also missed blocks that blew plays up. He has a long ways to go before he is considered elite or teams are spefically most worried about stopping Dawson Knox when our offense takes the field.

Edited March 23, 2022 by Beast

[badassgixxer05]

1 minute ago, Beast said:

 

Ummm, aren't the top players at a position considered elite?

 

Anyway, I don't believe for one second that teams have to "gameplan" specifically for Dawson Knox.

 

Dawson finished 18th in receptions, 15th in yards and 1st in TD's. Don't let the last number blind you. He had a nice year. He has a long ways to go before he is considered elite or teams are spefically most worried about stopping Dawson Knox when our offense takes the field.

I dont think you comprehended my original post, but cool talk!

[Charles Romes]

Has a chance to be the greatest TE in franchise history. 

[GETTOTHE50]

Want to become elite Dawson? Work on the drops and find the soft spots in the zone like Kelce does. 

[ArtVandalay]

I like Knox but dude has a long way to go to be elite.  He's good, he's got great size and physical ability, but he makes some horrendous bone head plays and drops.

 

I'm amazed how he can make an insane high point leaping grab while twisting... then in the next possession drop a routine easy catch wide open right in his mittens.  The inconsistency with the hands blows my mind,  I think it's a focus issue where in the big plays he's dialed in and drifting on routine plays. 

 

He has the physical ability to be elite.  He needs to execute consistently though. 

[Thurman#1]

13 hours ago, Beast said:

 

Ummm, aren't the top players at a position considered elite?

 

Anyway, I don't believe for one second that teams have to "gameplan" specifically for Dawson Knox.

 

Dawson finished 18th in receptions, 15th in yards and 1st in TD's (missing a couple games I believe). Don't let the last number blind you. He had a nice year. He also missed blocks that blew plays up. He has a long ways to go before he is considered elite or teams are spefically most worried about stopping Dawson Knox when our offense takes the field.

 

 

Teams do gameplan for Knox. It was clear against the Pats, second game, that they7d decided to take away away Diggs and Knox. No, they don't say, "Men, our first task is to eliminate Knox. If we don't manage that, we will lose this game."

 

But yeah, they're game-planning against him.

 

And, no, he's not elite, but he also does not have that far to go.

 

No, he certainly isn't the one who makes teams most worried. But neither is Kelce. TEs generally aren't, even elite ones.

 

And by the end of the year he was blocking really well. It was great to see. He has improved a ton there.

[hondo in seattle]

15 hours ago, Charles Romes said:

Has a chance to be the greatest TE in franchise history. 

 

True enough...   But the Bills history isn't generously blessed with a multitude of talented TEs.