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NFL Draft 2012: Mike Mayock's Positional Rankings: Tight Ends. 284430_601240951600_44900771_32958650_2317286_n_tiny by Danny Kelly on Feb 14, 2012 3:19 PM PST in 2012 NFL Draft · Tweet · 0 comments; Story-email ...
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We talked about the tight end position in the last couple of weeks - Thomas first with his piece "Zach Miller, John Carlson and the Value of Chip-and-Release," then I addressed it as well later, with my roster analysis on the position. I think the main gist of both of our articles was that though maybe considered a 'luxury' signing, neither of us would be against bringing back the former Golden Domer, Carlson, on a new contract (or even as a frachised player). If that doesn't happen, the Seahawks have high-potential, but unproven assets in Anthony McCoy and Cameron Morrah that flash athleticism and versatility, but haven't proven much in game-action.
With the amount that the Seahawks use tight ends in their offense and going off of some Pete Carroll quotes this offseason about finding more 'touchdown makers' and how much he'd like to have Carlson back in order to pair him with Zach Miller, let's surmise that perhaps the Seahawks will be looking at tight end this year in the Draft. Churn, churn, churn. Maybe?
The inimitable Mike Mayock has pronounced his preliminary top-five at each position and today I'm going to focus on his most highly rated tight ends.
For some reason I feel like the tight end class this year is pretty understated and no name outside of Dwayne Allen really stands out to me. Let's talk about them, shall we?
Matt Waldman, a football writer that I have a great deal of respect for, recently wrote an article entitled "Blocking Clinic: Clemson TE Dwayne Allen":
Yesterday, I watched Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen put on a blocking clinic. The fact that Allen has the physical skills and hands to become a productive move-tight end or hybrid player already places him atop most teams' positional boards. The fact that he demonstrated the skill to execute a full complement of blocks gives him star potential.
Waldman then goes on to describe, in intimate detail, exactly why he opened with those words, particularly 'star potential'. He finished up his excellent scouting report with this:
I could show you more, including a fourth-quarter play where Allen leads the way on a 23-yard gain by blocking the SS on the edge of a jet sweep to right end. The Clemson tight end closes the gap two yards past the line and drives the defender backwards literally 10 yards down field before turning the opponent's back to the sideline just as the RB runs past for another 13 yards to the Virginia Tech 17.
I could also show the red zone play on a QB draw where Allen is visibly upset with himself because he let the linebacker get away from him and make the tackle on the ball carrier that limits the run to a seven-yard gain - a run Allen opens to that side by sealing that defender inside. But I think I've shown you that Allen cares about blocking because he does the dirty work in a variety of ways.
This, to me, sounds like a Tom Cable type of player and I'm instantly very intrigued at the prospect. He's pretty unanimously ranked as the number one tight end in the class (at least, by Mayock, Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, and Rob Rang), so that puts him somewhere in the end of the first round or into the early 2nd round, most likely. The Seahawks are almost surely not going to use their first or second pick on a TE, but weirder things have happened so watch the following videos:
Big thanks toDraftBreakdown for the excellent scouting videos they put together - Aaron Aloysius, JMPasq, JPDraftJedi, TTN2810, MARI0clp and the whole DraftBreakdown crew.
Former basketball player that can do a little of everything. He's tall. He's fast. He played with Andrew Luck as his quarterback. But, as Rob Rang writes:
There is no doubt that Luck's ability to recognize weaknesses in the defense and deft passing touch have contributed to Fleener's statistics, but it would be a mistake to write off the 6-6, 248 pounder as simply a by-product. Fleener isn't a thumper as a blocker, but he does have surprising foot speed, agility and leaping ability for a player of his size, making him a legitimate threat down the seam.
Kris Durham's former teammate. Said to be an athletic freak and remains in the first round discussion. Had 44 catches, 572 yards, and five touchdowns last year for the Bulldogs.
Read More: Cameron Morrah (TE - California), Coby Fleener (TE - Stanford), Kris Durham (SE - Georgia), Dwayne Allen (TE - Clemson), Andrew Luck (QB - Stanford), Ladarius Green (TE - La.-Lafayette), Michael Egnew (TE - Missouri), Jimmy Graham (TE - Miami), Orson Charles (TE - Georgia)
I could (would) make the same argument at the WR position. Drafting somebody means somebody good (Durham, Tate, Obo, Rice, BMW, Butler, Baldwin, Lockette) gets cut. I know lots of people don?t think BMW, Obo or Butler should take up a roster spot, but all three of those guys are good players, and with the right QB, could be better than good. Point is, why waste the pick?
DE, DT, QB, RB, LB, SS ? heck, that?s six picks there out of six, and it wouldn?t hurt to take more than one LB or DE somewhere. And if the first pick goes BPA (say it?s DeCastro) that only leaves five more (absent trades).
Depends on what Carlson demands for salary His financials come into play here. He (I think) needs to be a value signing or he goes. If he goes, we have a need at TE. This need is based on an assumption, that the Morrah and McCoy are not performing at a level the coaches believe they need for the 2 TE sets they wanted to implement last year as a staple inthe offense. That they signed Miller at season start to implement it ? it?s clear they have conviction to go in that direction.
by Hawksince77 on Feb 14, 2012 5:59 PM PST up reply actions I tend to agree with you there. But, I also didn?t think the Hawks would take two linemen with their first two picks, then two more cornerbacks in the midrounds, and another safety. I just think it?s nearly impossible to predict.
by Danny Kelly on Feb 14, 2012 6:37 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs I think guys like Bruce Irvin (a pass-rusher that fits in the LEO mold I think, 3rd or 4th rounder)... ?and George Lloka (6?4" 222lb free safety) perhaps in the second round, looks like a PC guy.
by Hawksince77 on Feb 14, 2012 6:03 PM PST reply actions No T.E. this year They are fairly strong there, and fairly weak elsewhere. No T.E. this year. Miller and Calson , whom they will certainly retain, starting, with Morrah and McCoy backing-up admirably. No need there?.. Q.B.
by The Keizer on Feb 14, 2012 10:06 PM PST reply actions I could see it as a 2nd round BPA pick, if the best TE prospect was still on the board Morrah and McCoy are not good TEs, and not even average. McCoy may be a powerful blocker, but he consistently misses LBs and DBs, and often gives up leverage too often in blocking DEs ? his hands were so suspect this year that he was actually a liability on the field. Morrah at least can catch, but his blocking is worse than McCoy?s.
Not saying it?s what the team should do, but a line-up of Miller, Carlson (signed for 2 years and 4-6 million), and Dwayne Allen would give the team an elite back-up for the two TE sets, and would let the team release Miller in 1-2 years if needed for salary cap purposes (perhaps necessary at $7million per year).
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