TE Recruiting- Something to keep in mind

[Kingbish01]

Heath Miller is HORRIBLE

John Mackey Award (2004)
Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie of the Year (2005)
2× Pro Bowl (2009, 2012)
2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII)
3× AFC champion (2005, 2008, 2010)
2012 Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP

 

[Irish Houstonian]

^Being on a super bowl championship team doesn't necessarily make him a great TE. Otherwise the whole team could claim to be a great TE.

 

[Old Man Mike]

{This guy has never stopped inserting crap into IE discussions, Wooly --- something ingrained. It's the attitude more than the content so just ignore it}. My feeling about the topic is that I care more about the Notre Dame TE position than I do the pros, so I concentrate on how Kelly wants them to be rather than how the Harbaughs or Belichek want them to be.

When I look at that, I see that Kelly wants the TE to primarily be able to make two catches: a]. the meathouse physical battle in the endzone, and b]. the traffic catch at about 8-10 yards somewhere in the middle [usually at about the "11o'clock" or "1o'clock" line --- Eifert liked the 11o'clock a lot]. Kelly would like ALL the types of catches of course, but these are probably the two most "physical". In both of these cases, exceptional size [along with other qualities like total bodypart control while being mugged] is advantageous. Also "length". The size and length, even for our so-called "smaller" TE Eifert, allows that athlete to employ several physical "tricks" to defeat the opponent rather than just good route-running and timing. Eifert was the best I've seen at walling off the defender a la basketball boxing out. If the defender made enough of a play to reach around, Eifert's length still presented the QB with an area which could not be defended.

It is also obvious that Kelly wants ALL his receivers to block; TEs of course included. When in-line, the length or extension of the arm levers is similarly valuable on certain blocks [ex when remaining in for pass-protection] as a tackle's, as he also operates in space. Downfield blocking, to spring RB gains from 5 into 20 yarders, is major in Kelly's thinking. Though not a TE, think Daniel Smith --- it is why he plays.

With all of that, it is no shocker to me that Coach wants big physicality combined with elite body awareness and strong hands. Eifert in Kelly's view became more of an All-American when he played "bigger" this year, even with less catches.

 

[irishpat183]

Heath Miller is HORRIBLE

John Mackey Award (2004)
Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie of the Year (2005)
2× Pro Bowl (2009, 2012)
2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII)
3× AFC champion (2005, 2008, 2010)
2012 Pittsburgh Steelers Team MVP

I never said he was horrible.

And most of those awards are Team honors. And 2 pro bowls in 9 seasons isn't all that great.

 

[irishog77]

2013 Thread of the Year

Done by January!

 

[irishpat183]

I think it's more important for a TE to be a solid route runner and overall just a more physical player. Height helps, but I some of the greatest TE's of all time aren't all that tall (Todd Christensen was only 6'3, Bavaro 6'4, Ditka 6'3, Mackey (maybe the best of all time) was only 6'2)

So while I don't disagree that it helps, I think that sometimes people get so caught up in how long and tall a guy is.

 

[PraetorianND]

I think it's more important for a TE to be a solid route runner and overall just a more physical player. Height helps, but I some of the greatest TE's of all time aren't all that tall (Todd Christensen was only 6'3, Bavaro 6'4, Ditka 6'3, Mackey (maybe the best of all time) was only 6'2)

So while I don't disagree that it helps, I think that sometimes people get so caught up in how long and tall a guy is.

 

[irishpat183]

^ HEEEEEYYOOOOOOOO!!!

 

[Domina Nostra]

I think it's more important for a TE to be a solid route runner and overall just a more physical player. Height helps, but I some of the greatest TE's of all time aren't all that tall (Todd Christensen was only 6'3, Bavaro 6'4, Ditka 6'3, Mackey (maybe the best of all time) was only 6'2)

So while I don't disagree that it helps, I think that sometimes people get so caught up in how long and tall a guy is.

Exactly my point. If we need to spell it out, it goes something like this:

(1) All things being equal, taller is better.
(2) However, all things are not equal: catching, blocking, and route-running skills may outweigh an extra couple of inches in some cases.
(3) This is demonstrated, at least anecdotally, by this year's Superbowl, where both teams rely heavily on sub-6'5" TES.
(4) If highly skilled sub-6'5" TEs can be very effective in the NFL, it follows that highly skilled sub-6'5" TEs can be very effective in college. In fact, it would seem that the inch or two would even be less of an issue in college, where everyone is shorter.

Therefore, if our coaches, who are well-aquainted with Tier-1 TEs, think these two kids are great prospects, it does not seem particularly important that they may be closer to 6'4" than 6'6".