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The TE Position


Let's face it, Chiefs fans, we were spoiled all those years with TG holding down the #1 TE spot on this team, we didn't give that position a 2nd thought.  And, when Jason Dunn was here... well, the Chiefs had the best 1-2 punch at TE of any team in the league.  Gonzalez was obviously a great receiver, and an underrated blocker.  Dunn was a bulldozer, blocking better than most offensive linemen.

That was then, this is now.

Brad Cottam  Sean Ryan  Tom Crabtree Jake O'Connell

Can one or two of these guys step up and give the Chiefs what they need at TE?

IF not, who can the Chiefs pick up to fill the void?

How do you even locate a "blocking TE?"

More after the jump

Star-divide

It's been well documented that Haley doesn't use the TE as a receiver as much as the Chiefs did in the past... but that could be because he never had TG. 

That was one of the reasons I was OK with the Gonzalez trade... thinking Cottam could step up and fill a smaller role for the TE in the new offense.

Well, after watching the Vikings game film, I came to a startling conclusion... Tight Ends are critically important in both run and pass blocking... and so far, the Chiefs TEs have failed miserably in that regard.

I tried doing a few internet searches, looking for the "best blocking TE in the NFL"... well, that was a waste of time... Daniel Graham, Brandon Manumaleuna, Jason Witten, Heath Miller came up... but so did Kim Kleinsasser, Vernon Davis, Jeremy Shockey, Reggie Kelly, Mercadies Lewis, Mark Bruener, and a whole truckload of other guys.  Apparently, every team has one "best blocking TE in the NFL"....  except KC.

So, I'm going to take a closer look at the Chiefs Current TE... especially their blocking ability... but I want to hear your thoughts on these guys, or players that are actually going to be available and likely for the Chiefs to pick up before the season starts.

Brad Cottam:  Cottam is HUGE... listed at 6'7", 269... he SHOULD be able to own defenders blocking.  From what I hear, the problem is that he has trouble getting that big lanky frame low enough to gain leverage when blocking.  I haven't seen much from Cottam, but he has caught a TD from Thigpen...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2008/draft/players/5785.html  "Catches the ball well and a solid intermediate range target. Strong at the point and handles opposing defensive lineman as an in-line blocker. Does not play to his timed speed or show the ability to get downfield. Stiff and tight as a blocker which hurts his ability to finish off defenders."

Sean Ryan :  At 6'5", 260... Ryan has bounced around the league a bit, and has been known for being a blocker.  He's a "Parcells guy", and has recently been on top of the depth charts (for whatever that's worth).  But... all I've seen is him dropping a key 3rd down catch in a game, and badly missing seemingly EVERY block he had a chance to make vs Minn.

"144. Sean Ryan, Dallas Cowboys,TE Good blocker with the quickness to separate from linebackers on passroutes. Has good moves, runs good routes and will fight for additional yardageafter the catch. Has good hands but lacks good speed. Basically, he gives the Cowboys another physical blocker inthe running game." http://www.sandlotshrink.com/fbcollege2004.htm

Tom Crabtree:  6'5", 244    I haven't heard much of anything from him in the preseason... but I looked up some info about him from college.  It sounds like he has the strength and blocking ability to be a factor.  But, he's somewhat of a longshot to even make the team at this point.

 http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/crabtree_tom00.html  "a very physical blocker, he will occasionally line up at fullback ... pound-for-pound, one of Miami's strongest players ... along with Brandon Brooks and Joe Coniglio, owns the team's top bench-press mark at 435 pounds ... has recorded 30 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press, best of any current RedHawk ... his 10-foot-1-inch standing long jump ranks second best among all Miami players ... also excels on the special teams where he is often the first player down the field. "

Jake O'Connell:  6'3", 250  O'Connell is not known for his blocking ability, but he is supposed to be an amazing athlete.  Pioli/Haley thought enough of him to trade back into the 7th round to pick him, rather than hope he didn't get drafted and they could sign him as a FA.  During camp, it sounds like he's made a few catches... but he's also been hurt twice, raising questions about his durability.

http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/oconnell_jake00.html  "Coaches say that he has exceptional ball skills and that he continues to grow as a blocker ... a great athlete, his verticle leap of 36.5 inches is second best on the team ... a solid special teams player. "

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.

Comment 35 comments  |  3 recs  | 

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You hit the nail right on the head

I was also fine with the Tony G. trade thinking we’d be fine. It’s the blocking stoopid!!! My God! I think that bar-none, TE blocking is this team’s biggest weakness. I really didn’t see it coming at all.

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Aug 26, 2009 8:22 PM CDT reply actions  

Seriously

I don’t think any of our current TE’s can do it. I now understand why Pioli and Belichick kept drafting TE’s year after year. Makes me wanna cry a little.

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Aug 26, 2009 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions  

have you seen any TE that are FA or being cut that would help?

I was thinking Ben Watson… but he’s more of a receiver than a blocker.

Other than that… who is even available??

"I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009

by stagdsp on Aug 26, 2009 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

Marcus Pollard

is also avail. he also has connections with the Pioli family tree..played in New England last season

by tomahawk44 on Aug 26, 2009 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions  

That's the thing

Blocking is an art form that can go largely unnoticed, especially from a position like the TE. I have to say that I haven’t paid much attention to it up to now because we’ve had it so good for the last decade. I don’t even know who the good blocking TE’s are. It’s not a position that gets much attention.

It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but after all those years of some of the best TE play in the history of the game, I really never grasped the nuances of the position, much less it’s importance. It was always automatic for us. I’m not just talking about Tony Gonzales who is a solid blocker. Jason Dunn was a stud of a different kind and right now, he’s the kind of guy we need the most; an moose of a guy who is an extension to the O-line. I have no idea who could fit the bill for us in that way. My fear is that this is the one weakness that Pioli isn’t able to address due to a lack of available options. It seems all too clear to me that we have a really BIG problem surfacing here.

The TE play so far has been shockingly bad. It would be really interesting if someone could do some hard-core analysis on the position from a blocking standpoint, but I don’t even know if there’s a statistical category for it. I think Stagdsp’s play-by-play breakdown is as good an analysis as there’s been.

I’d be interested to know who’s available, especially after Sept. 1, and also who some of the college prospects are for next year’s draft. But again, how can you determine statistically who’s a bulldozer and who’s not? It’s an incredibly weird problem to consider as a Chiefs fan. :\

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Aug 26, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions   2 recs

well put

"I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009

by stagdsp on Aug 26, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

Nice comment Buck'O

I was slightly dissapointed that we didn’t take a good receiving TE in the last Draft a little sooner (not that O’Connell won’t someday be something). But Shawn Nelson was still there in the middle of the draft, and I know that kid can catch the football. I think we all were expecting a little more from Cottam by now, but he never really showed much in college either. I am still hopeful that he can be our blocking TE of the future. We’ll see.

by TheQ on Aug 26, 2009 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

Cottam

is all potential… he really needs to show some results.

I agree about Nelson… there were a couple of others, too.
But, I admit, I thought there were bigger needs than TE in this last draft.

Now, I think Pioli has to work some waiver wire magic to get a viable blocker.
I think Cottam can be a servicable receiver at the TE spot this year.

"I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009

by stagdsp on Aug 26, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah

I always laughed at the Patriots for drafting a TE pretty much every year. Lol. I thought it was hilarious. I always figured they were looking for yet another receiving threat, but now in retrospect it seems like they were out to protect their highly paid franchise QB with.

Stagdsp’s play-by-play breakdowns got me to watch the games a couple times and it really looks like the horrible TE blocking has really made the O-line look a lot worse than it is. I’m not saying the O-line didn’t/doesn’t need improvement. It’s just that the TE’s are making them look significantly worse than they really are.

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Aug 26, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions  

Absolutely

This was a deep draft for decent TEs quite a ways in, but we did need other positions more. I wonder if Pioli is now wishing he had taken O line a little sooner? I doubt it, but you never know. Pass rush and D Line were arguably our greatest weakness going into the draft, so I think he did what he could.

I was hopeful that Ryan was going to be a better blocker than he showed against the Vikes. He got ran completely ran over. I think that explains why he has bounced around the league.

by TheQ on Aug 26, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions  

True

We had some scary holes in the roster. Overall I think Pioli’s done a helluva job addressing the problems. Woulda shoulda coulda…

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur!

by Buck'O on Aug 26, 2009 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions  

Indeed

I couldn’t be more impressed with Pioli. I think he has busted his ass to try to improve a 2-14 squad. Now it is up to Haley and company to go out and earn some respect. The first 6 weeks will be brutal.

by TheQ on Aug 26, 2009 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions  

He's done SOOOO well...

I think we’re all perhaps expecting too much. (myself included)

Matriculating – Verb; To trickle in thunderous fashion, to be chaotically methodical in a choreographed motion forward.

by SoCalChief on Aug 26, 2009 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions  

Me too

I am getting pretty excited about this team, but it is mostly because of the new attitude. I still think we we are a year away from the playoffs. But I don’t think we are spinning our wheels like we were with Herm.

by TheQ on Aug 26, 2009 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yes...

And it will get better each year, i believe…

We are starting something phantasmagorical.

Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...

by woodman212 on Aug 26, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

twice now

I believe I’ve read it twice today :)

by HeatherChiefsLvr on Aug 27, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ha...

It came from that hissyfit post…someone said they didn’t like “+1’s” so we started using better words…

Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...

by woodman212 on Aug 27, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

Word.

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

by BigRedChief on Aug 27, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

its his new +1

Dauntless!!

Dauntlessly Matriculating

by SoCalChief on Aug 27, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions  

yeah, i didn't see it coming either

"I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009

by stagdsp on Aug 26, 2009 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions  

And looking at draft prospects, they all want to be receivers and aren't known for blocking.

I think you made that point, indirectly, but everybody thinks they’re shannon Sharpe, and we’d be happy with Derrick Walker or Jason Dunn.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Aug 27, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

especially with the evolution of the spread offense

the spread in college allows the TE to play out wide and just catch passes. None of them get any practice blocking, so who knows if they can do it or not?

"I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009

by stagdsp on Aug 27, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions  

IMO the best blockers are unknown except to the team that has them.

Who knows how you find them Pioli can’t seem too
But maybe he will :)

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on Aug 26, 2009 8:51 PM CDT reply actions  

probably

just like a solid OL… they only get noticed if they do something wrong.

"I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009

by stagdsp on Aug 26, 2009 8:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

Maybe Richardson or Brown?

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on Aug 26, 2009 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions  

Good right up...

We are more deficient there than we thought, for sure…

Never thought we would have to worry about that…its weird

Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...

by woodman212 on Aug 26, 2009 9:02 PM CDT reply actions  

write up*

seriously….what the heck…?

Don't forget to be an AP-vangelist...Tell A Friend...

by woodman212 on Aug 26, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

I'm glad we're more worried about finding a good blocker, quite frankly.

Not good to be worried, but I don’t think KC’s gotten a whole lot of blocking from the TE for years. (I know – sacrilege).

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Aug 27, 2009 3:06 PM CDT reply actions  

Not since Dunn left the team.

Gonzo’s blocking is overrated. he’ll always be the best TE in my book but, truly, not that great of a blocker plus he always got called for holding.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Aug 27, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yup.

But enough sour grapes. I already did MORE than my share of that in other Tony G threads.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Aug 28, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions  

I'm still waiting for some possible names...

Who knows of a TE that’s likely to get a look from the Chiefs?

"I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009

by stagdsp on Aug 27, 2009 4:49 PM CDT reply actions  

In the look around the AFC West, today,

it was said that SD is deep in TEs.

No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.

by hmills110 on Aug 28, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions  

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