Intro to Hunter Long TE :RD 3 | Page 14 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Intro to Hunter Long TE :RD 3

"The big-bodied pass catcher from Boston College is a plug-and-play prospect with a game that reminds some of former Pro Bowler Kyle Rudolph. Long is an improving blocker but will make his mark as a crafty pass catcher running down seams or settling in soft spots between the hashes."
--Bucky Brooks
 
Probably not a good sign when your "highlights" are grabs with defenders draped all over you. Tommy Tremble's highlights look a lot more like George Kittle's from college than this guy.
That describes Gesicki's highlight reel. Mike has great hands and makes some amazing catches, but it's always with a defender right on top of him and he rarely gets more than 1 or 2 yards after the catch.
 
ya know what, **** it, we now have 3 TE's that offer almost the exact same thing (assuming Long pans out in the pros). Lets just go ahead and extend Gesicki under a TE contract then move him to his natural position of big WR. Health wise he'd be our most dependable WR. If we are going into the season with Fuller, Parker, Williams on the outside then there is going to be ample time for Mike G to get his snaps out wide.
IMO, Gesicki has great hands and makes a lot of nice catches. But, he'll never be a great blocking TE and he's not physical enough to run over defenders and get yards after the catch. I think he'd make a good slot/possession receiver. Let the speedier guys go deep to draw the DBs and Gesicki could roam around the middle, as that's usually where he makes most of his catches. That said, when you need the first down make sure his route goes beyond the sticks. Don't throw a 7 yard pass to him when it's 3rd and 10; you'll end up punting! He's good at what he can do but his skillset is limited; use him with this in mind and he can be Mr. Reliable.
 
I don't get why so many think this is a replacement for Gesicki when this is clearly meant to be an upgrade over Smythe. Dolphins wanna run more 12 personnel because Tua excelled, and probably see Long as a Symthe with netter pass catching chops. Instead of having to resign Gesicki and Smythe they'll just resign Gesicki and draft Long.
 
We all like Gesicki but don't overrate him. Remember how we went through all last season with him playing and felt like we didn't have any weapons? It's because for a pass catching specialist he really struggles to get separation, and he also doesn't have a frame where he boxes out defenders like you'd really want from a tight end. He's easily taken out of a game, and early in the year we threw a lot of picks on balls where Fitz was hoping Gesicki would play like a normal TE would.And also he doesn't block.

He makes fricking great catches- some of the best I've seen. His radius is just terrific when taking that into account. He can make big plays. He can be a component in an offense.

If he ends up somewhere else, it won't be because the team didn't appreciate him. It will be because he is likely to get vastly overpaid by someone.

Remember - it felt like we didn't have any weapons and we had him on the field. If he has another year like this last one, he's going to have some team out there pay him at a rate commensurate with a guy who should be a weapon regardless of what's around him. That's what can make it hard to keep guy like Gesicki.

I hated to lose Charles Clay in the Philbin era, I remembered drafted him and had been hoping he'd deliver on that potential when he got the big chance by default after injury to Keller. But immediately after signing that contract with Buffalo Clay became a noose around their neck, and never came close to living up to it. Gesicki might end up the same way.
I will say, if we don’t wait to the last min to pay these guys they might not get over paid. When you wait till free agency they get paid more than they should. Need to start locking up these guys a year or so in advance . They know how to do that. They done it with grant and the tight end from the bears. Lol. Just do it with some of the really decent players. Don’t wait till the last min. Price always goes up
 
So are we going to keep 4 TE’s?
5. They signed a tight end from cincy in free agency for specials. That was their first player signed in free agency this. Year. They are not cutting him. So probably 5.
 
I will say, if we don’t wait to the last min to pay these guys they might not get over paid. When you wait till free agency they get paid more than they should. Need to start locking up these guys a year or so in advance . They know how to do that. They done it with grant and the tight end from the bears. Lol. Just do it with some of the really decent players. Don’t wait till the last min. Price always goes up
It takes two to agree. Players aren't always interested.

Weve signed quite a few player extensions.
 
Back
Top Bottom