Mike Gesicki Blocking? | Page 2 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Mike Gesicki Blocking?

Gesicki was the security blanket at PSU. He bailed that QB out of so many jams by getting open and moving the sticks.

And with a TE like Gesicki, you basically just ask him to get in the way and give you a little extra time. He's not going to be heavily engaged in blocking battles.

But they will move him around, do fakes and all that jazz.

The thing I love too is that Gesicki tested similarly to Mike Evans and was 25 pounds heavier.
 
Fans out there will try and tell me that drafting Durham Smythe and Mike Gesicki and working them into packages where they work to their strengths simply won't work because it'll be too much of a tell.

Folks, defenses already know. They know. Stop trying to pretend they don't.

The NFL uses shotgun about 60% of downs nowadays, and WHEN they use shotgun, they're passing the ball 4 times for every 1 run play.

Oh and the other 40% when they're under center? They run the football at a 70/30 ratio.

Offenses don't give two shits about letting the defense know pre-snap whether the play is very likely to be a pass, or very likely to be a run. They don't care. We are well beyond that. Remember "Go" versus "Go-Go"? That's how little they care about tells like that.

If defenses are going to get away with over-stacking against the pass on a situational basis, hence all these extra safeties and corners on the field, then on a growing number of downs there is simply no benefit to the offense making sure they've got a well-rounded tight end on the field.

Nowadays, 'well-rounded' for a tight end means a guy who can be a speed/agility mismatch against linebackers, and then turn around and also be a size/finish mismatch against safeties or corners. It means a guy who can finish contested catches in the end zone, but who can also take a shovel or screen pass and do some damage that way.

They'll play around with Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe on the field together, but they'll also get Durham Smythe on the field by himself in situations where running the ball is on the menu. And if defenses start getting aggro about the run because Smythe is on the field, fast guys like Jakeem Grant and Kenny Stills will have something to say about that.
 
Don't discount Smythe in the passing game. Significantly under utilised but also had an uncanny knack of getting open, they just didn't throw to him much.

Also completely agree with CK on it not making a difference if it's a tell or not. That's the way the game is going .

What I'm keen to see is how much 12 personnel packages we go into and if Gesicki gets split out in the slot and to wide outsid and keeping Smythe ilat in-line traditional Y.
 
I just hope if Mike knows it is a weakness of his, he will work on it to improve the deficiency. The amount of money he is receiving to play a game, he should feel obligated to improve every aspect of his game. If he comes in and grinds, that is all we can ask.
 
Here is a draft analysis video of Mike Gesicki against Michigan. What I encourage you to look at is his blocking. While it is not good, it is being commented on as if it is non-existant or as if he simply has no ability to block. I noted 8 attempted blocks in the run game and 1 in the passing game in this clip. In this video Gesicki was successful in 5 of his 8 run blocks, with his lack of success being attributable to lack of effort IMHO. He was successful in his one pass protection.

My belief is that Gesicki's lack of run blocking prowess stems from a lack of urgency. The closer he is to the play, the better he blocks. When the play is designed to go away from him, he does not put in as much effort, leading to his man easily disengaging, and sometimes making the play after shedding the block. I contend that with proper coaching, he will understand the need to have that urgency, and with practice he will become a much improved blocker in the run game. He already has the ability and more desire in pass protection.



Here are the times of the blocks:
0:19, 0:42, 2:21, 2:37, 3:08 & 3:18 better angle replay, 3:59, 4:22, 5:02. The good blocks are in Aqua and the bad blocks are in Orange.


There are also a couple of highlight catches by Gesicki at 0:35 and 3:03 and he jumps over his QB in celebration at 3:17 if you are interested.
 
The advantage of having a complete TE is more significant than some may think. When the defense is set for pass defense, such as in a dime package, having a move TE like Gesicki would be very helpful to audible into a run. But, we can also audible into him running a pattern away from the run lane, which does the same thing as a block. It is definitely helpful for taking advantage of mismatches. But, I would contend that pass protection is even more important than run blocking, because if we need to audible into having the TE pick up blitzing DB's or LB's, it sure helps to have TE's who can do that. I see Gesicki's pass protection as better than his run blocking, and IMHO, that's more important.

Sure, usually a guy like Gesicki is who you want as an outlet for the blitz, but sometimes overloads dictate that you want him to pass protect. He has the ability to do it if he puts his nose to the grindstone and tries to become good at it, and I suspect he will. But first, he needs to learn the playbook, get his route-running down (something he is also pretty good at already), and work on his chemistry with Tannehill. Those would be the priorities if I were his coach. Then we can focus on blitz pick-up, and only after that do we really start to emphasize run blocking.
 
Don't be sophomoric bro. A tightend's ability to block directly affects how many TD's we score in the running game. We can't expect to put Gesicki in on passing plays only and Smythe only on running plays and expect defenses not to know what is happening on that play.

To be honest these two guys seem like 2 TE's who are specialists in the area the other is just regular at. Meaning Gesicki is great at catching and scoring and decent at blocking while Smythe is great at blocking and has average receiving skills.

They can play both at the same time. TEs like Gesicki get flexed out often. From what I've read about the other guy, he wasn't asked to catch much but showed good ability catching the ball. Problem solved.
 
I was actually at that game. Penn St was pretty dominant in that game.


Here is a draft analysis video of Mike Gesicki against Michigan. What I encourage you to look at is his blocking. While it is not good, it is being commented on as if it is non-existant or as if he simply has no ability to block. I noted 8 attempted blocks in the run game and 1 in the passing game in this clip. In this video Gesicki was successful in 5 of his 8 run blocks, with his lack of success being attributable to lack of effort IMHO. He was successful in his one pass protection.

My belief is that Gesicki's lack of run blocking prowess stems from a lack of urgency. The closer he is to the play, the better he blocks. When the play is designed to go away from him, he does not put in as much effort, leading to his man easily disengaging, and sometimes making the play after shedding the block. I contend that with proper coaching, he will understand the need to have that urgency, and with practice he will become a much improved blocker in the run game. He already has the ability and more desire in pass protection.



Here are the times of the blocks:
0:19, 0:42, 2:21, 2:37, 3:08 & 3:18 better angle replay, 3:59, 4:22, 5:02. The good blocks are in Aqua and the bad blocks are in Orange.


There are also a couple of highlight catches by Gesicki at 0:35 and 3:03 and he jumps over his QB in celebration at 3:17 if you are interested.
 
Thomas couldn't block either, and it wasn't a downfall of this team. I expect Gesicki to be used split out, as much as he is on the line. I am so excited about this kid. He has skills matched with size and speed that if he translates to the NFL can't be game planned for. As soon as they put his Jersey in the pro shop I am grabbing one. I hope they strip Carroo of 88, and give it to Mike.
 
This is just one game but I think Giseki May have a bad rap. While he won’t be mistaken for an Anthony Fasano, he appears to be willing to stick his nose in there to block. And from what I can see here, he has a technique issues not a willingness issue. If you line him up one on one in a blocking drill he probably won’t look very good, but in a real game where you can create angles and slow the defenders down with schemes, with proper coaching I think he can be a serviceable blocker

Thoughts..

 
What I see there is he's not using his hands/arms much to block. Mostly just the shoulders. I believe he'll be ok but he won't be asked to block much anyway. We need him in the passing game
 
I was actually at that game. Penn St was pretty dominant in that game.
Way cool. So you saw him make those great catches and leapfrog the QB in celebration ... must have been an exciting game!
 
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