Silverphin
Chairman of the 'Owned! Awards' Commitee
Last time, it was the wide rceivers (To re-read my analysis, click here: http://www.finheaven.com/boardvb2/showthread.php?t=142421). Now I'm analyzing the tight ends.
As we all know, there was going to be a lot of battles. As a matter of fact, I think there is pretty much battle at every position, unnlike last year where there were a lot of battles but at fewer positions.
The competition at the tight end position pretty much takes new ground. Last year, with Linehan, he were in search of an H-Back. That led to waiving of Will Heller (who was a devestating blocker, but was to tall to be an H-Back), the signing of Lorenzo Diamond, and the upgrade of Alex Holmes from the Practice Squad to the active roster.
But now that we have Mike Mularkey, we starting to shy away from the H-Back position, leading to the waiving of Diamond, NFEL Reserve H-Back Ben Moa and Holmes (though I still wished they kept Diamond). We then brought in Justin Peele, a tight end known for his awesome blocking, Teyo Johnson, a great receiver but a suspect blocker, Keith Heinrich, who wasn't active last year, and Jason Rader, one of the only four regulars on the Practice Squad (The other three being DL/OL Orrin Thompson, WR Fred Gibson, and RB Kay-Jay Harris). Interesting....
Locks To Make the Team: Randy McMichael, Justin Peele
The Battlers: Jason Rader, Teyo Johnson, and Keith Heinrich.
My analysis: All three of these tight ends can catch. No doubt about it. What really is going to make them or break them is their special teams play and blocking ability. Right now, Rader and Heinrich has the edge over Johnson due to his suspect blocking ability. And now that we are now looking at pure tight ends who can catch and/or block, former NFLEL standout Rader now has a bigger chance now then last year. But who knows? Since Hudson Houck was able to improve McMichael's blocking tremendously, he can do a number on Johnson.
My predicted winner: Jason Rader. I think competition is only going to push him even more. But hey, I've been wrong before.
Winner gets: 3rd Tight End Spot.
Losers get: Trip to the Practice Squad/Free Agency.
As we all know, there was going to be a lot of battles. As a matter of fact, I think there is pretty much battle at every position, unnlike last year where there were a lot of battles but at fewer positions.
The competition at the tight end position pretty much takes new ground. Last year, with Linehan, he were in search of an H-Back. That led to waiving of Will Heller (who was a devestating blocker, but was to tall to be an H-Back), the signing of Lorenzo Diamond, and the upgrade of Alex Holmes from the Practice Squad to the active roster.
But now that we have Mike Mularkey, we starting to shy away from the H-Back position, leading to the waiving of Diamond, NFEL Reserve H-Back Ben Moa and Holmes (though I still wished they kept Diamond). We then brought in Justin Peele, a tight end known for his awesome blocking, Teyo Johnson, a great receiver but a suspect blocker, Keith Heinrich, who wasn't active last year, and Jason Rader, one of the only four regulars on the Practice Squad (The other three being DL/OL Orrin Thompson, WR Fred Gibson, and RB Kay-Jay Harris). Interesting....
Locks To Make the Team: Randy McMichael, Justin Peele
The Battlers: Jason Rader, Teyo Johnson, and Keith Heinrich.
My analysis: All three of these tight ends can catch. No doubt about it. What really is going to make them or break them is their special teams play and blocking ability. Right now, Rader and Heinrich has the edge over Johnson due to his suspect blocking ability. And now that we are now looking at pure tight ends who can catch and/or block, former NFLEL standout Rader now has a bigger chance now then last year. But who knows? Since Hudson Houck was able to improve McMichael's blocking tremendously, he can do a number on Johnson.
My predicted winner: Jason Rader. I think competition is only going to push him even more. But hey, I've been wrong before.
Winner gets: 3rd Tight End Spot.
Losers get: Trip to the Practice Squad/Free Agency.