Joyner: Shockey most overrated TE

[bobtheflob]

Shockey failing to make deep impact
By KC Joyner
ESPN Insider

This is the first of a series of articles covering the most overrated and underrated players in the NFL. The criteria I used was contrasting the player's 2006 metrics with his perceived performance level. This week's list features overrated and underrated tight ends.

Overrated tight ends

Jeremy Shockey
Shockey was a Pro Bowl alternate last year, but the metrics indicate he didn't deserve the selection. Shockey ranked 23rd in yards per attempt among qualifying tight ends last year (5.6). He ranked last in medium pass YPA and 18th in short pass YPA.
Shockey is perceived to be an excellent downfield threat when lining up as a wide receiver, but that is also a mirage. He had a 4.7 YPA on passes thrown to him when he was flexed out, a total that placed him next to last in that category.
In a nutshell, Shockey's YPA figures place him more in the company of Randal Williams and Alex Smith, not Jason Witten and Alge Crumpler (the other two NFC Pro Bowl tight ends in 2006).


Randy McMichael
This is the second consecutive year I've identified McMichael as being overrated. His move to St. Louis has revealed that some people still believe he is one of the elite tight ends in the NFL. The metrics say otherwise.
McMichael's overall YPA (6.9) was adequate, ranking him 13th among tight ends last year. Unfortunately, he is a one-trick pony. Of the 92 passes thrown to him last season, 71 were short passes (1-10 yards). The reason McMichael wasn't thrown more vertical passes is his YPA on the 21 combined medium/deep/bomb passes last year was a meager 7.0 yards.
McMichael also had the lowest YPA and success percentage for a tight end when flexed out. He should do a fine job in St. Louis as a check-down target, but he is certainly no longer one of the best tight ends in the NFL.



Underrated tight ends

Chris Cooley
Cooley is already considered by many to be one of the top 10 tight ends in the NFL, but the metrics indicate he deserves even more praise. Cooley posted the fourth-best overall YPA among tight ends. He had the sixth-best medium pass YPA and the best short pass YPA. His YPA when flexed out (10.8) was easily the highest in the NFL. That he was able to put up these numbers, despite the struggles of the Redskins' quarterbacks last year, speaks volumes about his ability.


Desmond Clark
Last year, Rex Grossman claimed Clark was his go-to receiver, and the metrics show why. He ranked third in YPA, finishing ahead of players such as Cooley and Jason Witten. Clark's numbers were not skewed by a smaller number of attempts:

In addition to his impressive overall numbers, Clark also ranked fourth in both medium and deep pass YPA. If he puts up similar numbers in 2007, he should receive a lot of votes for the Pro Bowl.

[Yeagermeister]

No surprise

[burmafrd]

My question about Cooley is he really a TE?

[Hoofbite]

My question about Cooley is he really a TE?

how would you suggest they list him?

[burmafrd]

Frankly, I say Cooley is not really a te; how often is he blocking- how often is he starting his patterns on the line, instead of in motion or split out?
TEs should be like Witten.

[Joshmvii]

I think the skins call Cooley an H-Back, but he plays just like a TE. I hate the skins more than I hate any other team in any sport period, but he's a good player.

[Green28]

It's about time Cooley gets some recognition. He is without a doubt one of the top 5 or 6 TEs in the league.

Averages over the last two seasons:

Gates: 80 catches, 1012 yards, 9.5 TD
Gonzalez: 75 catches, 902 yards, 3.5 TD
Heap: 74 catches, 810 yards, 6.5 TD
Shockey: 65 catches, 757 yards, 7 TD
Cooley: 64 catches, 754 yards , 6.5 TD
Witten: 65 catches, 755 yards, 3.5 TD
Crumpler: 60 catches, 828 yards, 6.5 TD

[burmafrd]

Is it not interesting when SOMEONE comes along and decides to just compare the last 2 years of someones performance, just like that? Why not compare the last 5 years of all TEs mentioned- and if certain ones have only been around a couple of years its still fair if you go by career average.

[Alexander]

I could care less what his ridiculous metrics say.

I would take Randy McMichael and Jeremy Shockey every day of the week over an average talent like Desmond Clark.

This is what happens when statistics go wild and people bother to pay too much attention to them.

[burmafrd]

I guess the real measure is what do they do in the 4th qtr with the game on the line?

[Cochese]

I could care less what his ridiculous metrics say.

I would take Randy McMichael and Jeremy Shockey every day of the week over an average talent like Desmond Clark.

This is what happens when statistics go wild and people bother to pay too much attention to them.

Especially when you considered the Bears drafted Olsen because their TE position for the past few years has been shambles.

Yea, Im sure Desmond Clark is going to get pro bowl consideration this year, great call KC.

[5Stars]

Chris Cooley is a good player...to bad he's stuck on that team. I wonder if the RedSKIN's will have enough money to keep him when his contract is up? ;)

Or he could come to a real team...the Dallas Cowboys if he want's to be a real winner.
:star:

[Vintage]

I could care less what his ridiculous metrics say.

I would take Randy McMichael and Jeremy Shockey every day of the week over an average talent like Desmond Clark.

This is what happens when statistics go wild and people bother to pay too much attention to them.

I think you are missing the point.

I don't think KC Joyner is saying that Shockey and McMichael are inferior to Clark....but rather, Clark outperformed both of them last year.

That is all the metrics seem to be suggesting. Its not an analysis of who is necessarily better; but who performed better. Or not necessarily saying that someone on the overrated list doesn't have more value, or won't contribute next season in a better way, than the underrated guys.

I think its more of an underrated/overrated list on players based on last years production.

[Vintage]

Is it not interesting when SOMEONE comes along and decides to just compare the last 2 years of someones performance, just like that? Why not compare the last 5 years of all TEs mentioned- and if certain ones have only been around a couple of years its still fair if you go by career average.

All he was saying is that Cooley has been peforming the last two years on an elite level.

[31Rwilliams]

As much as i don't like shockey he's not overrated

[superpunk]

I wish we had Giants fans that posted here.

Like good ones. Not crappy ones.

As much as i don't like shockey he's not overrated

:welcome:

[Bob Sacamano]

I think its more of an underrated/overrated list on players based on last years production.

exactly, Shockey hasn't been the force many were expecting him to be, he hasn't even cracked 1,000 yards yet

gotta give props to Cooley though, he's a player

[jimmy40]

I could care less what his ridiculous metrics say.

I would take Randy McMichael and Jeremy Shockey every day of the week over an average talent like Desmond Clark.

This is what happens when statistics go wild and people bother to pay too much attention to them.Shockey sure doesn't look overated when RW tries to cover him.

[Future]

Shockey talent wise is not overrated, I'd say hes a top 5 talent at TE in the league. The problem is that he's a head case, his coach doesn't give him the ball, and his QB stinks.

[Idgit]

I wish we had Giants fans that posted here.

Like good ones. Not crappy ones.



:welcome:

And some unicorns. Some not-crappy Giants fans and some unicorns would be awesome on this board. And maybe a post now and then from Santa.

[BouncingCheese]

Shockey may be overrated in terms of production, but if he had a competent qb back there who PASSED to him this guy would have 900 yards and 8 td's every year. He is underrated in that category.

Sorry homers, that is the truth.. this guy is a mega talent though I hate to admit it.

Cooley is a great player; though he sounds like a little girl. Very underrated IMO

[theogt]

Chris Cooley
Cooley is already considered by many to be one of the top 10 tight ends in the NFL, but the metrics indicate he deserves even more praise. Cooley posted the fourth-best overall YPA among tight ends. He had the sixth-best medium pass YPA and the best short pass YPA. His YPA when flexed out (10.8) was easily the highest in the NFL. That he was able to put up these numbers, despite the struggles of the Redskins' quarterbacks last year, speaks volumes about his ability.Could that be because he's an H-back that catches dump offs out of the backfield?


Desmond Clark
Last year, Rex Grossman claimed Clark was his go-to receiver, and the metrics show why. He ranked third in YPA, finishing ahead of players such as Cooley and Jason Witten. Clark's numbers were not skewed by a smaller number of attempts:

In addition to his impressive overall numbers, Clark also ranked fourth in both medium and deep pass YPA. If he puts up similar numbers in 2007, he should receive a lot of votes for the Pro Bowl.This is the guy that's truly underrated.

[31Rwilliams]

I think cooley is underrated also but jason witten is better than all of them:)

[BouncingCheese]

Could that be because he's an H-back that catches dump offs out of the backfield?


This is the guy that's truly underrated.

Desmond Clark is gone in a few years though; Ben Olsen is as talented as Shockey but up to this point he doesn't seem like the head case Shockey is.

[TEK2000]

He needs to factor in a lot more than just Yards Per Attempt to rank players. I think he's just looking at 1 stat category and then basing a judgement of a player on that alone.
Throw in % of receptions that are first downs.
Yards after catch.
etc. etc. THEN form an opinion.

That's like comparing CB's based only on Interception #'s.

[TEK2000]

Cooley is a quality TE/H-back or whatever you want to call it. He, like Witten and all the other elite TE's, presents matchup problems for the defense. He's athletic enough to beat LBers and big enough to overpower Safeties.

[big dog cowboy]

It's about time Cooley gets some recognition. He is without a doubt one of the top 5 or 6 TEs in the league.

Averages over the last two seasons:

Gates: 80 catches, 1012 yards, 9.5 TD
Gonzalez: 75 catches, 902 yards, 3.5 TD
Heap: 74 catches, 810 yards, 6.5 TD
Shockey: 65 catches, 757 yards, 7 TD
Cooley: 64 catches, 754 yards , 6.5 TD
Witten: 65 catches, 755 yards, 3.5 TD
Crumpler: 60 catches, 828 yards, 6.5 TD
There is more to judging a TE than catches, yards and TD's. For example look at Furrey in Detroit last year. Do you think he was the best WR in the NFC last year?

[theogt]

Cooley is a quality TE/H-back or whatever you want to call it. He, like Witten and all the other elite TE's, presents matchup problems for the defense. He's athletic enough to beat LBers and big enough to overpower Safeties.I certainly wasn't dissing him. He's good. But he's an H-back, which explains his short numbers.

There is more to judging a TE than catches, yards and TD's. For example look at Furrey in Detroit last year. Do you think he was the best WR in the NFC last year?Why would anyone think that?

[the kid 05]

It's about time Cooley gets some recognition. He is without a doubt one of the top 5 or 6 TEs in the league.

Averages over the last two seasons:

Gates: 80 catches, 1012 yards, 9.5 TD
Gonzalez: 75 catches, 902 yards, 3.5 TD
Heap: 74 catches, 810 yards, 6.5 TD
Shockey: 65 catches, 757 yards, 7 TD
Cooley: 64 catches, 754 yards , 6.5 TD
Witten: 65 catches, 755 yards, 3.5 TD
Crumpler: 60 catches, 828 yards, 6.5 TD

last season really hurt wittens average for tds

[BouncingCheese]

It's about time Cooley gets some recognition. He is without a doubt one of the top 5 or 6 TEs in the league.

Averages over the last two seasons:

Gates: 80 catches, 1012 yards, 9.5 TD
Gonzalez: 75 catches, 902 yards, 3.5 TD
Heap: 74 catches, 810 yards, 6.5 TD
Shockey: 65 catches, 757 yards, 7 TD
Cooley: 64 catches, 754 yards , 6.5 TD
Witten: 65 catches, 755 yards, 3.5 TD
Crumpler: 60 catches, 828 yards, 6.5 TD

How the **** has Heap not had any probowls in the past two years?

All he has done is make my boy Mcnair and that idiot Boller look like worldbeaters... He is going to have a huge payday next offseason

Your right, last year was terrible for Witten TD-wise... teams were covering him in the redzone with a bunch of LB's because they know how dangerous he is.

[big dog cowboy]

Why would anyone think that?
Dude led the NFC in receptions last year with 98. Holt had 93, Driver 92....

[Sarge]

how would you suggest they list him?

He's more of an H back than a TE.

[Chuck 54]

Chris Cooley is just as much a TE as Jay Novachek was.

[Green28]

How the **** has Heap not had any probowls in the past two years?


For the same reasons Cooley hasn't made it to Hawaii. Both players keep their mouths shut, score TDs, and hand the ball to the ref. Plus they play for Washington & Baltimore; not exactly Dallas & New York when it comes to national fan voting.

[InmanRoshi]

Seriously, if Shockey wasn't so over the top and melodramatic drawing attention to himself, I don't know if he would regarded as a Top 8-10 TE. His drops are ridiculous.

And, sorry, Cooley is a Pro Bowl caliber TE. Last year he played the same position in Saunders offense that Tony Gonzales played in KC. Witten also motions out wide and sometimes even into the backfield. Does that mean Witten isn't a TE? Or Antonio Gates? Its what TE's do these days.

[Hoofbite]

For the same reasons Cooley hasn't made it to Hawaii. Both players keep their mouths shut, score TDs, and hand the ball to the ref. Plus they play for Washington & Baltimore; not exactly Dallas & New York when it comes to national fan voting.


Or maybe because he plays in the same conference as Gonzo and Gates.....pretty much two locks for the PB each and every year.

[InmanRoshi]

Shockey talent wise is not overrated, I'd say hes a top 5 talent at TE in the league. The problem is that he's a head case, his coach doesn't give him the ball, and his QB stinks.

And his hands are shoddy, at best.

But he does an excellent job self promoting himself, and that's really half the battle when people judge how good players are based on how much Sportscenter talks about them.

[burmafrd]

There is not really all that much difference between Deangelo Hall and Shockey. Both over rated by pretty much everyone.

[BrAinPaiNt]

It had to be done...

http://www.imagedonkey.com/out.php/i432_shockeyshocked.gif

[Hoofbite]

It had to be done...

http://www.imagedonkey.com/out.php/i432_shockeyshocked.gif

I swear, when I see that I cannot help but to think that he knew the miss was coming and was just hamming it up for the camera.

[ThreeSportStar80]

I mean what's new, everyone knew Shockey does more running of the mouth than routes...:laugh2:

[BrAinPaiNt]

I swear, when I see that I cannot help but to think that he knew the miss was coming and was just hamming it up for the camera.

I don't think he did.

Funny thing in that game was there were at least one other time where the Kicker missed the FG but some of the giants players were acting like it was going to be good. I think Strahan started jumping up and down like it was going to be good before it missed.

[CrazyCowboy]

He just has a very good rep as a great TE.