ESPN Scouts Inc: TE rankings

[adamknite]

obviously, i'm biased. but, the broncos and jags better than the skins? catches, TD's and yards are clearly undervalued as opposed to blocking, i suppose.

Wow, I didn't realize until you mentioned it that the Commanders were behind the Broncos on that list.... yikes..... that's kinda BS.

 

[Established1971]

5 seconds before someone comes in here and claim's Anti-Dallas Cowboy bias.

There is a reason we were 9-7 last year. We aren't as good as many people think we are.

so what, what does that have to do with Witten not being ranked high enough. If anyone agrees with me that he should be at least 3 spots higher, it doesnt mean we are fooling ourselves based on the overall play of the team ,as you are suggesting.

 

[Established1971]

1. San Diego Chargers
Antonio Gates has been one of the most productive tight ends in the league over the past four seasons. Gates is an excellent combination of size, athleticism and hand dexterity. He has been one of the most impressive college free-agent acquisitions in recent memory. Gates is an excellent route runner who shows natural receiving skills and versatility to pressure defensive coordinators to game plan the tight end position. He's also an above-average blocker. The depth at the position comes with great size and effective blocking with Brandon Manumaleuna and a huge rookie in Scott Chandler.

2. Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Gonzalez is an excellent combination of size and athleticism. He has been the most productive tight end over the past 10 seasons. His red-zone numbers have been down the past two seasons, but his ability to stretch deep zones and align in several different positions within an offensive scheme make defenses have to game plan for him. He is a solid blocker and uses his length and athleticism to tie up defenders at the point of attack. His size and leaping ability make him a tough matchup for the shorter safeties and linebackers in the league. Behind Gonzalez, the Chiefs have Jason Dunn, primarily a blocker who can set the edge, and Kris Wilson, an H-back who brings versatility to the offense.

3. Atlanta Falcons
Alge Crumpler is a short, thick player with long arms and big hands. He is light on his feet and an excellent route runner, using his foot quickness, agility and wide body to gain leverage on defenders. Alge makes tough receptions away from his body and shows speed and power after the catch. He generates great hip explosion as a run-blocker and is a physical player when setting the edge. Alge puts up impressive numbers despite inconsistent quarterback play and had his most productive season in 2006, with 56 receptions, a 13.9-yard average and eight touchdowns. The Falcons' depth will come from fourth-round choice Martrez Milner and journeyman Dwayne Blakley. Crumpler has led the Falcons in receptions in each of the past three seasons, but may not get as many opportunities in the new Bobby Petrino offensive scheme.

4. Cleveland Browns
Kellen Winslow was plagued by injuries in his first two seasons, but had a breakout year in 2006, leading all tight ends with 89 receptions. Winslow has great athleticism and can be used in a variety of positions in different formations. He can flex or split out to create mismatches versus safeties and corners using his size to separate in short and intermediate routes. He has excellent hands to adjust and make the tough catch away from his body. He has courage and concentration in traffic with speed and quickness to run well after the catch. Winslow is a feisty blocker who wins more with effort and foot agility than power. Steve Heiden is a reliable backup who brings eight years of experience, strength and solid hands to the Browns.

5. Baltimore Ravens
Todd Heap, who is entering his seventh year, has had two outstanding seasons in a row. He has a great combination of size and athleticism and is used to stretching zones deep down the middle of the field. Heap is an excellent route runner with soft hands and speed to move the chains after the catch. He has been a solid red-zone receiver and can go up for the ball well in the end zone. He has above-average strength and solid run-blocking techniques. The Ravens also have a big blocker to set the edge in Quinn Sypniewski and an H-back-type of player in Daniel Wilcox, who has soft hands and can be used flexed out or on the line of scrimmage as a receiving threat.

6. New England Patriots
The Patriots had arguably the best tight end tandem in the league before the departure of Daniel Graham to Denver. Ben Watson, the talented starter for New England, may have the best pure speed for the tight end position in the league. Watson has average size but can be an explosive receiver who can stretch deep zones. He has good hands, but has been too inconsistent with his focus to be a reliable big-play target under pressure. Watson is tough to cover with a linebacker and draws nickel and dime backs in passing situations. He is a steady-effort blocker who works his feet well to gain leverage. The addition of 13-year veteran Kyle Brady gives New England a solid edge blocker, but the Pats' multiple-tight-end formations won't be as effective without Graham.

7. N.Y. Giants
Jeremy Shockey has been one of the most productive tight ends in the league since his rookie season in 2002. He has averaged 64 receptions, over 11 yards per catch and seven touchdowns over the past three seasons. Shockey has been a main target for Giants quarterback Eli Manning and makes the big catch in pressure situations. He draws many double teams in coverage and can outmaneuver most linebackers. He has been a solid blocker, setting the edge with toughness and athleticism. Shockey has been one of the emotional leaders for the Giants and his leadership on the field is hard to measure. New York drafted Kevin Boss this year to give depth to what has been a one-man show for the Giants' tight end position over the past five seasons.

8. Chicago Bears
The first-round selection of the talented Greg Olsen, along with nine-year veteran Desmond Clark, gives the Bears a formidable tandem at tight end. Clark has natural receiving skills and is an excellent route runner. He uses his foot quickness and agility to get separation in short and intermediate zones. He has very soft hands and can make tough receptions in traffic. Clark is not a physical blocker, but can wall off well enough to make room to run on the edge. Olsen is an unproven NFL commodity who has the potential to be an impact player as a rookie. If he can gain strength and learn the Bears' system quickly, he will give Chicago the flexibility of having two excellent receiving tight ends on the field simultaneously. John Gilmore is Chicago's third tight end. He is primarily used in goal-line and short-yardage situations.

9. Philadelphia Eagles
The combination of veterans L.J. Smith and Matt Schobel, along with midround draft choice Brent Celek, gives the Eagles a very formidable tight end corps. Smith has good size and athleticism to be an effective run-blocker and receiver. Smith generates effective power as a run-blocker with quickness, hand use and leg strength. He has soft hands and has developed into an excellent route runner since entering the league in 2003. Smith displays power and agility after the catch and had his best season moving the chains in 2006. Schobel was a solid acquisition for the Eagles in the offseason, giving the offense another good receiver who can be used as an H-back or on the line of scrimmage. Philadelphia's air attack spreads the ball well to several positions and this group of athletic tight ends should add to the already-versatile Eagles offense.

10. Dallas Cowboys
Jason Witten is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. He has averaged 73 receptions at 11.5 yards per catch over the past three seasons. Witten is not an explosive receiver off the line of scrimmage, but he has excellent foot agility, quickness and balance to find voids in short and intermediate zones. Witten is an effective blocker, locking on defenders and gaining leverage with agility and hand use. Second-year player Anthony Fasano provides effective depth to the position but needs to become more involved in the Cowboys' offensive scheme to be a factor. Look for new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to use more multiple-tight-end formations in 2007.

<snip>

A man who hasnt played a down is ranked higher than a 3 time pro bowler in his prime. Thats just plain ignorant

 

[adamknite]

so what, what does that have to do with Witten not being ranked high enough. If anyone agrees with me that he should be at least 3 spots higher, it doesnt mean we are fooling ourselves based on the overall play of the team ,as you are suggesting.

He posts the same post in every thread that has either a ranking or shows any optimism for the upcoming season. You guys should be used to it by now.

Just means if we go out and don't have a good season he won't be very disappointed I guess. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't get so excited about our team before the season, especially since we've had the tendency of disappointing as of late.

 

[Chuck 54]

Who cares about the ranking? Certainly there's no real bias...the guy called Witten one of the best TE's in the NFL.

What more do you want, really?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Who cares about the ranking? Certainly there's no real bias...the guy called Witten one of the best TE's in the NFL.

What more do you want, really?

At a very minimum, to be ranked higher then a team who has a rookie that has never played a snap and Desmond Clark as justification as to why they are better.

I'm quarky that way.

 

[adamknite]

At a very minimum, to be ranked higher then a team who has a rookie that has never played a snap and Desmond Clark as justification as to why they are better.

I'm quarky that way.

I think out of all these ESPN Scouts "Whatever" rankings this TE one has been the worst. Not just looking at this with my Cowboys homer glasses on either.

Like I said the Commanders and Cooley are ranked behind the Broncos? The Cowboys/Colts are ranked behind the bears? The Chiefs are number 2 on the list? Cleveland and Kelly Winslow are ranked 4th after one good season? There are plenty of spots on this list that could be reworked if you asked me.

 

[Fletch]

How in the world can Olsen be ranked higher than Jason Witten when Olsen has yet to even participate in his very first training camp????

I think first you have to prove that you can stay healthy, and consistant over a couple seasons before being vaulted into the top 10 in the entire NFL. What a crock of ****!

 

[Vintage]

How in the world can Olsen be ranked higher than Jason Witten when Olsen has yet to even participate in his very first training camp????

I think you have to prove that you can stay healthy, and consistant over a couple seasons before being vaulted into the top 10 in the entire NFL. What a crock of ****!

They don't.

They have their TE position ranked higher than ours.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Witten is the man!

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

They don't.

They have their TE position ranked higher than ours.

Granted, but justification of this is, in large part, based on the fact that they have drafted the rookie Olsen and currently have Clark on there roster. By definition, they are basically saying that the combination of Clark and Olsen is better then Witten and Fasano. There is no way on God's green earth that you can know what Olsen is going to be in the NFL. Clark is clearly not an elite TE. Heck, he's not even a good TE. He's a very average TE in the NFL.

Numbers just don't work no matter how you examin them IMO.

 

[BouncingCheese]

I agree with this list.... if ben watson was in another O where they didn't spread it around so much he would have 8 td's and 800 yards... he is so damn fast. And Kyle Brady is a good blocker.

The probowl fan voters for the most part are just fair-weather fans... How Todd heap wasn't in the probowl the past two seasons is really ridiculous.

If we execute what Garrett has planned then Witten will have a great season.

 

[joseephuss]

Granted, but justification of this is, in large part, based on the fact that they have drafted the rookie Olsen and currently have Clark on there roster. By definition, they are basically saying that the combination of Clark and Olsen is better then Witten and Fasano. There is no way on God's green earth that you can know what Olsen is going to be in the NFL. Clark is clearly not an elite TE. Heck, he's not even a good TE. He's a very average TE in the NFL.

Numbers just don't work no matter how you examin them IMO.

I've got no problem with ranking a position based on projections. That is why I understand the high ranking for the Detroit Lions receiving corp. I project, like a lot of people that Calvin Johnson will be good this year. I have a problem with the Bears tight ends being ranked high because I don't agree with the projection that Olsen is going to be anything special. I just don't see it. He did not look spectacular to me. I don't even think he will be good in the NFL. Just average, kind of like Fasano.

 

[CATCH17]

Basically its just a bad ranking system. It doesnt even take a NFL scholar to see that.

Horrible job by the guys at scouts inc.