Another possible reason to be optimistic about next year and improving...

[Anyong Bluth]

Another reason to be optimistic about next year is:

I think Kelce could make a sizeable contribution to the offense- a position that is rather significant in Reid's offense, and Smith's favorite target is the TE.

We had squat at that position all year due to a rash of injuries. Check out his highlights.

He's got great size at 6'6 260lbs.

What's more encouraging is he actually has some deceptive speed, and does a tremendous job in gaining additional yards after 1st contact. Seems to have a good low center of gravity, can often shed arm tackles, and doesn't go down easily.

It's already been mentioned during camp that he has very good hands, and doesn't have a history of the dropsies. Also, seems to work well in space and has good recognition of field location in relation to the defense.

Kelce highlights:




Post to follow up will be re: Sanders Cummings: An answer for the abortion that is (was) Kendrick Lewis...

[Brock]

I'd still draft another one given the opportunity.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Fritz88

TE is favored in Ried's offenses?

More like TEs are Smith's favorites which in turn became Ried's.

Originally Posted by SNR

Ebron and Amaro might be the best players on the board when we pick in the first round.

I'd hate to have to pass on one of them just because we're counting on Kelce to not only be 100% healthy when he comes back but also not a flaming bag of poo.

Remember, his training camp last year was very Jon Baldwinesque. ****ing beast in practice, and AIDS in the preseason games.

Originally Posted by BossChief

If we are able to draft Amaro or Ebron and Kelce returns from injury 100%...Alex Smith will be in hog heaven and might make the probowl next year.

It's crazy to think about the average Jamaal Charles would have with us adding those types of weapons at tight end.

I could see Jamaal averaging close to 7ypc....even though at first glance that seems unreasonable.

There's a reason we had so many TEs going into camp before they all dropped like flies. LJ Smith never lived up to being taken with, I believe, a high 2nd round Draft choice. Not to mention, other underperforming guys at that position coupled with their oline already a total mess towards the end of his time in Philly. With their outside guys turning out to be where they did have talent- he obviously adjusted how the offense was schemed based on what he had.

But, here's an article talking about his preference for taking advantage of using dynamic TEs and going with double TE sets to attack defenses if you question his desire to feature the TE heavily in his offense.

Philadelphia Eagles and Andy Reid prefer two tight-end sets

Mark Eckel/The Times By Mark Eckel/The Times
on June 25, 2011 at 11:03 PM, updated June 25, 2011 at 11:06 PM


When Andy Reid thinks of the tight end position, his mind wanders back to his days in Green Bay as one of Mike Holmgren’s offensive assistants.

As the Packers emerged as a perennial playoff contender and eventual Super Bowl champion, the offense employed a two tight-end set at times that featured two Pro Bowl tight ends, Keith Jackson and Mark Chmura.

In the dozen years Reid has been the Eagles’ head coach, he has tried to duplicate that tight end tandem, most recently with Chad Lewis and L.J. Smith, but has never been able to get it quite right.

If he still has hopes of that double tight formation, along with wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson on the outside, there are two options – develop second-year man Clay Harbor, a fourth-round pick in 2009, to be the No. 2 opposite starter Brent Celek, or sign a viable tight end once free agency starts.

Should Reid and the Eagles opt for the second choice, the most likely target is Oakland’s Zach Miller, who caught 60 passes for 685 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Another possibility might be the Giants’ Kevin Boss, who had an impressive 15.2 yards per catch average last season, but had a case of the drops.

Oakland will likely try to keep Miller, but the Eagles have the money and wherewithal to get him if they choose.

In Celek, the Eagles have a Chmura-like player, who needs to get closer to the year he had in 2009, than the one he had last season.

Celek became the first Eagles tight end to have consecutive 100-yard games in 2009 since Pete Retzlaff did it in 1965.

That season, the 6-4, 255-pound Celek caught 76 passes for 971 yards and eight touchdowns.

All three of those statistics were the second best in Eagles’ history.

Last season, Celek’s numbers fell to 42 catches (18th best among tight ends in the league) for 511 yards (22nd best) and four touchdowns.

He did make some plays down the stretch, including a 65-yard touchdown in the comeback win over the Giants, and caught 10 passes in the loss to the Vikings.

But in the playoff loss to Green Bay, he was held to just two catches for 25 yards.

Part of the reason for Celek’s drop in numbers was how he was utilized.

According to Pro Football Focus, Celek was asked to stay in and help pass protect 124 times last season, the fifth-most in the league among tight ends.

In 2009, he was asked to stay in and block on pass plays 75 times.

He was the target of 78 passes from quarterbacks Mike Vick and Kevin Kolb, which is 50 less than that of Dallas’ Jason Witten, who led all tight ends with 94 receptions last year.

Still Celek dropped some passes he should have caught and didn’t get the yards after the catch he did in ’09.

Harbor is an interesting project. He was drafted out of Missouri State where he dominated at the small-school level, but lined up in a variety of positions and was more of an H-back, or move tight end, than a traditional in-line player.

Last year he showed flashes in training camp at Lehigh, but did very little in the preseason and played in just nine regular-season games last year. He finished his rookie season with nine catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, with four of those catches and 32 of those yards coming in the regular-season final against Dallas in which Reid rested his starters.

The third tight end spot, and Reid has kept just two tight ends in some years, could go to local product John Nalbone, the one-time Lawrence High standout.

Nalbone, a fifth-round draft pick of Miami in 2009, was released by the Dolphins last season and spent time on both Minnesota’s and Denver’s practice squad. The Eagles signed him before the lockout began.

Contact Mark Eckel at [email protected].

EAGLES’ TOP 5 TIGHT ENDS
1. Keith Jackson
2. Pete Retzlaff
3. Chad Lewis
4. Keith Krepfle
5. John Spagnolo
NFL TOP 5 TIGHT ENDS
1. Jason Witten, Dallas
2. Vernon Davis, San Francisco
3. Antonio Gates, San Diego
4. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay
5. Chris Cooley, Washington

[splatbass]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

The worst thing about 2013 is that I will feel NOTHING about the Chiefs until January 2015.

Until they have a playoff win, they could go undefeated, unscored-on, TDs on EVERY drive and I won't feel a ****ing thing.

Sad that you can't let yourself enjoy the team improving.

You are emotionally weak.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

Kelce doesn't have a history of constantly being banged up- it was a random chance injury, that just so happened in his rookie camp. Hardly enough to see a pattern that's an issue like Tony.

Yes, the jury's still out on him- simply because we got to see so little before he went down. But, that's my point - I'm calling it and saying he's going to have a good season and surprise some folks next year.

That's true. However, it isn't like he had a minor injury (i.e. meniscus tear). It's a crap shoot as far as how individuals recover (as is the case for all injuries).

Many people do well after this surgery. Recovery time can be slow. Many people can go back to sports or other intense activities in about 4 to 6 months. Athletes in very intense sports may not be able to return to their former level.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/007255.htm

I think don't think you can count on Kelce at this point for anything. That doesn't mean he should be cut/abandon all hope but it's probably prudent if one of those 3 TEs are available to draft one.

[BossChief]

This could be the best tight end class in forever. It has a real chance to be better than the 2010 class.

If one of them makes it to 23, I hope we take him.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Based on what? One injury.

Jesus.

I do not know about the guy or the injury. What was the injury? Serious injury? Most players never come back from serious injuries to what they once were, especially in mobile positions.

[Direckshun]

I think the Chiefs are cursed with 3rd round TEs.

Brad Cottam, Moeaki, Kelce

All have had their career entirely derailed by injuries.

Although, Kelce has only had 1 season.

[tecumseh]

I know kelse is a draft pick. I know he had a major injury and I hope he gets healthy and can contribute. I don't want to lose McGrath though.

[Dunerdr]

Kelce hurt is McGrath good that ****er only caught the ball on accident wide open against shit teams. Where was he against a good team? Suckin on Dorsey's titty that's where.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by tecumseh

I know kelse is a draft pick. I know he had a major injury and I hope he gets healthy and can contribute. I don't want to lose McGrath though.

If it means getting Amaro/Ebron/ASJ, then I'd gladly be McGrath's Ray Farmer.

[Mav]

Some people I think haven't seen these tight ends play. The three talked about most are game changers. Day one mismatches. Not Tyler Eifert who is good, but not flashy good. These guys are.

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

Some people I think haven't seen these tight ends play. The three talked about most are game changers. Day one mismatches. Not Tyler Eifert who is good, but not flashy good. These guys are.

I almost want to make a thread.



Almost.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by Sorter

I almost want to make a thread.



Almost.

Do it!

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by Mavericks Ace

Some people I think haven't seen these tight ends play. The three talked about most are game changers. Day one mismatches. Not Tyler Eifert who is good, but not flashy good. These guys are.

All three of them are big, have the speed and tools it takes to almost effortlessly attack the deep seam, have the size to develop into devastating blockers and have fantastic hands and body control. They all give great effort to break tackles, fight for additional yards, first downs and scores and have demonstrated the ability to dominate opponents.

Ebron is my favorite because I think he has Vernon Davis upside...but I'd be thrilled with any of the 3.

Jenkins is like 265-270 and runs like he is 240 and has the strength of a 300 pounder. Amaro is 260 and has the frame to add more muscle to make him a guy that I can't think of more than a handful of defenders that could handle him. He could probably get up to 275 with his frame and not lose his ability as a receiver.

Ebron is the smallest of the 3 at 245 or so, but I think he offers the most as a complete package. Especially in this offense. I think he is quicker and more compact in his routes than the other two at this point and I love watching the guy go get he ball in the air. ...all 3 attack the ball real well.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by SNR

Ebron and Amaro might be the best players on the board when we pick in the first round.

I'd hate to have to pass on one of them just because we're counting on Kelce to not only be 100% healthy when he comes back but also not a flaming bag of poo.

Remember, his training camp last year was very Jon Baldwinesque. ****ing beast in practice, and AIDS in the preseason games.

This... we can, and I do, hope this guy comes out on fire 100% healthy... but if one of those top guys are there for the taking, it shouldnt be surprising if Dorsey/Reid hedge their bet on Kelce.

A dynamic TE is probably more even more important to a guy like Smith than it is to many other QB's... if Fasano or McGrath had to go to the PS or just let go, so be it.

Being three deep with starting quality guys at that position would be a nice problem to have.