2014 NFL Combine - Players - The TEs

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

Personally, I expect the field to be stretched from the WR position. The offense can only have 11 men on the field. Team already has 7 dedicated to 5 lineman, a QB, and charles (who you want to keep on the field).

That leaves 4 players. Reid's runs a quick strike offense, and he wants Alex to get rid of the ball quickly. Guys like Avery and Jenkins can get down the field much more quickly than any TE.

Yes, but TEs who can run are far more dangerous than WRs who are fast but don't have the speed of, say, a Mike Wallace or Randy Moss. Fast WRs like Avery and Jenkins don't really have the ability to box out DBs and out-jump them for the ball. That's why a fast TE is a much deadlier threat, IMO.

You have to keep in mind, Leonard is putting up these numbers at 250+ pounds, not 190-210 like your typical speed WR. As a TE, he'll be going up against safeties and LBs the vast majority of the time vs Avery and Jenkins who have to try to outrun CBs who are just as quick and fast as they are. And if an offense sticks a CB on the fast TE instead of a S or LB, the TE is going to be able to outmuscle virtually any CB in this league (not named Sherman).

That's why the Gronk and Hernandez combo was so deadly, no one had/has the players to match up against them.