02-18-2020, 10:33 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-19-2020, 12:27 AM by dk87gaming.)
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]To help supplement a historical S22 draft, Tight End prospect Daniel George presents "Reports from the Farm: S22" which will feature in-depth reports on notable prospects. This week will be covering some notable prospects for the Tight End position. Thank you for reading. If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions please hit reply. Please make sure to stay posted for more Podcast Transcripts from my show, "Memoirs from the Farm". Please note the opinions expressed in this report are those of Daniel George and do not reflect the true nature, character, or intentions of a player included in the following report. If there are any blatant inaccuracies please send me a direct message and I will resolve any discrepancies as soon as possible. [/div]
Current Tight End draft count: 21 (1 Recreate)
The upcoming S22 draft will no doubt serve as one to remember after a large influx of new players. With the potential of not just 1, but 2 new DSFL franchises being sanctioned, this could be the season we see more 3-TE sets become common practice. Upon closer examination, most of the Tight End class are a deep threat, vertical receivers with questionable blocking skills. Even the best blocking Tight Ends in this draft are not truly blocking Tight Ends in the traditional sense. They often lack the baseline fundamentals or size to accelerate in this regard. Owners should take note of this lack of blocking and strength as S22 also brings with it some elite defensive talent both with larger defensive lineman and fast secondary. With a potential double expansion draft occurring somewhat unexpectedly, the apparent needs of DSFL franchises will be difficult to examine. One team to examine in regards to the Tight End position will be the Portland Pythons who will be having an almost entirely new front office. With Firestorm-Fjord (79 overall) likely being drafted this year, that leaves the new Python front office with the choice of Crowell (61 overall) and Tim (59 overall). While Firestorm-Fjord is an elite talent, looking at the blocking stats of each player may help explain the Python's road to near-failure and subsequent rebuild.
Firestorm-Fjord: 45 run/pass blocking, 18 pancakes on the season
Crowell: 40 run/pass blocking, 10 pancakes on the season
Tim: 50 run/pass blocking, no pancake stats.
While this is only a small picture of a larger failure that lead to the Pythons bad season, it shows the importance of having constant Tight End depth. While Firestorm-Fjord and Crowell had good seasons without missing any games, having to rely on potentially just Tim in the near future does not set up the Pythons for future success. It will be telling to see what direction the new head office will go as they have to acknowledge several positions in need of repair including tight-end.
For USFL GMs keeping a close eye on the mosh-pit that is the S22 draft, long term potential is needed at the Tight End position as there are many other attributes besides Speed or Hands to consider. One player which may serve as a local archetype is Austin McCormick of the run-heavy New Orleans Second Line. In his first season in Portland, McCormick recorded 0 (zero!) yards while only getting 5 pancakes with 1 sack allowed. McCormick bounced back in his 2nd season with 523 yards, 2 touchdowns, 26 pancakes and still only 1 sack allowed. Seems like the Python may have underutilized McMormick just a bit! 2035 wasn't a great year for McMormick's stats as he only recorded 301 yards, 1 touchdown, 9 pancakes but zero yards allowed. As a team, New Orleans did very well with an offense featuring 2 RB's in the top 7 of total rushing yards. McCormick is currently listed as a Full Back and his role within the Second Line offense may be questionable in the future. With 90 Speed, 85 strength, and 80 hands, there's no doubt McCormick has evolved from a low-key, balanced Tight End into an elite offensive weapon who may be flexed between several positions. McCormick is an example of trusting the long term development of a player especially if they are able to potentially change positions or roles to fill a niche need of a team. Shortage of depth at a given position, such as the one the Python's face at Tight End, may spell trouble down the road with negative outcomes for offensive line stats and total rushing yards. As the USFL and DSFL become more competitive, GMs will need to start placing additional value onto the Tight End position. GMs should add more value to attributes such as Strength, Blocking, and Endurance to ensure that Tight Ends can remain flexible and be properly utilized within an offense. There should be plenty of pass-catching tight ends with gem qualities in the later rounds of this draft. What won't be so easy to acquire is tight ends with real balance or tight ends with elite blocking potential.
Jeffrey Phillips - Myrtle Beach Buccaneers/Simon Fraser University
Height (ft.): 6'7"
Weight (lbs.): 240lbs
Birthplace: Vancouver, B.C.
Speed: 77
Endurance: 70
Hands: 55
---
Strength: 44
Run Blocking: 25
Pass Blocking: 25
Player Archetype: Vertical Threat
Currently, at 84 TPE, it would seem that Jeffrey Phillips of the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers is ready and willing to be the 1st overall Tight End off the board in this year's draft. Given some questions regarding his commitment history, this may not be the case. While his time in Myrtle has been productive, rumors have always remained regarding Phillips's work ethic and attention to detail. One question which arose while he was playing for the North Vancouver Sea Lions was whether or not his height was the primary reason for his early success. His continued success may be attributed to a combination of speed, endurance, and hand-eye co-ordination training. Where Phillips may fall out of Top 3 Tight End contention is questions regarding his commitment to blocking and the weight room. While it's easy to find him on the running track, he's often been missed on leg day. You'll find Phillips running deep routes late into practice however he seldom hits the blocking sleds. For teams looking for a run-first approach, you likely won't get a lot of pancakes from this player.
Tristian Hex - Kentucky
Height (ft.): 6'7''
Weight (lbs.): 247 lbs.
Birthplace: Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Player Archetype: Vertical Threat
Hands: 65 hands
Endurance: 65
Agility: 60
---
Strength: 40
Run Blocking: 25
Pass Blocking: 25
Tristian Hex stands out on the draft board primarily due to his size. At 6'7'' he seems more than capable of going up and getting the ball. While he lacks top-end speed, Hex has very good hand-eye coordination, endurance, and agility. The big liability for Hex is his blocking which has been described as "atrocious" or "unredeemable" by scouting staff. His strength and commitment to social media or fan interaction are also questionable. He is a true vertical threat who may be better served in the Wide-Reciever position. Hex's commitment to team-work has been in question before due to notable absences from team meetings. This corresponds with Hex's apparent revulsion towards blocking in any meaningful manner.
Henry Sigurdsson - University of Oregon
Height (ft.): 6'4"
Weight (lbs.): 245lbs
Birthplace: Eugene, OR
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 65
Endurance: 65
Intelligence: 55
---
Strength: 50
Pass Blocking: 40
Run Blocking: 40
Hailing from Eugene, Oregon coming from a strong-Swedish background, Sigurdsson is hoping to follow a long line of successful players with Scandinavian lineage. It's apparent from his work in college and on the practice field that Sigurdsson is one of the more cognitive players at the Tight End position. While it will not be a catastrophic short-coming, Sigurdsson struggles with blocking and has been working with a personal trainer to improve his overall strength. This commitment to being a truly balanced Tight End has hurt Sigurdsson's social media and fan following as he's been noted as being "too reclusive for pro sports" in the past.
Rondo Jones - Western Michigan University
Height (ft.): 6'5"
Weight (lbs.): 249lbs
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Endurance: 65
Strength: 60
Hands: 60
---
Speed: 51
Run Blocking: 45
Pass Blocking: 35
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Christmas Day but raised in Seattle, Washington, prospect Rondo Jones brings an immediate presence to any team willing to risk drafting a small-school player. A multi-sport athlete, his experience playing volleyball and defensive positions in football helped him gain additional endurance and hand-eye coordination.
Perhaps due to splitting time between the football field and the volley-ball court, Jones never had time to truly develop elite speed or lock-down blocking. While his run blocking was serviceable at a college level, he lacked the pass blocking needed to remain flexible at Tight End or other positions.
Heath Evans - UCLA
Height (ft.): 6'5"
Weight (lbs.): 245lbs
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Player Archetype: Balanced TE
Speed: 70
Endurance: 70
Hands: 60
---
Pass Blocking: 35
Run Blocking: 35
Tackling: 30
Not to be confused with the weight lifter, Health Evans comes all the way from Melbourne, Australia to join the ranks of players from Down Under. Evans provides a good balance of speed, endurance, and hands with ideal size to serve as a good base for his position. A common issue with players from Australia is lacking fundamentals which can be seen here with the low blocking capability of Evans. Evans has been caught practicing his tackling as well which leads to question his focus on American Football and whether or not he'd rather be playing rugby or training in MMA. It remains to be seen whether or not Evans can develop into a truly elite Tight End but he certainly possesses the tools to do so.
Nick Marksman - Syracuse
Height (ft.): 6'4"
Weight (lbs.): 245
Birthplace: Rochester, NY
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 66
Endurance: 65
Speed: 57
---
Strength: 49
Pass Blocking: 41
Run Blocking: 41
Another multi-sport athlete, George Washington High School stand-out Nick Marksman played football, basketball, and baseball before deciding on playing football for Syracuse. Marksman did help win a college title for Syracuse in baseball, showing he has experience on winning teams. Marksman could have easily been a pro baseball player but chose to play football instead. He attributes his great hand-eye co-ordination to spending time on the diamond. While he is diligent in the weight room, Marksman needs to continue on his run and pass blocking in order to ensure a roster spot. It seems he has to work twice as hard as the next guy in order to put on weight and mass on his tall frame. While some have advocated Marksman to move to the Wide Reciever position, his dedication and commitment to the Tight End position should be noted.
Ike Oscar - Michigan St.
Height (ft.): 6'4”
Weight (lbs.): 245
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pa
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Endurance: 65
Speed: 60
Hands: 60
---
Run Blocking: 50
Strength: 50
Pass Blocking: 40
To be a truly balanced Tight End prospect perhaps means having skills and attributes which truly won't jump off the board in any category. This is certainly the case with Ike Oscar from the City of Brotherly Love. Owners should be wary that Oscar truly does not excel in any facet and is quite average across the board. This is also commendable because he shows no glaring weaknesses during training camp or combine skills evaluations. It has been brought up that Oscar may be too shy and apprehensive for the grind of NSFL life. It remains to be seen whether or not he comes out of his shell to gain more exposure. If he can gain more fans to compete with other Tight End prospects, Oscar could end up being best-of-class.
Von Hayes - Miami
Height (ft.): 6'5"
Weight (lbs.): 253
Birthplace: Miami
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 70
Endurance: 65
Speed: 60
---
Run Blocking: 45
Strength: 45
Pass Blocking: 35
Another well-balanced tight-end prospect is Von Hayes from Miami who has elite size, wide-receiver like hands, and great athletic ability which translates into potentially elite speed and endurance. What makes Von Hayes potentially very special is his acknowledgment and subsequent work ethic towards becoming stronger and being better at blocking blitz packages. There have been rumors that Von Hayes may have a drinking problem. He has captured by cell phone footage once slurring, "'Clean and sober, just mean that I'm showered and heading to the liquor store." His agent has dismissed this as a joke but it remains unclear whether or not Hayes is mature enough for the USFL.
Daniel George - University of Washington
Height (ft.): 6'6"
Weight (lbs.): 265lbs
Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 65
Endurance: 65
Speed: 60
---
Strength: 45
Pass Blocking: 45
Run Blocking: 45
One of, if not the biggest, TE prospect in this draft comes rolling in from either Edmonton, Alberta or Spokane, Washington as this young man already splits time between 2 families. If you disregard some controversies regarding his two divorces, this prospect may seem like an ideal fan favorite. After going on a No-Drop streak in college, a local drinking game called "Georgie 40 Hands" began to spread in the Northwest, prompting complaints to the Huskies front office from concerned parents groups such as M.A.D.D. Despite his popularity on campus, George shied away from the media spotlight and interviews during his numerous divorce proceedings. This reduced his social media following and subsequent draft stock. Due to his size, George has often cross-trained in MMA in hopes of being able to cut down to the light heavyweight division. While it became clear that he would be unable to compete in MMA, the evidence of his cross-training became apparent on the football field. Perhaps due to this distraction, George does lack upper body strength and can struggle with blocking faster defensive ends or defensive tackles with good hands. Despite these short-comings, George has some of the best 2nd level blocking in the draft which was apparent during his college years, often having him work on 3rd down and goal-line situations.
In closing, it may seem like there is plenty of Tight End talent in this draft however there is a massive lack of certain types of tight ends, most notably those who may not serve as a liability for lack of pancakes or too many sacks allowed. While a prudent GM may shield their vertical threat tight ends from exposure, having a lack of depth at the Tight End position may result in subsequent negative effects on other skill positions. GMs should not treat Tight End like a position that is supplementary or lacking in importance. As the expansion of both the DSFL and the NSFL continues, truely elite Tight End talent will be difficult to come by, similar to quarterbacks. While this point may be argued either way, it's prudent management to keep a few different styles of Tight Ends on a team's roster to ensure success and prevent an ineffective offence from ruining what might otherwise be a promising season.
Thanks
*2530 words
Current Tight End draft count: 21 (1 Recreate)
The upcoming S22 draft will no doubt serve as one to remember after a large influx of new players. With the potential of not just 1, but 2 new DSFL franchises being sanctioned, this could be the season we see more 3-TE sets become common practice. Upon closer examination, most of the Tight End class are a deep threat, vertical receivers with questionable blocking skills. Even the best blocking Tight Ends in this draft are not truly blocking Tight Ends in the traditional sense. They often lack the baseline fundamentals or size to accelerate in this regard. Owners should take note of this lack of blocking and strength as S22 also brings with it some elite defensive talent both with larger defensive lineman and fast secondary. With a potential double expansion draft occurring somewhat unexpectedly, the apparent needs of DSFL franchises will be difficult to examine. One team to examine in regards to the Tight End position will be the Portland Pythons who will be having an almost entirely new front office. With Firestorm-Fjord (79 overall) likely being drafted this year, that leaves the new Python front office with the choice of Crowell (61 overall) and Tim (59 overall). While Firestorm-Fjord is an elite talent, looking at the blocking stats of each player may help explain the Python's road to near-failure and subsequent rebuild.
Firestorm-Fjord: 45 run/pass blocking, 18 pancakes on the season
Crowell: 40 run/pass blocking, 10 pancakes on the season
Tim: 50 run/pass blocking, no pancake stats.
While this is only a small picture of a larger failure that lead to the Pythons bad season, it shows the importance of having constant Tight End depth. While Firestorm-Fjord and Crowell had good seasons without missing any games, having to rely on potentially just Tim in the near future does not set up the Pythons for future success. It will be telling to see what direction the new head office will go as they have to acknowledge several positions in need of repair including tight-end.
For USFL GMs keeping a close eye on the mosh-pit that is the S22 draft, long term potential is needed at the Tight End position as there are many other attributes besides Speed or Hands to consider. One player which may serve as a local archetype is Austin McCormick of the run-heavy New Orleans Second Line. In his first season in Portland, McCormick recorded 0 (zero!) yards while only getting 5 pancakes with 1 sack allowed. McCormick bounced back in his 2nd season with 523 yards, 2 touchdowns, 26 pancakes and still only 1 sack allowed. Seems like the Python may have underutilized McMormick just a bit! 2035 wasn't a great year for McMormick's stats as he only recorded 301 yards, 1 touchdown, 9 pancakes but zero yards allowed. As a team, New Orleans did very well with an offense featuring 2 RB's in the top 7 of total rushing yards. McCormick is currently listed as a Full Back and his role within the Second Line offense may be questionable in the future. With 90 Speed, 85 strength, and 80 hands, there's no doubt McCormick has evolved from a low-key, balanced Tight End into an elite offensive weapon who may be flexed between several positions. McCormick is an example of trusting the long term development of a player especially if they are able to potentially change positions or roles to fill a niche need of a team. Shortage of depth at a given position, such as the one the Python's face at Tight End, may spell trouble down the road with negative outcomes for offensive line stats and total rushing yards. As the USFL and DSFL become more competitive, GMs will need to start placing additional value onto the Tight End position. GMs should add more value to attributes such as Strength, Blocking, and Endurance to ensure that Tight Ends can remain flexible and be properly utilized within an offense. There should be plenty of pass-catching tight ends with gem qualities in the later rounds of this draft. What won't be so easy to acquire is tight ends with real balance or tight ends with elite blocking potential.
Jeffrey Phillips - Myrtle Beach Buccaneers/Simon Fraser University
Height (ft.): 6'7"
Weight (lbs.): 240lbs
Birthplace: Vancouver, B.C.
Speed: 77
Endurance: 70
Hands: 55
---
Strength: 44
Run Blocking: 25
Pass Blocking: 25
Player Archetype: Vertical Threat
Currently, at 84 TPE, it would seem that Jeffrey Phillips of the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers is ready and willing to be the 1st overall Tight End off the board in this year's draft. Given some questions regarding his commitment history, this may not be the case. While his time in Myrtle has been productive, rumors have always remained regarding Phillips's work ethic and attention to detail. One question which arose while he was playing for the North Vancouver Sea Lions was whether or not his height was the primary reason for his early success. His continued success may be attributed to a combination of speed, endurance, and hand-eye co-ordination training. Where Phillips may fall out of Top 3 Tight End contention is questions regarding his commitment to blocking and the weight room. While it's easy to find him on the running track, he's often been missed on leg day. You'll find Phillips running deep routes late into practice however he seldom hits the blocking sleds. For teams looking for a run-first approach, you likely won't get a lot of pancakes from this player.
Tristian Hex - Kentucky
Height (ft.): 6'7''
Weight (lbs.): 247 lbs.
Birthplace: Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Player Archetype: Vertical Threat
Hands: 65 hands
Endurance: 65
Agility: 60
---
Strength: 40
Run Blocking: 25
Pass Blocking: 25
Tristian Hex stands out on the draft board primarily due to his size. At 6'7'' he seems more than capable of going up and getting the ball. While he lacks top-end speed, Hex has very good hand-eye coordination, endurance, and agility. The big liability for Hex is his blocking which has been described as "atrocious" or "unredeemable" by scouting staff. His strength and commitment to social media or fan interaction are also questionable. He is a true vertical threat who may be better served in the Wide-Reciever position. Hex's commitment to team-work has been in question before due to notable absences from team meetings. This corresponds with Hex's apparent revulsion towards blocking in any meaningful manner.
Henry Sigurdsson - University of Oregon
Height (ft.): 6'4"
Weight (lbs.): 245lbs
Birthplace: Eugene, OR
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 65
Endurance: 65
Intelligence: 55
---
Strength: 50
Pass Blocking: 40
Run Blocking: 40
Hailing from Eugene, Oregon coming from a strong-Swedish background, Sigurdsson is hoping to follow a long line of successful players with Scandinavian lineage. It's apparent from his work in college and on the practice field that Sigurdsson is one of the more cognitive players at the Tight End position. While it will not be a catastrophic short-coming, Sigurdsson struggles with blocking and has been working with a personal trainer to improve his overall strength. This commitment to being a truly balanced Tight End has hurt Sigurdsson's social media and fan following as he's been noted as being "too reclusive for pro sports" in the past.
Rondo Jones - Western Michigan University
Height (ft.): 6'5"
Weight (lbs.): 249lbs
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Endurance: 65
Strength: 60
Hands: 60
---
Speed: 51
Run Blocking: 45
Pass Blocking: 35
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Christmas Day but raised in Seattle, Washington, prospect Rondo Jones brings an immediate presence to any team willing to risk drafting a small-school player. A multi-sport athlete, his experience playing volleyball and defensive positions in football helped him gain additional endurance and hand-eye coordination.
Perhaps due to splitting time between the football field and the volley-ball court, Jones never had time to truly develop elite speed or lock-down blocking. While his run blocking was serviceable at a college level, he lacked the pass blocking needed to remain flexible at Tight End or other positions.
Heath Evans - UCLA
Height (ft.): 6'5"
Weight (lbs.): 245lbs
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Player Archetype: Balanced TE
Speed: 70
Endurance: 70
Hands: 60
---
Pass Blocking: 35
Run Blocking: 35
Tackling: 30
Not to be confused with the weight lifter, Health Evans comes all the way from Melbourne, Australia to join the ranks of players from Down Under. Evans provides a good balance of speed, endurance, and hands with ideal size to serve as a good base for his position. A common issue with players from Australia is lacking fundamentals which can be seen here with the low blocking capability of Evans. Evans has been caught practicing his tackling as well which leads to question his focus on American Football and whether or not he'd rather be playing rugby or training in MMA. It remains to be seen whether or not Evans can develop into a truly elite Tight End but he certainly possesses the tools to do so.
Nick Marksman - Syracuse
Height (ft.): 6'4"
Weight (lbs.): 245
Birthplace: Rochester, NY
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 66
Endurance: 65
Speed: 57
---
Strength: 49
Pass Blocking: 41
Run Blocking: 41
Another multi-sport athlete, George Washington High School stand-out Nick Marksman played football, basketball, and baseball before deciding on playing football for Syracuse. Marksman did help win a college title for Syracuse in baseball, showing he has experience on winning teams. Marksman could have easily been a pro baseball player but chose to play football instead. He attributes his great hand-eye co-ordination to spending time on the diamond. While he is diligent in the weight room, Marksman needs to continue on his run and pass blocking in order to ensure a roster spot. It seems he has to work twice as hard as the next guy in order to put on weight and mass on his tall frame. While some have advocated Marksman to move to the Wide Reciever position, his dedication and commitment to the Tight End position should be noted.
Ike Oscar - Michigan St.
Height (ft.): 6'4”
Weight (lbs.): 245
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pa
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Endurance: 65
Speed: 60
Hands: 60
---
Run Blocking: 50
Strength: 50
Pass Blocking: 40
To be a truly balanced Tight End prospect perhaps means having skills and attributes which truly won't jump off the board in any category. This is certainly the case with Ike Oscar from the City of Brotherly Love. Owners should be wary that Oscar truly does not excel in any facet and is quite average across the board. This is also commendable because he shows no glaring weaknesses during training camp or combine skills evaluations. It has been brought up that Oscar may be too shy and apprehensive for the grind of NSFL life. It remains to be seen whether or not he comes out of his shell to gain more exposure. If he can gain more fans to compete with other Tight End prospects, Oscar could end up being best-of-class.
Von Hayes - Miami
Height (ft.): 6'5"
Weight (lbs.): 253
Birthplace: Miami
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 70
Endurance: 65
Speed: 60
---
Run Blocking: 45
Strength: 45
Pass Blocking: 35
Another well-balanced tight-end prospect is Von Hayes from Miami who has elite size, wide-receiver like hands, and great athletic ability which translates into potentially elite speed and endurance. What makes Von Hayes potentially very special is his acknowledgment and subsequent work ethic towards becoming stronger and being better at blocking blitz packages. There have been rumors that Von Hayes may have a drinking problem. He has captured by cell phone footage once slurring, "'Clean and sober, just mean that I'm showered and heading to the liquor store." His agent has dismissed this as a joke but it remains unclear whether or not Hayes is mature enough for the USFL.
Daniel George - University of Washington
Height (ft.): 6'6"
Weight (lbs.): 265lbs
Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Player Archetype: Balanced Tight End
Hands: 65
Endurance: 65
Speed: 60
---
Strength: 45
Pass Blocking: 45
Run Blocking: 45
One of, if not the biggest, TE prospect in this draft comes rolling in from either Edmonton, Alberta or Spokane, Washington as this young man already splits time between 2 families. If you disregard some controversies regarding his two divorces, this prospect may seem like an ideal fan favorite. After going on a No-Drop streak in college, a local drinking game called "Georgie 40 Hands" began to spread in the Northwest, prompting complaints to the Huskies front office from concerned parents groups such as M.A.D.D. Despite his popularity on campus, George shied away from the media spotlight and interviews during his numerous divorce proceedings. This reduced his social media following and subsequent draft stock. Due to his size, George has often cross-trained in MMA in hopes of being able to cut down to the light heavyweight division. While it became clear that he would be unable to compete in MMA, the evidence of his cross-training became apparent on the football field. Perhaps due to this distraction, George does lack upper body strength and can struggle with blocking faster defensive ends or defensive tackles with good hands. Despite these short-comings, George has some of the best 2nd level blocking in the draft which was apparent during his college years, often having him work on 3rd down and goal-line situations.
In closing, it may seem like there is plenty of Tight End talent in this draft however there is a massive lack of certain types of tight ends, most notably those who may not serve as a liability for lack of pancakes or too many sacks allowed. While a prudent GM may shield their vertical threat tight ends from exposure, having a lack of depth at the Tight End position may result in subsequent negative effects on other skill positions. GMs should not treat Tight End like a position that is supplementary or lacking in importance. As the expansion of both the DSFL and the NSFL continues, truely elite Tight End talent will be difficult to come by, similar to quarterbacks. While this point may be argued either way, it's prudent management to keep a few different styles of Tight Ends on a team's roster to ensure success and prevent an ineffective offence from ruining what might otherwise be a promising season.
Thanks
*2530 words
Daniel George - Tight End - Prospect - Orange County Otters - Portland Pythons