Cardinal Tough: TE Situation

Mitch

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It's rather obvious that the Cardinals under Ken Whisenhunt do not emphasize the TE in their passing schemes...and compounding that problem is the fact that the TEs Whisenhunt continues to use are not capable and effective blockers---in fact, they are far below average blockers. Do you remember the couple of times Whiz kept the TEs in the backfield to offer maximum protection, only to watch the TEs whiff like ragdolls at the edge rusher?

So...what gives?

Because Whiz's offense has morphed into the dink and dunk, it would be more advisable to get the TEs off the field in favor of running 4 WR sets and spreading the field...that way you have good receiving options at all the positions...and you create many more obvious mismatches that you can exploit. In additon, you increase the chances of running the ball better out of a 4 WR and single back set, because the LBers have to flex in order to provide immediate coverage on the slots.

For this reason, it would seem best if the Cardinals drafted versatile TE/HB/FB types who can be good in utility roles---and you don't have to waste an extra roster spot on a 3rd TE---and actually, if you have two players who can play both H-back and FB, then you can save another roster spot. That will make it easy to keep 6 WRs and 4 RBs..plus the two HB/TE/FB types, makes 12...whereas the Cardinals have been keeping 6 WRs, 3 TEs, 4 RBs, and 1 FB, which makes 14.

But what about in short yardage situations? The answer is simple---you line up two of your backup o-linemen at TE, like Jeremy Bridges and Rex Hadnot or Tom Pestock---they are better, more powerful blockers anyway.

I believe that Jim Dray fits the HB/TE/FB mold...and that he is only going to get stronger and better. So there's one.

Now for one more:

The player for that role I would love is Le'Ron McClain of Baltimore who is a UFA. McClain may lack ideal height, but he is everything you want from a utility player---he's a strong aggressive hitter from the FB position as the lead blocker or on kick outs from motion. He is a punishing runner who you can use in short yardage situations and even as the single back in the 4 WR spread...and he has very good potential as a receiver.

In the draft...the one guy I think is perfect for the role is Preston Dial (6-2, 240, Alabama)...he's versatile (played TE and FB at Alabama), is aggressive and is a good receiver. He's not projected very high in the rankings proabably because he's more of an H-back tweener, so I feel confident we can draft him with our second 6th round pick.

If not Preston Dial, I like Cameron Graham (6-4, 255, Louisville) who is an aggressive blocker with nice hands and good feet. He has the H-back type versatility.

The three TE propects in the draft that I think the highest of:

Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame...who can play the slot WR as he did at ND.

Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin...same.

Virgil Green, Nevada...who reminds me a little of Shannon Sharpe...and who also is versatile enough to contribute as a HB/FB/TE type.

The problem is...with the other need areas the Cardinals have to address...I don't see them having the luxury of taking a TE before the 5th round (unless they add picks in a trade)...and by then these three will be long gone.

I watched a lot of tape on D.J. Williams of Arkansas...who is strictly as pass catching TE and is unfortunately a smallish target for a TE. He has excellent hands and some nifty spin moves on RACs...but he's not realy fast enough to play the slot. He's more of a zone buster.

The other intriguing TE is Robert Housler of Florida Atlantic...who flashes impressive speed and thus may be able to play the slot...that is if he becomes tougher and more competitive over the middle...and that's a big if. But this kid can sure split the seam for you.

For those of you who are enjoying the Scouts' Inc. ratings, here they are on the TEs:

And the categories are:

Separation...Ball Skills....Big Play Ability...Competitiveness/Toughness
(and I include their 2010 stats at the end)

K. Rudloph, ND...............2---1---2---1---28/328/11.7/3 TD
L. Kendricks, WIS...........2---2---2---2---43/663/15.4/5
V. Green, NEV................3---1---2---2---35/515/14.7/5
L. Stocker, TEN..............2---3---2---3---39/417/10.7/2
R. Housler, FLA ATL.........2---2---2---3---39/629/16.1/4
D.J. Williams, ARK............3---2---3---1---54/627/11.6/4
L. Smith, MARSH.............4---3---4---1---38/358/9.4/3
J. Cameron, USC.............3---2---2---4---16/205/12.8/1
J. Thomas, PORT ST........3---2---2---4---29/453/15.6/2
W. Saunders, S CAR........3---1---2---3---32/353/11.0/3*(2009)
D. Hardy, IDA.................3---3---3---3---30/311/10.1/1
C. Gannt, MICH ST..........4---3---3---2---24/301/15.8/3
C. Graham, LOUISV..........3---2---3---2---40/470/11.9/5

The Cardinal Tough :newcards:decisions are:
1. Re-define the TE position---carry two TE/FB/HB types instead of 3 TEs and 1 FB.
2. Sign Le'Ron McClain, UFA, Baltimore. Le'Ron and La'Rod, oh yeah!
3. Develop Jim Dray...but draft Preston Dial or Cameron Graham in the 6th or 7th.
4. Do not re-sign Ben Patrick or Stephen Spach.
5. Use Jeremy Bridges, Rex Hadnot or Tom Pestock at TEs in short yardage situations. Go JUMBO there. Again, no need to keep 3 TEs.
 
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kerouac9

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The problem last year wasn't that our WRs weren't getting open. The problem last year was that guys were running free in the secondary that none of our quarterbacks could get them the ball.

Larry Fitzgerald was running 8 yards ahead of Kamerion Wembley in Week 2 and Derek Anderson overthrew him by 12 yards!

If we draft a QB #5 overall (and I don't think we will), we need to draft a tight end in the 2nd round. There was not a dependable interior pass catcher for John Skelton to throw to when opponents decided to blitz him relentlessly.
 

AZCARDSFANATIC

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I think TE is a serious need and one will be draft before round 5, unless for some reason the staff thinks Dray is worth a dam and if he is still with us. I like your analysis and if Rudolph somehow falls to us in the 2nd round we need to take him othewrwise grab Green in the 3rd. Green is big enough to deal with the sepreation issue and unless someone trades up to snag him he should be there.
 
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Mitch

Mitch

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I think TE is a serious need and one will be draft before round 5, unless for some reason the staff thinks Dray is worth a dam and if he is still with us. I like your analysis and if Rudolph somehow falls to us in the 2nd round we need to take him othewrwise grab Green in the 3rd. Green is big enough to deal with the sepreation issue and unless someone trades up to snag him he should be there.

I like Green the best of all the TEs because I think he can be an all-purpose player (TE/HB/FB)...and thus save the Cardinals a roster spot.

But...I am having a hard time taking him in the 3rd round because of the other more pressing needs and the reality that we are going to be best with 4 WR sets, minus the TE, most of the time.
 

PJ1

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Really like Stocker from Tennessee and have seen him play several times. Seems to get better every time I see him. Need to get him involved in the pass offense though or he would be a wasted pick.
 

splitsecond

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I'm in on McClain. He is the definition of hard-nosed utility player. You want someone who can unlocked Beanie Wells' potential? He is it.


And if we are going to operate under the guise that Skelton can earn the starting spot (in theory since we have yet to sign a vet, and Skelton IS the best QB on the roster right now) I would think we'd have to at least give his brother a shot, even if it is as an UDFA. They've played together, and size-wise he is just right for a Whiz TE. If you want someone who will be a good dump off guy, at least give a shot to a kid who the possible starting QB already has experience and chemistry with.
 
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Mitch

Mitch

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I'm in on McClain. He is the definition of hard-nosed utility player. You want someone who can unlocked Beanie Wells' potential? He is it.


And if we are going to operate under the guise that Skelton can earn the starting spot (in theory since we have yet to sign a vet, and Skelton IS the best QB on the roster right now) I would think we'd have to at least give his brother a shot, even if it is as an UDFA. They've played together, and size-wise he is just right for a Whiz TE. If you want someone who will be a good dump off guy, at least give a shot to a kid who the possible starting QB already has experience and chemistry with.

Good points, splitter.

Yeah...and the best news of all is the Skeltons can play a lot of catch during the lockout.
 

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Sando did an article about QB accuracy to each position. The results were pretty ugly when it came to Cardinal QBs throwing to RBs and TEs. Skelton was particularly awful.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/36305/the-long-and-short-of-nfc-west-qbs

Max Hall-64% comp, 5.2 YPA, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 77.3 rating
DA-62.3% comp, 5.3 YPA, 0 TDs, 2 INT 64.0 rating
Skelton-39.4% comp, 2.0 YPA, 0 TDs, 1 INT 34.8 rating

The good news is that Skelton was much better when throwing to WRs (80.3 rating).

I hope this is the year Whis finally settles the TE position. It wasn't as big of a deal when Q was around because he played a lot like a TE. Now it's a necessity. If Zach Miller ends up being unrestricted, the problem could be solved in a hurry.
 
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