More 2 TE sets for the offense?

[BullheadCardFan]

Arizona Cardinals: The Indianapolis Colts ranked among the NFL's top 10 teams for most plays using at least two tight ends last season. Bruce Arians, the Cardinals' new head coach and offensive play caller, was running the Colts' offense then.

Arians favors tight ends over fullbacks, so Arizona should see its tight end usage increase without biting into playing time for the Cardinals' talented wide receivers.

Rob Housler led NFC West tight ends in receptions last season, but his impact was muted within a struggling offense. He and veteran Jeff King are the top two tight ends. Arians figures to use both of them together and in various places, including the backfield.

Do we have enough depth at TE to run these sets?

Is Housler ready to step up his game and become the TE we need that can block and catch?

Link

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Do we have enough depth at TE to run these sets?

Is Housler ready to step up his game and become the TE we need that can block and catch?

Link

+1

Don't worry about Rob Housler. He is already so good he doesn't need extra work this offseason.

Count me as a person that laughs at the thought of more two TE sets when we barely have two TE that can play the position.

 

[Goldfield]

Yea I don't think we have the depth to do it much. But I would love it.

 

[Cardiac]

Rob Housler led NFC West tight ends in receptions last season, but his impact was muted within a struggling offense.

The above statement was kinda of a wow moment for me. Maybe he doesn't completely suck .....

 

[Goldfield]

With our QB situation last few years we can't evaluate much of the talent on the o. This will be a telling year.

 

[cardncubfan]

+1

Don't worry about Rob Housler. He is already so good he doesn't need extra work this offseason.

Count me as a person that laughs at the thought of more two TE sets when we barely have two TE that can play the position.

Housler led the NFC west tight ends in receptions last year. Blocking is the only thing he really needs to improve & with this coaching staff I believe he will.

 

[kerouac9]

Housler led the NFC west tight ends in receptions last year. Blocking is the only thing he really needs to improve & with this coaching staff I believe he will.

Maybe in receptions (45), but he only had 413 receiving yards (9.3 YPR) and zero touchdowns for the second straight season.

Vernon Davis, meanwhile, had 4 fewer receptions, but 548 yards (13.4 YPR) and 5 TDs, while not being on the same page as his QB for half the year, and blocking at a level a couple orders of magnitude greater than anything we've seen from Houlser (or Jeff King, for that matter).

Lance Kendricks with the Rams had 3 fewer receptions, but more than 100 more yards and 4 TDs.

Zach Miller had 7 fewer receptions, but just 27 fewer yards and managed to get 3 TDs even though he was like the 7th option in that offense.

I think that using Housler's reception total is the definition of either damning with faint praise, or using pretty misleading statistics.

As for the question posted by the OP, I'd guess that the Cards are going to be in 11 personnel (one back, one TE) a significant chunk of time, and one of the great battles in training camp is going to be between Housler and Andre Roberts over whom can win Carson Palmer's trust more quickly/thoroughly.

 

[Catfish]

That last comment by K-9 may be spot-on. Our best hope is that both Housler and Roberts win Palmer's trust quickly, and that it is justified.

 

[Mulli]

Housler and King as the top two tight ends? Pffft. Sorry.

 

[devilalum]

Housler and King as the top two tight ends? Pffft. Sorry.

When I read the title of this thread my first thought was, "Do the Cards even have 2 tight ends?"

I here a good one might become available in about 25 years.

 

[Mulli]

When I read the title of this thread my first thought was, "Do the Cards even have 2 tight ends?"

I here a good one might become available in about 25 years.

I thought the same thing. I thought Jeff King was from 5 years ago.

 

[Duckjake]

Housler and King as the top two tight ends? Pffft. Sorry.

Same guys as the last two years since Heap decided the training room was the place to be in 2011. But it was Wilson and Rhodes and Lenon and Gay and Horton that were sent packing.

Oh well it's a QB driven league so maybe Carson Palmer is all they need to fix the team.

 

[iRobot]

I think they will still use 2 TE sets, but I don't think it's going to be a huge part of the offense as they don't have the best personnel for it. House can catch and run but he needs to work on blocking and Jeff King can block and catch sometimes. We could of entertained the idea had we grabbed an Ertz or Eifert in the draft tho.

 

[cardncubfan]

Maybe in receptions (45), but he only had 413 receiving yards (9.3 YPR) and zero touchdowns for the second straight season.

Vernon Davis, meanwhile, had 4 fewer receptions, but 548 yards (13.4 YPR) and 5 TDs, while not being on the same page as his QB for half the year, and blocking at a level a couple orders of magnitude greater than anything we've seen from Houlser (or Jeff King, for that matter).

Lance Kendricks with the Rams had 3 fewer receptions, but more than 100 more yards and 4 TDs.

Zach Miller had 7 fewer receptions, but just 27 fewer yards and managed to get 3 TDs even though he was like the 7th option in that offense.

I think that using Housler's reception total is the definition of either damning with faint praise, or using pretty misleading statistics.

As for the question posted by the OP, I'd guess that the Cards are going to be in 11 personnel (one back, one TE) a significant chunk of time, and one of the great battles in training camp is going to be between Housler and Andre Roberts over whom can win Carson Palmer's trust more quickly/thoroughly.

Davis & Miller are both more experienced. Last year was the first real year for Housler as Whiz wouldn't play rookies. Kendricks had a way better QB throwing to him compared to the garbage we had.

Point being Housler caught balls from guys that shouldn't even be playing in this league. This year he should shine in the receiving game. If not I'll concede that he sucks.

 

[Duckjake]

Davis & Miller are both more experienced. Last year was the first real year for Housler as Whiz wouldn't play rookies. Kendricks had a way better QB throwing to him compared to the garbage we had.

Point being Housler caught balls from guys that shouldn't even be playing in this league. This year he should shine in the receiving game. If not I'll concede that he sucks.

I'll concede right now that Housler can catch. But he can't block a lick. Fitz and Floyd are better blockers.

Speaking of Tight Ends what in the world happened with Dallas Clark? Did he just get old?

 

[Reddog]

+1

Don't worry about Rob Housler. He is already so good he doesn't need extra work this offseason.

No kidding it appears he is not in Minnesota with the rest of the boys in the band.

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2013/07/10/cards-go-camping-in-minnesota/

 

[Cardiac]

Maybe in receptions (45), but he only had 413 receiving yards (9.3 YPR) and zero touchdowns for the second straight season.

Vernon Davis, meanwhile, had 4 fewer receptions, but 548 yards (13.4 YPR) and 5 TDs, while not being on the same page as his QB for half the year, and blocking at a level a couple orders of magnitude greater than anything we've seen from Houlser (or Jeff King, for that matter).

Lance Kendricks with the Rams had 3 fewer receptions, but more than 100 more yards and 4 TDs.

Zach Miller had 7 fewer receptions, but just 27 fewer yards and managed to get 3 TDs even though he was like the 7th option in that offense.

I think that using Housler's reception total is the definition of either damning with faint praise, or using pretty misleading statistics.

As for the question posted by the OP, I'd guess that the Cards are going to be in 11 personnel (one back, one TE) a significant chunk of time, and one of the great battles in training camp is going to be between Housler and Andre Roberts over whom can win Carson Palmer's trust more quickly/thoroughly.

The Cards were 31st in yards per catch last year so Housler's results are more reflective of the team (QB's) and not him. Cards were also 31st in TD receptions so once again.....

As a couple have posted we will know far more after this year since we finally have a capable QB.

 

[kerouac9]

The Cards were 31st in yards per catch last year so Housler's results are more reflective of the team (QB's) and not him. Cards were also 31st in TD receptions so once again.....

As a couple have posted we will know far more after this year since we finally have a capable QB.

I'm not saying "oh, man, Housler blows," as much as I'm saying that Houler's reception total is indicative that he's somehow the best TE in the division, or anything.

40+ receptions is a lot without finding the end zone one time. 400+ yards is a lot without finding the end zone one time, especially when you consider that the TE is usually the "safety blanket" for young QBs.

 

[Cardiac]

I'm not saying "oh, man, Housler blows," as much as I'm saying that Houler's reception total is indicative that he's somehow the best TE in the division, or anything.

40+ receptions is a lot without finding the end zone one time. 400+ yards is a lot without finding the end zone one time, especially when you consider that the TE is usually the "safety blanket" for young QBs.

Gotcha. There is a group of posters who believe Housler will have a break out year and become a feared weapon. There is another group of posters who think Housler does blow. I'm more inclined to think he will have a good year but I'm not ready to think he will become the best TE in the division.

 

[kerouac9]

Gotcha. There is a group of posters who believe Housler will have a break out year and become a feared weapon. There is another group of posters who think Housler does blow. I'm more inclined to think he will have a good year but I'm not ready to think he will become the best TE in the division.

Yeah... I'm in the middle of those two camps, too. I'm disappointed in Housler's development so far, but I also believe that his ceiling is significantly below the guy to whom he is frequently compared: Jimmy Graham.

The open question is whether he is ready to be the second option in the passing game--after Fitz--or if he's not going to be better than the fourth option after Fitz, Roberts, and Floyd in some order.

 

[cardncubfan]

I'm not saying "oh, man, Housler blows," as much as I'm saying that Houler's reception total is indicative that he's somehow the best TE in the division, or anything.

40+ receptions is a lot without finding the end zone one time. 400+ yards is a lot without finding the end zone one time, especially when you consider that the TE is usually the "safety blanket" for young QBs.

Hard to find the endzone when you are starting at the 1 yard line all the time.

 

[kerouac9]

Hard to find the endzone when you are starting at the 1 yard line all the time.

Nice try, but don't forget that our defense was good last year. Our average line of scrimmage to start drives was nearly the 31 yard line, which was good enough for 5th in the NFL.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Gotcha. There is a group of posters who believe Housler will have a break out year and become a feared weapon. There is another group of posters who think Housler does blow. I'm more inclined to think he will have a good year but I'm not ready to think he will become the best TE in the division.

He blows at blocking, and that is not an over dramatization of that that situation.

You have to be one heck of a pass catching TE to justify his "blocking", and he is not one heck of a pass catching TE.

He is average at best catching the ball, so thus my disdain in listening to another offseason about how this guys is going to "breakout".

 

[kerouac9]

He blows at blocking, and that is not an over dramatization of that that situation.

You have to be one heck of a pass catching TE to justify his "blocking", and he is not one heck of a pass catching TE.

He is average at best catching the ball, so thus my disdain in listening to another offseason about how this guys is going to "breakout".

Watch my Football Outsiders Almanac thread for more information about the blocking abilities of our tight ends!

SPOILER ALERT: Our tight ends suck at blocking.

 

[Goldfield]

I'm not real high on Housler. I deffinatly think the QB play has hurt him. But I don't think he is ever going to be that great. I was sure we were going to draft a TE high in this draft so Housler could be a quality back up. I wish I was right.