May 30, 2008
AFC West Tight Ends from an Oakland Raiders' Eye View
Tonight's edition of "From an Oakland Raiders' Eye View" focuses on the most underrated position in modern football, the tight end. As was true with the other positions outlined so far, the teams are similar in that they all have high quality tight ends. Lets see, all the teams have young quarterbacks, top flight running games, and average receiving squads, and now top tight ends. A dependable tight end can be a quarterback's best friend in the passing game. Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez are both the best friend their QBs could ask for. Zach Miller has already developed a chemistry with his young signal caller, and Daniel Graham brings Super Bowl experience to the table. How do these guys stack up?
San Diego Chargers
Antonio Gates is the best receiving tight end in the league. He is the linchpin of the Bolts' areal attack. He will often draw the coverage of the opposition's top corner, because even a safety is normally a mismatch in his favor. He is effective from the traditional tight end position, or can be a slot receiver and even has the speed to be split out wide. Gates is one of the few players from the tight end position who keeps opposing defensive coordinators up all night.
OUTLOOK: Look for another All Pro caliber season from Gates.
Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Gonzalez is a sure fire Hall of Famer, who is one of the best to play the position. (Sorry Ryan, he's not the best ever. Thats a toss up between Dave Casper and John Mackey.) The thing is, he is now on the down slide of his career and has been surpassed as the best at this time by Gates. Gonzalez is a crushing blocker in the run game and as reliable as they come when the ball is thrown in his zip code, but he no longer has the after catch ability that he did earlier in his career.
OUTLOOK: Don't be surprised to see Gonzo in yet another Pro Bowl.
Oakland Raiders
Zach Miller is an up and coming tight end. He had 44 catches his rookie year, including eight grabs in JaMarcus Russell's only start. Look for Miller to be a consistent target underneath and continue to grow in the position. Miller is big and athletic, but he is not a speedster like Gates or a leaper like Gonzo. He just finds a way to get open and haul in the throw.
OUTLOOK: Look for him to be a favorite target for Russell in the coming season.
Denver Broncos
Daniel Graham is a solid pass catching tight end, and it is surprising that he is not used more in the Denver passing offense. He will never be confused with Shannon Sharpe, but can make the tough catches. It seems like Mike Shanahan is wasting a resource that would help in the development of Jay Cutler.
OUTLOOK: He has the skills, but will be at the bottom of the division stat wise.
Discussion
19 Comments on "AFC West Tight Ends from an Oakland Raiders' Eye View"
#1
Posted by Sharpe, May 30, 2008 12:11 AM
In the early 70s, we played in 5 AFC championships in a row! If it were not for a for a single call in each of those games, we would have played for 5 rings in a row. Casper was there. And hey, Winslow was Mr. Clutch back in the day.
Peace
#2
Posted by Sharpe, May 30, 2008 12:14 AM
Donkey's just make me ill, but ok, Shannon deserves a crown of sorts.
#3
Posted by pat T, May 30, 2008 5:02 AM
I agree with this article... Gonzalez isn't number one anymore... Gates took over that spot about 2-3 years ago... I also think with Miller playing a whole season with JaMarcus Russell it really should improve his productivity... But I also think the Raiders can slow down Antonio Gates with our speedy LB's and FS which is Michael Huff... Miller should be used most in the red zone... maybe we split him out wide and get a mismatch against an undersized CB... Miller should account for at least 8 or 9 of Russell's TD's... He's a great target underneath...
GO RAIDERS!!!
#4
Posted by Jeff Little, May 30, 2008 8:20 AM
I also agree with the article and pat T.
Go Raiders!!!
#5
Posted by Rolni, May 30, 2008 8:36 AM
Good work again!!
I think next year in this article Zach Miller will be the #2 behind Gates after a very good season!!!
I see 55-65cathes and 700-900 yards with 5-7 td's for him!!!
#6
Posted by SR Raider, May 30, 2008 8:49 AM
Not one I'd like to agree with, but this is a fair assessment. Hopefully in next year's version Gonzales is down and Miller is up.
Is Casper really the greatest tight end ever? He was my favorite player growing up, and I wear his jersey at games, so my opinion is totally biased. I've never not liked him. So it's hard to judge vs. other tight ends. Kellen Winslow and Ozzie Newsome come to mind too.
#7
Posted by Thoughts from the Dark Side: AFC West Tight Ends from an Oakland Raiders’ Eye View | The RaiderCast, May 30, 2008 8:54 AM
[...] Read more. Posted in Blog, Oakland Raiders | [...]
#8
Posted by SacRaider, May 30, 2008 8:54 AM
What a great pick Miller turned out to be. Remember, Greg Olson was rated higher by all the so-called "experts" and Chicago picked him in the first round. Perennial hater Nancy Gay criticized this pick, if I'm not mistaken. Looks like we got the better TE and the last laugh.
#9
Posted by Rob Calonge, May 30, 2008 9:43 AM
Great job Patrick! I agree with your assessment, except, and this is in answer to SR Raider, Shannon Sharpe may have been better than Dave Casper. Kellen Winslow and Ozzie Newsome were more athletically gifted than Casper, but either didn't produce like Casper or block like him.
#10
Posted by Chomper, May 30, 2008 10:42 AM
Gates is a machine, and I´d never underestimate Gonzalez, he can take over a game... Miller had a nice rookie season, but I think he is more of an intangibles guy than a stat producer...Best ever? well the TE does so much more than catch the ball, so looking at receiving stats tell only part of the story, thats a hard question to answer... Nice article Pat.
#11
Posted by Sharpe, May 30, 2008 11:22 AM
Good article, and comments as well! I would just like to add a prediction...when we play those 6 divisional games this year, Miller will out perform his counterparts because we'll cover better. Look at last year alone, vs. SD & KC.
Gates: Wk 06, 3rec for 58yds with zero TDs.
Wk 17, 6rec for 62yds with zero TDs.
Gonzales: Wk 07, 4rec for 66yds with zero TDs
Wk 12, 3rec for 48yds with zero TDs
Miller: vs SD Wk 06, 3rec, 17yds, 1TD
vs KC Wk 07, 4rec, 48yds, 0TDs
vsKC Wk 12, 4rec, 38yds, 0TDs
vsSD Wk 17, 8rec, 84yds, 0TDs
Keep in mind that Miller and Russell were rookies, and that Russell only played with Miller in game #17 (of those 4).
We are going to win the Division for years to come and we are gonna kick azz doing it!
Lastly, just as an aside, Dave Casper was the man!
Long Live Da Nation!
#12
Posted by Kevin, May 30, 2008 11:56 AM
Very fair assesment.
I think Shannon Sharp was the best TE ever, he came up big in big games (SB apart where he was injured)
His stats and longevity and rings 3, help confirm this... He was also a vocal leader in the locker room and on the field with a strong work ethic..
#13
Posted by eks, May 30, 2008 1:37 PM
if all goes well with russell, i believe miller will be the best TE in the next couple of years in the afc west if not the whole nfl.
#14
Posted by Sharpe, May 30, 2008 2:00 PM
There are a few top tier TEs. Mostly, but not solely do to athleticism. The other part of the equation is good quarterbacking...something that we have lacked for far too long. After Plunk was the drout that lasted til Gannon, Hoss was a warrior. Since then we have floundered with a lack of adequate coaching and quarterbacking. NOW, FINALLY, we are poised to MAKE SOME NOISE! And yes, Miller can be a top tier TE, not only do to his hands, skills to find the spot, and smarts, but also because of Russell. They will grow together. This team is so young, it's gonna be good for years. The addition of Bush and McFadden to the mix creates a nightmare for our foes. Russell will succeed, cause the guy can really play. What has impressed me is his offseason. Makes he really excited for the Nation. I just hope that the coaching staff stays in place.
Nationnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
#15
Posted by Charles Oakey, May 30, 2008 3:46 PM
Billy Cannon, Raymond Chester, Dave Casper, Todd Christensen, and now...Zach Miller. Let's hope the list of great Raider tight ends continues.
#16
Posted by Sharpe, May 30, 2008 6:29 PM
Sorry for the terrible ending to my last entry! What I intended to say was that what has impressed me with Russell's offseason is his commitment to excellence and that, amoung other things, makes me really excited for the Nation.
#17
Posted by Sharpe, May 30, 2008 6:34 PM
Sorry for the terrible ending to my last entry! What I intended to say was that what has impressed me about Russell's offseason is his commitment to excellence and that his efforts this spring causes me to be really excited for the Nation.
#18
Posted by pat T, May 31, 2008 7:23 AM
I would say i dont think the best TE can only be judged by stats... Other than Zach Miller my favorite TE's are Todd Heap, Tony Gonzalez, and Jason Witten.... But unfourtanetly Gonzalez plays for the crappiest team in the league as well as the worst starting QB... Gonzalez's stats would be so much better but the best QB he ever played with was Trent Green, because the idiot Chiefs released one of the best QB's ever in Rich Gannon... Point is the TE position isn't only about catching the most balls its also about blocking when your asked to block thats why im glad we picked Zach Miller instead of Greg Olson... At first i wanted us to pick Olson but then when i heard people talking about Olson and i realized that he was soft... So im extremly happy with Miller and then if John Madsen can bulk up a little we could have some pretty good TE's... But Miller will have an even bigger effect in the red zone...
GO RAIDERS!!!
#19
Posted by raiderdave, June 12, 2008 4:51 PM
raiders have had a history of great tight ends..Ray Chester, billy cannon,Bob Moore, The Ghost, todd christensen, Zach fits right in this list..Right now I would rank him 3rd after the Ghost and Chester,He will have a more consistent carreer than Todd C.
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