Lack of Talent at TE

[football junkie]

With Mark Campbell now playing for the New Orleans Saints the Bills seem to be thinner than the franchise has been at TE in the last 20 years.

The last time the Bills were good they had decent TEs Jay Riemersma and Lonnie Johnson. Keith McKeller excelled at the position during the AFC Championship days.

Robert Royal a fourth year veteran out of LSU was imported from the Washington Redskins in the off-season and currently occupies the top position on the depth chart. Royal is 6'4" and 260 lbs., so he should be able to help in blocking schemes. He has, however, only caught 31 passes in 35 games in his pro career. He is virtually a non-factor as an offensive weapon and this will not help Losman -- at all.

Brad Cieslak is entering his second year in the NFL out of Norhern Illinois and has played in all of two games in the entirety of his career. Cieslak is No. 2 on the depth chart. Behind him there is even less talent in rookie Kevin Everett and Ryan Neufeld who has been in the NFL since he broke in with the Dallas Cowboys in 1999, in that time he's caught 10 passes.

Look at teams that are winning in today's NFL and you'll find a talented TE or two on the roster: Steelers - Heath Miller; Giants - Jeremy Shockey; Cowboys - Jason Witten; Redskins - Doug Jolley; Chiefs - Tony Gonzalez; Chargers - Antonio Gates; Patriots - Ben Watson; Eagles - L.J. Smith; Dolphins - Randy McMichael; Colts - Dallas Clark. Vernon Davis, Kellen Winslow and Mercedes Lewis will all help their teams tremendously in 2006.

Yet the Bills continue to ignore the position and try to fill it with players with very little talent -- even when there's talent available. Dick Jauron had Desmond Clark in Chicago so he understands the importance of having a decent TE. So why is Buffalo ignoring the position now?

This is going to cost the team wins this year. Losman needs a receiver he can dump the ball off to when he's being pressured or just doesn't find anyone else open and he's not going to have that because the Bills don't have even a half-way decent TE.

[mordeci]

Bills coaches love Royal, they think he was under utilized in Washington and will have a breakout year.

A quality pass-catching TE is not an absolute must to have a successful team. My beloved Bengals went 11-5 last year starting Reggie Kelly, an offensive tackle with a receiver's number.

As long as we're talking about TEs, I watched some tape of the 49ers game this week. Vernon Davis is an unbelievable blocker. I knew he could catch and run, but the guy blocks like an OT.

[football junkie]

Davis is the best TE to come out of college since Tony Gonzalez -- and that includes Antonio Gates. I think Davis is going to be awe inspiring. And I think the Bills are going to be kicking themselves for passing on him for the next decade or so -- not that the people running the team are going to live that long.

What is Levy? 86? Wilson is even older I think.

[ATLFalcons]

Davis is the best TE to come out of college since Tony Gonzalez -- and that includes Antonio Gates. I think Davis is going to be awe inspiring. And I think the Bills are going to be kicking themselves for passing on him for the next decade or so -- not that the people running the team are going to live that long.

What is Levy? 86? Wilson is even older I think.
The Bills might be kicking themselves, but they will find a solid TE in the next three years. TE is not a position you use a first round pick on, unless the guy is worth it. Look at the top TE's in the game, most were 3rd round or lower picks. Trust me they'll find someone solid and not have to waste a 1st round pick on him.

[football junkie]

The Bills might be kicking themselves, but they will find a solid TE in the next three years. TE is not a position you use a first round pick on, unless the guy is worth it. Look at the top TE's in the game, most were 3rd round or lower picks. Trust me they'll find someone solid and not have to waste a 1st round pick on him.

TE aren't taken in the first round? Somebody better tell NFL GMs that.

First Round TEs in the last decade:
2006: Vernon Davis, pick #6; Mercedes Lewis, pick #28;
2005: Heath Miller, pick #30;
2004: Kellen Winslow, pick #6, Ben Watson pick #32;
2003: Dallas Clark, pick #24;
2002: Jeremy Shockey, pick #14, Daniel Graham, pick #21, Jerramy Stevens, pick #28;
2001: Todd Heap, pick #31;
2000: Bubba Franks, pick #14, Anthony Becht, pick #27;
1997: Tony Gonzalez, pick #14, David LaFleur, pick #22;
1996: Rickey Dudley, pick # 9.

What you said might have been true 15 years ago but the game has evolved and with so many teams using two tight end sets and relying on tight ends not only to block but to get open and create mismatches against linebackers -- it simply does not ring true in the modern NFL.

[ATLFalcons]

When I say none have been drafted I mean guys who are receiving TE's. Anthony Becht, David LaFleur, and Rickey Dudley, were never really utilized as receiving TE's.