Next generation: Players such as the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski are redefining the tight end position in the NFL. APOnce a glorified tackle, the position now requires the skills of a wide receiver — and a power forward. Speed, size, athletic ability, power, intelligence all are in the mix."The tight end position is taking off," said San Francisco's Vernon Davis, who also is called Duke; his dad is Big Duke and he was Little Duke as a kid before growing to 120 cm, 113 kg. "It's almost as if you have to start playing tight ends with cornerbacks nowadays because they're fast, these guys are strong and they're making plays — they're making plays like wide receivers."Nobody has made more plays at the position in one season than Gronkowski, who became an All-Pro in his second NFL season by catching 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns. The yards and TDs are records, accomplished with plenty of power and flash."The guy is a beast," said Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, but that seems to be a common description for most outstanding tight ends in what a Hall of Famer from the position, Shannon Sharpe, dubs "the golden age" for tight ends.Gronkowski mixes size and speed with great hands. Huge, great hands. He doesn't drop the ball, and when he grabs it, he's nearly impossible to tackle."He has run over a few guys," noted fellow Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who along with Gronkowski has been dubbed the Boston TE Party.If not for his production, the Saints' Jimmy Graham would have established an NFL mark with his 1,310 yards. He had 99 catches and scored 11 times.Seven of the top 17 players on the receptions chart this season were tight ends: Graham; Gronkowski; Detroit's Brandon Pettigrew; Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez, the career leader in just about every receiving category for the position; Dallas' Jason Witten; Hernandez; and Tampa Bay's Kellen Winslow."When I was playing," said Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome, who retired in 1990 and now is general manager of the Ravens, "the majority of tight ends were point-of-attack guys. You would line up on the line of scrimmage next to the tackle and we were basically two-back oriented."Now, tight ends are getting opportunities to be extended away from the tackles, able to stand up on the outside as receivers. These guys are getting taller, bigger and faster or as fast as guys in the past. If you were 6-3, 245 (190 cm, 111 kg) you were a big tight end at that time, and now they go 6-5, 260 or 270 (195 cm, 118-123 kg) and are just as athletic."
Monday, January 23, 2012
Current group of tight ends reshaping position
NEW YORK — From Gonzo to Gronk to Graham, tight ends are running past, around and through defenders at an unprecedented rate. Hey, the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski does all of those things on one play.Next generation: Players such as the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski are redefining the tight end position in the NFL. APOnce a glorified tackle, the position now requires the skills of a wide receiver — and a power forward. Speed, size, athletic ability, power, intelligence all are in the mix."The tight end position is taking off," said San Francisco's Vernon Davis, who also is called Duke; his dad is Big Duke and he was Little Duke as a kid before growing to 120 cm, 113 kg. "It's almost as if you have to start playing tight ends with cornerbacks nowadays because they're fast, these guys are strong and they're making plays — they're making plays like wide receivers."Nobody has made more plays at the position in one season than Gronkowski, who became an All-Pro in his second NFL season by catching 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns. The yards and TDs are records, accomplished with plenty of power and flash."The guy is a beast," said Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, but that seems to be a common description for most outstanding tight ends in what a Hall of Famer from the position, Shannon Sharpe, dubs "the golden age" for tight ends.Gronkowski mixes size and speed with great hands. Huge, great hands. He doesn't drop the ball, and when he grabs it, he's nearly impossible to tackle."He has run over a few guys," noted fellow Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who along with Gronkowski has been dubbed the Boston TE Party.If not for his production, the Saints' Jimmy Graham would have established an NFL mark with his 1,310 yards. He had 99 catches and scored 11 times.Seven of the top 17 players on the receptions chart this season were tight ends: Graham; Gronkowski; Detroit's Brandon Pettigrew; Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez, the career leader in just about every receiving category for the position; Dallas' Jason Witten; Hernandez; and Tampa Bay's Kellen Winslow."When I was playing," said Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome, who retired in 1990 and now is general manager of the Ravens, "the majority of tight ends were point-of-attack guys. You would line up on the line of scrimmage next to the tackle and we were basically two-back oriented."Now, tight ends are getting opportunities to be extended away from the tackles, able to stand up on the outside as receivers. These guys are getting taller, bigger and faster or as fast as guys in the past. If you were 6-3, 245 (190 cm, 111 kg) you were a big tight end at that time, and now they go 6-5, 260 or 270 (195 cm, 118-123 kg) and are just as athletic."
Next generation: Players such as the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski are redefining the tight end position in the NFL. APOnce a glorified tackle, the position now requires the skills of a wide receiver — and a power forward. Speed, size, athletic ability, power, intelligence all are in the mix."The tight end position is taking off," said San Francisco's Vernon Davis, who also is called Duke; his dad is Big Duke and he was Little Duke as a kid before growing to 120 cm, 113 kg. "It's almost as if you have to start playing tight ends with cornerbacks nowadays because they're fast, these guys are strong and they're making plays — they're making plays like wide receivers."Nobody has made more plays at the position in one season than Gronkowski, who became an All-Pro in his second NFL season by catching 90 passes for 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns. The yards and TDs are records, accomplished with plenty of power and flash."The guy is a beast," said Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, but that seems to be a common description for most outstanding tight ends in what a Hall of Famer from the position, Shannon Sharpe, dubs "the golden age" for tight ends.Gronkowski mixes size and speed with great hands. Huge, great hands. He doesn't drop the ball, and when he grabs it, he's nearly impossible to tackle."He has run over a few guys," noted fellow Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who along with Gronkowski has been dubbed the Boston TE Party.If not for his production, the Saints' Jimmy Graham would have established an NFL mark with his 1,310 yards. He had 99 catches and scored 11 times.Seven of the top 17 players on the receptions chart this season were tight ends: Graham; Gronkowski; Detroit's Brandon Pettigrew; Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez, the career leader in just about every receiving category for the position; Dallas' Jason Witten; Hernandez; and Tampa Bay's Kellen Winslow."When I was playing," said Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome, who retired in 1990 and now is general manager of the Ravens, "the majority of tight ends were point-of-attack guys. You would line up on the line of scrimmage next to the tackle and we were basically two-back oriented."Now, tight ends are getting opportunities to be extended away from the tackles, able to stand up on the outside as receivers. These guys are getting taller, bigger and faster or as fast as guys in the past. If you were 6-3, 245 (190 cm, 111 kg) you were a big tight end at that time, and now they go 6-5, 260 or 270 (195 cm, 118-123 kg) and are just as athletic."
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