What I meant by impact blocks are blocks down the field, not so much at the LOS. I stole the term from Madden sue me lol. But he doesn't block in any sense of the word
The more I see of Cook the more I like, he could be absolutely explosive for this team. I'd like to see a big target as our #1 but if Nelson continue to improve and Kerley in the slot hopefully Hill can come along and Cook could be elite.
I know this is the time of year when we like to down our current players in an effort to promote the prospects we want, but this is too much. Yes, Cumberland, came into the league not a a blocker per say but he has improved dramatically in this department to the point where he is not the best blocking TE on the roster. This is quite a feet considering he had to learn how to inline block a lot later in his football career as he was a WR convert. In fact MM keeps him in a lot to protect instead of going out on routes. That's what he did mostly the first quarter of the season. Until he expressed concerned about it.
If one wants to criticize a current skill player about their blocking, they need to turn their anger to the direction of Tommy Bohannon. That dude is brutal at blocking which is a very important responsibility for a FB.
Regarding your bold points. 1. Um, we don't have a blocking TE on this roster - I would hope he would at least try and show something, but it's marginal improvement at best, nothing to be excited for. 2. The reason why we have Cumberland in to block is to protect Winters even more because he's such a liability, and also because again we don't have a blocking TE. Eventually we will need Winters to hold his own, and we will need a TE that can block on the outside and create more opportunities for our RB. This position can absolutely be upgraded.
1. Well Cumberland is doing a pretty good job masquerading as one. We are the 6th ranked rushing O with Cumberland used as the primary blocking TE. That's pretty hard to do w/o a blocking TE. Note in the past we used to bring in Vlad as a tackle eligible to account for the poor blocking by our TEs; outside of the goal line we rarely do that anymore. 2. Ducasse was the OG when he was being kept in. Since he had that discussion with MM in the middle of October they pretty much stopped that. Not sure what games you are watching as you are way off on this one. We can certainly upgrade from Cumberland but it won't be because he is such a poor blocker.
Check out some tapes when Winter was named starter. Or even better, check the Jetsblog.com's BGA it goes further into what the TEs have done in regards to protections. Winters did a good job the last 2 games, but it doesn't dispel the other games We can upgrade the TE position not only regarding receiving but in regards to blocking as well. btw Vlad doesn't play because Vlad is a penalty machine. Rob Turner was an excellent 6th man that could come in and help us. He's a FA as well.
What originally compelled me to come to the defense of Cumberland was your post quoted below not disagreement that he can stand to improve his blocking. I still find the following patently false: BTW how is he showing some of our cards when you agree that he is the closest thing we have to a blocking TE? I would think the opposite as everyone knows we are not going to run behind blocking of Winslow or Sudfeld. At least when Cumberland out there, there is the chance we can run or pass. Lastly, I agree Ebron have shown some potential in the area of blocking but so not sure where you are seeing all this potential in Amaro. He is rarely used as an inline blocker. He spends a most of his time spread out so he is usually blocking DBs and LBs, that are much smaller than him. It's a whole different world when your are tucked in adjacent to a OT blocking NFL DEs and 3-4 LBs.
All year long, teams attacked Winters and our TEs - we had piss poor protection for majority of the year. Does the last 2 games erase the previous 15 games? Absolutely not - do you have short-term memory? Cumberland and Winters were both liabilities all year. Jeff Cumberland is not a good blocker and will never be a good blocker. He has been in the league for 4 years why do you not understand this? Cumberland in his 5th year is not all of a sudden going to become an exceptional blocker. The position needs an upgrade. It must be the Jets fan's obsession with mediocrity to not want to improve the position. If the Jets look at Ebron or Amaro - Cumberland's time is up with the Jets because his ability to block is nothing special - we can improve that aspect with younger players with potential. I like versatile players, players that can contribute in a magnitude of ways. Both Ebron and Amaro will be better contributors at the TE spot in regards to catching and blocking. They have the technique, they just need the coaching. Cumberland when he is back to block, gets beat ALL of the time. Watch the game against the Dolphins again. He struggled as a blocker ALL YEAR. Amaro is their best weapon, they have to line him up to run plays catching the football, but the kid is physical and I have seen games where he has lit up opponents. He hasn't had as many opportunities due to the offense they run at Texas Tech. Even so, as I mentioned before, I would not mind if the Jets ended up double dipping at TE due to the emerging importance of the position. Get the nightmare match-up weapon in Amaro / Ebron, and a blocking TE later in the draft or via FA.
Actually, I think the whole team needs to work on its blocking and tackling. I'm not sure there is a single player on the roster who excels at either. If there is, it would be Mo or Richardson (tackling).
It's funny how you are conveniently focusing on pass blocking. Efficient offenses do not keep their TEs in to pass protect. The most you should need from your TE in terms pass blocking is the occasional double team help or a chip block. Most, if not all 2-way TEs are mismatches against DEs and pass rushing OLBs. From a DE or pass rushing OLB point of view a one on one match against a TE should be a sack or at the very least QB pressure. Most of the starting TEs in the league spend lest than 5% of their snaps pass protecting; they should be busy running routes. If a GM is scouting the pass blocking prowess of a TE, said GM should quit his job. Now run blocking is a different story. At this point in his career, Cumberland is well above average in this area. The only obsession I see in play is expecting all pros at every position. So that's the potential you speak of? Why would you need a blocking TE if Amaro/Ebron show so much potential in that area?
I would argue that being the 6th best rushing offense in the league while not having much of a threat to hurt teams in the air suggest we do a pretty good job blocking. Winters and Bohannon excluded, I think the team did a decent job overall blocking on offense; that includes pass protection.
I agree that their blocking is probably better than their tackling, but I want better than decent. While they are the 6th best rushing offense, I think a lot of that has to do with Geno rushing for a pretty good number of yards and Ivory's getting so many yards after contact. Take those away, and I'll bet the Jets drop quite a bit. How many games have you seen the Jets' OL dominate the LOS? How many times have you seen individuals blow their assignment up, pancake their defender, or drive him 10 yards upfield?
I think we are better than a "decent" blocking team. We just had 2 very bad blockers (Bohannon and Winters). I'm not going to get into you take away this and that but I believe the OL dominate the LOS more games than they got dominated. "...blow[ing] their assignment up, pancake their defender, or drive him 10 yards upfield" would be nice but I would settle for everyone doing their job and limiting their mistakes; that seems to work wonders for the Patsies
I am not concentrating on pass blocking, did I say pass blocking or run blocking? I said BLOCKING period that includes both facets. I cannot believe I am arguing with someone that believes we have a good TE in Cumberland. Cumberland is not above average in any facet of blocking - at this juncture. You at this point are trying to make yourself sound relevant by saying this position does this and that position does that - you are full of shit. When has Cumberland contained his man on outside runs? Show me examples. If you are a TE and you have no exhibited good blocking technique in your 4th league in the year - newsflash, it ain't happening. *Facepalm* When talking about potential I am talking about Amaro / Ebron. Have you been drinking today? http://turnonthejets.com/2013/12/looking-ahead-stays-goes-new-york-jets/ No one thinks about Cumberland as being "this guy" except for you. Your lone wolf act is bullshit at most. The position will be upgraded and there is nothing you can do about it, you can resign him in your Madden game if you wish. I swear Jet fans and their ability to be content with mediocrity - it's pitiful.
"We have to look at it this way. We have a really good tight end in Jeff Cumberland and this is a guy [who is] a young stud tight end...You look at him, [he's] a big guy who can block and he does a nice job receiving. He's a good player." -Rex Ryan
Rob Turner was overrated when he was here, and once the Jets changed their blocking scheme, he was and is no longer a fit here.
Rex says a lot of things. Usually when he's blowing smoke about a player, the right thing to do is to ignore it... He can't block well. Watch the games. If we keep him as a #2 over Winslow, I guess I wouldn't hate it, but he's been in the NFL 4 years and he really hasn't made much of an impact. Amaro and Ebron are very good receivers who are big and fast enough to create mismatches. Cumberland has some size and speed but he can't block well and at this point, he's been underwhelming.
