or do you think Jets need to find other options fast? Since he's our starting TE, how do you think he will perform? I believe he has the "athleticism" to do everything needed as a TE (run the route well/get open, look for the ball, fight the ball, catch the ball, etc), but it's that last 1-2 seconds after he catches the ball that's just atrocity (because he can't hold on to the ball). It's like you did everything right, what happened? This is the Jets biggest problem right now, imo. With a suspect QB (Fitz), we need a good TE for bail out moments/plays.
HEEEEEEELLLLLLLL NO, but he is really all we got right now, not gonna find much better at this point in the offseason.
Not comfortable at all. He's a poor blocker and can't hold on to the ball. He is supposed to be fast and can cause some mismatches but if he can't catch the ball it doesn't amount to much. I suspect the Jets are in the process of handling this problem. If not they'll deal with it next year. Given how many holes they had when the season ended they couldn't address all of them. They had penciled in Amaro for this, but it didn't happen because of his injury. Let's see what happens over the next few days.
He is atrocious. Lucky he is even on the roster. Someone out there who's been cut by another team has to be better.
Cumby will not get a better opp to prove he belongs in the NFL--He has no competition at the spot and we need him to perform. These are situations that allow a man to prove himself. If he has the "right stuff", he's preparing himself like never before for the biggest day of his life. If he's merely going about his usual business, he will fail and maybe someday look back at a missed opp. It's exciting to watch.
To directly answer the question: No. I'm not comfortable. But my reasoning is likely far different than others. The way Gailey's offense works as well as how the Jets are built, a plus receiving tight end is likely a luxury as not as pressing as portrayed . Jets have plenty of big physical athletic targets capable of attacking between the hashes. Gailey typically uses the TE more for their blocking abilities & sort of a blitz pick-up wildcard. That's where my concern lies. Cumberland is not a good blocker. He maybe adequate on the punt protection/field goal unit(also debatable). But he struggles w/ leverage at his height & lack of anchoring ability. I don't think Cumby is atrocious. He is what he has always been. A converted wide receiver that belongs in a #2 TE "stretch the seam"/ST type role. He is not a great blocker & has inconsistent hands. But he has freakish size/speed & has shown glimpses. Unfortunately due to instability at the position, he's been forced to basically be the Jets "all purpose tight end". While I guess you can check off "Durability/versatility" as one of his benefits.. this is purely a role playing athlete..not a "jack of all trades" overachiever. Truthfully, I'd rather the Jets start Kellen Davis. He's a much better blocker. If the Jets somehow find themselves short over the middle or finding the passing attack needs a spark...Cumby becomes a very good option. 6'7 w/ that kind of speed down the seam entering the game out of nowhere is something that can definitely change the tide of a downfield battle w/ opposition.But again, if we're talking base offense under normal circumstances, I prefer Cumby as more of "change of pace" wildcard.
I'd rather have Amaro in his spot. He looked pretty good in blocking drills in camp, and had more catches on less plays than Cumberland last year.
It's too late to get somebody else to be the starter. I think he's underrated as a receiver. And if thrown to can get the job done. But right now our TE corps is one of the weakest in the NFL. I was hoping (and I'm still hoping) that Mac can put together a deal for an experienced TE.
Actually, I think Enunwa will be more of a recieving TE pretty soon, with the crash course in blocking. Not thrilled with that either, but it makes better sense than Enunwa in the slot or Cumby going deep. At least to me.
Enunwa will be the Stephen Hill that Stephen Hill couldn't be. Okay, he's not going to turn into Megatron like a lot of goobers thought Hill would, but he's actually got good hands, great blocking, the effort that Hill always lacked... What he needs is route running. I don't think he'll ever be a TE, just a WR capable of playing HB roles when needed, which is valuable. Nobody ever called Danny Woodhead a wide receiver.
Surprised we haven't picked anybody up on waivers but we're sixth on the waiver, definately a need area
Yes. Cumberland can play. The way he is asked to play, is on the coaching staff. Is he ever going to be Mickey Shuler...no. Don't ask him to block. Have him drag a defender downfield. Use the slot receiver to get him open down the seam catching a ball while bearing down on a safety. If you need him to block...get him moving at the point of attack.
Shocks me too. Macc made it a point the other night to say that they were watching closely at other camp bodies they could find on waivers, so far they grabbed a safety and no actual position of need. I really expected a TE at this point, considering the table scraps we have at the position.
Cumberland's speed has always been vastly overrated by Jets fans. He's not slow but he's not a burner like everyone makes him out to be. He's fast enough to beat NFL linebackers and safeties, yes but he doesn't have the world class speed that Jet fans become enamored with by looking at his 40 time from 5 years ago. Go back and use the eye test. He's a horrible blocker and doesn't run great routes. There's a reason good route runners stay around this league like the Anquan Boldin's of this league. Precision and quickness out of one's breaks is so underrated among NFL fans. Tightend is easily our weakest position. Everyone says Gailey plays to his players strengths, hopefully he recognizes that we have a black hole at tightend and keeps him off the field. Say what you want about Amaro but at least he had the size and giant frame to throw a shoulder into someone.
