We'll see what happens on Saturday but Thomas or Flowers hasn't shown me much this summer. Looking at that I think 4 tight ends make the team. If you ask me I'd go with Tomlinson as the fullback extra blocker (hasn't looked great this preseason but was ok last year). Herdnon because he is a rookie and Sterling are my three locks. I prefer Wolford over Leggit because of the unknown but Leggit probably gets it because he is younger and a draft pick.
I agree that this is a definite possibility and it would make good sense. I disagree regarding Tomlinson. Before this TC, I would have agree regarding Tomlinson, but I have read several things that said Tomlinson's blocking seems to have fallen off and Herndon and either Walford's or Sterling's (I can't remember which, but it may have been both) blocking has been as good as Tomlinson's. They also offer a lot more as a receiver. I'd keep Herndon, Leggett, Walford and Sterling. In short yardage and red zone situations they can always use a backup OL or one of our DLs as a blocking FB/TE if need be.
It's trending towards walford being the odd man out with no fullbacks unless one comes off waivers. Flowers likely to the PS squad.
I hope you're right! I liked Flowers a lot at Oklahoma and was really happy and excited when the Jets signed him, but he's been invisible. I fear he just may be too slow to be very effective in the NFL. Defensive players can beat him to a spot and render his blocking ineffective, and as a runner or receiver he can't elude or run over anyone.
I had high hopes for Flowers, but he hasn't shown anything this pre-season. He's not a great blocker but he is a good receiver out of the backfield, so he does nothing more than what a TE can do. Put him on the practice squad. I agree if you need a big blocker at times, groom an OL man to handle that....or how about Shepherd. How would you like to take on Shepherd as a lead blocker in short yardage situations.
Hopeful to see Dimitri Flowers show off his all-around versatility tonight. Been waiting to see his versatility all preseason, however a lot of these guys on our roster bubble will have a chance to make plays tonight. Really looking forward to a 4th preseason game like never before and wondering which players on the bubble step up. Flowers is one of the players I'll be watching out for.
Agree with this NC, only variable is STs. If Tomlinson is considered far superior to say Walford on ST that might swing it differently....but I doubt it.
Me too, but I'm pretty sure that they will be. Herndon and Leggett have some talent and Walford and Sterling aren't total slouches. They've all made plays in TC and preseason and Bates likes to use TEs. They will get plenty of chances to produce this season and I think that they will.
Ok with keeping 4 TE's. First off young QB's need that safety blanket and you have to hope one of Herndon or Leggett develops into one. Likely Herndon but no way they drop Leggett after losing him all last year (and the fact that he's 6'6, the tallest target on this team). He's pretty much a rookie too. Walford is the only one who can be considered a veteran but still only 26 with some upside left. We were probably not cutting the only veteran TE we have either. As of this moment though I think Sterling is the most talented and polished of the bunch. With the best hands as well
I thought he was the best FB coming out of college (not like there was much of a fullback class to speak of) but last year he did show some versatility getting involved a bit in the passing game as well as a goal line threat. Hope we can hang onto Flowers. He's still very young (22)
Kelvin Beachum can play LT. While with the Steelers he protected Ben Roethlisberger's blind side during 44 games (39 starts). And was very good while doing so (if not absolutely, great). During only his 3rd year in the league (2014) he started all 16 games for Pittsburgh and absolutely flourished as a Steeler. He was rated as the 5th best offensive tackle within the entire league and 3rd in pass protection efficiency only behind Andrew Whitworth and Joe Thomas. This guy was so good for Pittsburgh to the point of the Steelers offering him a contract extension heading into 2015 and he respectably declined their offer. Fast forward to 2018 he's coming off a season in which he started all 16 games for us last year, still only 29 years of age and most importantly currently healthy. He's nowhere near the type of slouch some make him out to appear. Last yeae he received an overall grade of 72.7 (2017) when in comparison to Ryan Clady of the year before who received an overall grade of only 47.2 (2016). He may not be our long-term Franchise LT of the future but if he's able to improve as a 2nd year Jet while keeping Darnold upright and healthy we may not need to use our 2019 1st round pick on a LT and instead attack other areas of severe need.
Good post. I think there have been far too many chicken littles when it comes to our O-Line in 2018. We're not among the best in the league but we're not turnstiles either. Plus we have a QB who thinks quick, and has good pocket presence and escapability We also have a great, respected offensive line coach (and former offensive coordinator) now with Rick Dennison Dennison had shit to work with last year in Buffalo talent wise, but they were still in the playoffs. He was OC of the Broncos in Super Bowl 50 where he got a ring despite his starting QB basically not being able to throw the ball more than 5 yards. Joe Flacco had his best season in 2014 under Dennison
