Rookie Seasons of the Best Tight Ends in the last Decade. Jimmy Graham - 31 receptions - 356 yards - 5 TD's Vernon Davis - 20 receptions - 265 yards - 3 TD's Rob Gronkowski - 42 receptions - 456 yards - 10 TD's Jason Witten - 35 receptions - 347 yards - 1 TD Antonio Gates - 24 receptions - 389 yards - 2 TD's Tony Gonzalez - 20 receptions - 368 yards - 2 TD's That pretty much sums up everything you need to know about Amaro. Pretty much every guy on that list is going to have a bust in Canton one day, and every single one had rookie seasons somewhere in the 350 yard and 2 - 5 TD range. Anyone expecting anything more then that from Amaro is just insane, and I will say right now that if he somehow posts a 400 yard, 5 TD season then we are in for one extremely special player for the next decade. The adjustment to the NFL for TE's is just much harder then it is for receivers or running backs. NFL caliber safties and linebackers are a much bigger step up then NFL caliber Corners. Your average corner in the NFL really isn't that great and some of the best rookie WR's shred them from day one. We won't know what Amaro really had in him until next year.
Not to mention, the two TEs with the highest TD numbers started out with future HOF quarterbacks. I think some tool recently said that ASJ was going to approach those numbers as a rookie.
While I agree it's silly to think he's going to light it up, He's not exactly in the same mold as those you posted. Many of those were converted basketball players, some didn't even play TE in college. Final years of college: A Gates = DNP J. Graham = 17 / 213 - 5TD J. Witten = 39/493 - 5TD R. Gronkowski = 47 / 672 - 10TD V. Davis = 51 / 871 - 6TD T. Gonzalez = 44 / 699 - 5TD J. Amaro = 106 / 1352 - 7TD Jace had more catches in his Sr year then most of those guys had in their college career. Also he'll be flexed out wide a lot more then any of those players did their rookie year.
Anyone else realize the only thing Cimini ever reports about QBs at training camp is their completion-attempts in 7-on-7 drills. Every day his report is just "Geno went 4-7, while Vick was 2-3. With a 66% completion rating, Vick was ahead statistically." What a joke.
ESPN doesn't pay him the big bucks to actually pay attention to football. He's good at getting people to click. That's his gift.
Good points on Amaro & Sudfeld guys. I don't care which guy but I just really hope at least one of our TEs (including Cumberland) pans out to be something good. This team could use a nasty TE like many in the league has. So desperate for that position here especially.
I know its a lot to expect since he is a rookie, But you have to admit it would be nice to see OUR TE catching passes and pulling players a few yards and making the jumping catches in the End Zone. I really cant wait to see Amaro play this year and just watch him grow.