Sorry, but I think the bolded statement is absolute BS. Fiedorowicz can't help it if his collegiate offensive scheme didn't call for heavy use of the TE as a receiver. That could have been due to his not being that fast, but I don't think so. I saw him play several times and the commentators said that he had soft hands and was a great target, but in Iowa's offensive scheme they just don't throw to their TEs a lot. The scouting reports I've read say the same thing. If he goes to a team that uses the TE primarily as a blocker, then he may not exceed 40-45 catches in the NFL, but I think he would with the Jets. IMO they need an inline TE, who can offer flexibility and not predictability in their offense. Not only would he be a great Red Zone target, but also on 3rd downs, and he's an excellent blocker. He's not a sexy pick, but I think would be a very solid, safe, and great addition to the Jets.
You're projecting Fiedorowicz to do something once he reaches the NFL that he couldn't do in college against lesser competition. That's just very unlikely, barring playing with a great QB in an offense designed to heavily exploit the middle of the field.
No, I'm not. Something he "didn't do" is not necessarily the same thing as "couldn't do." Your reasoning is fatally flawed. Just because his collegiate offense wasn't designed to do that doesn't mean he's not capable.
There's no flaw in the reasoning here. You're projecting (fantasizing) that C.J. Fiedorowicz might magically make the transformation from reliable outlet receiver to something special once he hits the NFL and is playing against NFL-caliber safeties and linebackers. This is like projecting (fantasizing) that Stephen Hill might be a #1 WR at the NFL level. I just look at the player and what he has accomplished and my assumption is that he was doing his best at the college level and that things are going to get harder in the pros and that what you should expect out of him at the pro level, if he has what it takes and makes the adjustment to the NFL, is about what you saw out of him at the college level.
Come on guy, you're much smarter than this. You're saying that because his collegiate offense wasn't designed for the TE to catch a lot of passes, that Fiedorowicz isn't capable of making a lot of catches. It's totally flawed reasoning. Those are two separate things (apples and oranges). There's no way you can make a logical extrapolation like that unless you have further information, such as he has bad hands, or his OC changed the offense because of Fiedorowicz lack of skill, or most of his OC's previous TEs caught a lot of passes or something like that. Your premise is based on your "assumptions" and we all know what "assuming" does. One has nothing to do with the other in this case. You can't generalize with regards to something like that. Every year a bunch of football prospects enter the draft with lesser collegiate stats and are drafted low or become UDFAs, and then they go on to produce at a very high level in the NFL and everyone wonder where that player came from and how so many teams could have passed on him. Some players are just late bloomers. Others develop once they get quality coaching in the solid fundamentals and techniques of their positions. Others mature physically, mentally and emotionally, and that enables them to start maximizing their talent. Still others flourish because they get in the right system and because it's now their job and they don't have the distractions of collegiate life. If Iowa traditionally had thrown to their TEs a lot and then changed once Fiedorowicz arrived (and the OC remained the same), then you might have a point that the OC changed his offense because he didn't think Fiedorowicz capable of doing more. That isn't the case. Greg Davis is their OC. He was at the Univ. of Texas before going to Iowa in 2012. Ever heard of a big-time TE at Tulane, UNC or Texas (the school where Davis was either HC or OC) under Davis that had a lot of receptions? No, I didn't think so. At Texas, their offense went through their wideouts. At UNC the offense went through their RBs and Wideouts. Their TEs only started getting more receptions once Davis went to UT with Mack Brown. In spite of your totally flawed reasoning to arrive at your conclusion, you may be right that Fiedorowicz may only catch 35-40 passes a season in the NFL, but that could be because of the system he winds up in where the TE isn't used as a target much, or because he's not given the opportunity, or because he's not capable. The thing is, we simply do not have enough information, and particularly any information that would lead to the conclusion at which you arrived. In fact, if anything, since the TE has never been a big part of Davis' offenses, the evidence might suggest the opposite.
of course. you have to remember that he is playing against better players in the NFL. Stands to reason
Fiedorowicz would be ok in the 4th round or thereabouts. He's probably going to be a starting NFL TE when he gets his feet on the ground and he'll help the team that drafts him. He's somewhat unlikely to be a plus player as a receiver but his blocking skills should make him a plus player overall. Niklas is a very similar prospect to Fiedorowicz and I don't know who will be the better pro. I don't think either of them is going to be a particularly good pass receiver except as an outlet type guy. Anthony Becht is a good comparison for both of them.
Niklas will likely become a damn good TE, but he does have a few serious question marks. He's a very strong blocker and most of the time was dominant, but on several occasions he got abused against speed rushers with good pass rushing moves. And while he has pretty good hands, he only average at using his body to get in the best position to get the ball. Has a high ceiling as an in-line tight end but will never be the red zone nightmare that teams are really looking for.
So you are saying that if a player is capable of a big play they cant be a safety blanket as well on a different play? If so you are incredibly wrong in every way! I think you would agree Witten is Tony Romo's safety blanket right? Does he still not make big plays for Dallas too? Same goes for Jimmy Graham when he is lined up as a TE he is a safety blanket and when he is lined up as a WO he is used as a big play guy. Same goes for Tony G etc... Now MOST TE's are just safety blanket players because their athleticism and hands are limited to that. It's the ELITE TE's that have the capability to do both. Ebron's athleticism and hands gives him the option to be BOTH which makes him a dual threat. If he is there at 18 i will be jumping for joy!!! We need guys that will keep the D guessing.
Fiedorowicz would be a good #2 TE for a team that lacks a blocking TE. These 2 way tight ends are becoming more rare in the NFL. 4th round would be a good projection.
Dude, you really need to do some learning about the NFL. Could Ebron act as a "safety blanket"? Yes, he's not what one would properly refer to as a "safety blanket" type TE. When you have a discussion, everyone has to use the same definitions for terms or it's mass confusion. You can't make up your own meanings, which you seem to want to do. You'll never be taken seriously doing that.
Given the strategy the Jets are likely to employ at this point I look at it the other way around. I think Fiedorowicz would be fine as the in-line strong-side TE. He's not going to be a strong weapon in the passing game most likely but he can block and he can function well as an outlet receiver and he's probably going to be very effective as an end zone target. Then you have Cumberland as the weak-side receiving TE when you go 2 TE's and you have some real offensive flexibility built-in. Picture Chris Ivory lined up as the lone tailback with Fiedorowicz or Niklas as the in-line TE, Cumberland on the other side and Decker and whoever X is rounding things out. How do you defend that well? The Jets could do anything out of that formation including just pounding it up the middle on you. Geno's mobility makes it even harder to defend well because with 4 potential receivers in the formation it's hard to spy Geno.
Rex and Idzik at FSU Pro Day today. Probably checking out the likes of Telvin Smith, Terrence Brooks, Christian Jones, Devtona Freeman, Lamarcus Joyner, and of course Kelvin Benjamin. Telvin Smith is an interesting prospect as he can definitely run from sideline to sideline but physically he's better fit as a safety or even a nickel corner rather than linebacker. Could he fill out a bit to be an OLB? Or would he lose that quickness?
He'll be a good RZ target, but I want a TE that is more involved in the passing game between the 20s. Maybe Cumberland takes that next step. Fiedorowicz as the in-line strong-side TE with Cumberland (or at one point Ebron) out wide causing nightmare match-ups. The two TE set is one of the more dangerous formations in the league, Pats incorporated the 2 TE set to off-set the 3-4 defense
Joyner could be an interesting 3/4th round pick for us. His size is an issue to some but i think that kid makes up for it with his speed, cover skills and ball awareness! He is also a true FS that we need right now. Most know how i feel about Benjamin. I would be loving life with him at #18. Kid is unreal IMO.
