Out-physicalling, out-finessing, whatever, we just need to win the line of scrimmage. Our offense is based on our running game setting up the pass, though less so this year. And we can't take any shots down field to open up the running game back up because the OL simply doesn't let them. It would be nice to have a blocking tight end who could help. Keller is a square peg in a round hole. Our OL has taken a step back, and Keller is useless to help. He would ideally be a great option in the short passing game and the red zone, but he disappears far too often, so much so that we brought in Plaxico to be the red-zone threat. He's not the biggest problem with the offense. But I heard someone on NFL Network call him a Pro Bowl caliber TE and I laughed. He's a nice role player, an above average receiving tight end. But is he a top 20 tight end? Probably not, and he's not a great fit in this offense. I didn't even mention the loss of Robert Turner. We used him a lot as a blocking tight end. We miss him a lot.
All depends what he'd want in a deal. The biggest reason I would say we should keep him long-term is so he can continue to develop with Sanchez for some continuity. But we need another tight end badly.
Our offense has been so great this year. Let's just keep everything the same and hope things change magically on their own!
Did I say that? I thought I said the OL sucked this year, and you seemed to say the same thing too. But I don't think a good blocking tight end is going to band-aid half of the inside line. Wouldn't hurt, but it won't fix the main problem.
It would be a big help with the Hunter problem. Having a tight end not named Mulligan helping him out would help us blocking immensely. We played Hartsock and Turner a lot of snaps last season outside the tackle. Now, that's yet another part of the team we've lost. Keller is one of the better receiving options we have. But he's not a complete tight end. He'd be much better as a complimentary tight end with a guy who can block. But we don't. A little bit of me being sick of Keller is expectations. For a tight end to be a 1st rounder, I want a top 10 tight end in the NFL. Keller isn't that, nor does he have the physical ability to become that. Without a #2 tight end worth a damn, Keller's limitations are magnified.
This thread is pretty dumb. You're not going to find Gronkowski's and Gates everywhere. We are lucky with what we got. Maybe if Sanchez stopped overthrowing him he'd have a lot better production. If Manning or a competent QB was on this team Keller would be elite without a doubt.
Ha, I remember when I was bitching about Keller not fitting in this O and everyone insulting me saying how good he was... good times -.-". Keller is basically an enormous slot WR for us. That's a good thing to have but it also means we miss a true TE. In this draft we have to find both Burress replacement & our version of Heath Miller / Gronkowski.
Elite? Sorry, you must be watching a different player. He could reach his full potential as a receiving tight end, but even then, he's not in the same league as Finley, Hernandez, Graham, or Gresham as guys whose primary jobs are to receive. Gates, Witten, Finley, Clark, Gonzalez, Cooley, Daniels, Vernon Davis, Pettigrew, Winslow, Lewis, Zach Miller, Heath Miller, Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Graham are all clearly better. Guys like Gresham, Celek, and Olsen are similar. Keller is probably the shortest tight end in the NFL. He's a good receiver for the position, but he'll never be a good blocker, and he drops too many passes for an undersized tight end who can't block well. If we really want to be a ground and pound team, offensive line is the most important thing we need to fix. But Keller is not a great fit for that type of a team, and I think we should seriously examine looking at the position. I was somewhat in favor of signing Zach Miller in the offseason. What bothers me is the sheer number of positions that need an overhaul. Safety, linebacker, offensive line, runningback, and possibly quarterback are on the list. But I don't think tight end gets talked about enough.
You just made my argument for me thanks Gates - Rivers, Witten - Romo, Finley - Rodgers, Clark - Manning, Gonzalez - Ryan, Cooley - Not better, Daniels - Schaub and not better, Vernon Davis, Pettigrew - Stafford, Winslow - Not better, Lewis - Not better, Zach Miller - Not better, Heath Miller - Ben, Gronkowski - Brady, Hernandez - Brady, and Graham - Brees and 6'6 freak. Look at the elite qb's those guys have throwing to them. Not only is Keller producing a lot this year but it all comes back to our bad offensive coordinator and quarterback.
Yep, Matt Ryan is the only reason Tony Gonzalez is producing. It's not like he's been a future HoF TE who consistently put up great numbers while playing with absolutely nothing at QB for stretches of his career.
You're only looking at receiving stats, for one. There's more to tight end than catching the football. And most of those other guys are great red-zone targets: Keller isn't. You say Graham is a 6'6" freak like it's a bad thing. Witten: 6'6" HMiller: 6'5" Gronkowski: 6'6" Pettigrew: 6'5" He's not the only one. And that's the type of tight end that this offense could use: a big guy who blocks people and can make plays in the red zone. Keller is a tight end/receiver tweener. He can create mismatches, but mostly between the 20's. Ideally, the Jets would get another tight end that is a blocker first/red zone target 2nd. Keller is more of an Aaron Hernandez type, but I think Hernandez has flashed more playmaking ability. I'll give you that the QB puts him in a much better place to succeed. But then in your next sentence, you take out all the tight ends that have weaker QBs. Even if I give you Cooley, I will not give you Daniels, Winslow, Zach Miller, or Marcedes Lewis. For what our identity is going to be going forward, I think a bigger, complementary tight end who can block and catch might even be more important than drafting a young receiver. I don't know what's in the draft, but this is a spot we seriously need to consider spending a 2nd or 3rd round pick on, maybe even a 1st if the right guy is there (I haven't looked at the draft much at all yet). If we can keep Keller as a #2 tight end who is on the field a lot, like Hernandez with the Patriots, that would be perfect.
I'm not talking about the past. I'm talking about right now. My main point was that Ryan is a better QB then Sanchez so nice attempt at making a mountain out of a mole hill.
1. The O-line is not that good and has been in decline since Faneca left. 2. The O-coordinator loves to go 4-wide for excitement even though we cannot protect the QB. 3. A good system adjusts to personnel. If you do not have a good blocking tight end, go double tight! Provide good protection for your horrible QB so he does not have to amke decisions in .5 seconds which he is incapable of doing. I can't even believe people are looking to Keller as a problem. Keller is a pass-catching tight end. Welcome to 2011. He should be utilized accordingly. Schotty MUST GO!
Everything on offense is a problem. Keller is a fine tight end, and one of our better weapons, but philosophically, I think this team needs a different type of tight end going forward, and Keller disappears far too often. He's down on the list of problems, but I'm sick of talking about other positions, so I'm seeing what people think about this one. The bigger issue is Mulligan.
I think you make an accurate point about him disappearing but I'm just not as willing to put that blame on him for it. The pick 6 exemplified this offense: Sanchez went to Plax FOUR straight times. That is high school level QBing.
Last season it was rob turned I that eligible receiver end of the line role. Him being out really messes with the line. Keller can be a game changer but unlike every other team in football they jets don't take advantage of mismatches, don't challenge a safety or LB to play in space, don't make opposing defenses think about what could be coming. The offense is beyond vanilla.
The look-at-me leap Keller took in the Bills game made me seriously wonder what is going through his head. This team needs consistent good play, occasional flash isn't cutting it.
