This TE thing kind of bothers me

[top dawg]

The TE position is one of the most difficult to learn, if you want to model yourself after Greg Olsen.  He knows where he needs to be, and where everyone is supposed to be as well.  I know that we have some smart guys at the position, so I can only assume that the it's just going to take a while before the light bulbs are fully lit. The thing is though, why does it seem like the position just virtually disappears from a pass-catching standpoint when Olsen is out of the game? I know that the young TE's heads are still spinning to a degree, but the coaches just don't seem to be integrating them into the game offensively.  Other than an errant pass to Simonson in fairly blanketed coverage, I haven't heard anyone's name other than Marcus Lucas.  Considering that Dickson basically disappeared last year but for a heads-up tip, I don't like how disjointed the TE game appears to be in the flow of the offense when Olsen is out with a single TE, much less two TE sets (the dream of many).

Are my expectations too high? Is that part of our offensive attack pretty much screwed if Olsen is out for any appreciable amount of time? What's the TE disappearing act about? I don't like it.

[KSpan]

They were clearly trying to evaluate WR talent today, so I wouldn't put much stock in TE action. Regarding other non-preseason games, Greg is head and shoulders above any other TE on the roster when it comes to the passing game. If he goes out, the game plan probably adjusts accordingly.

[imminent rogaine]

Picked a stellar fuging day to start simonson in daily fantasy. I thought he was a lock with Olsen and Dickson out.

[nctarheel0619]

Panthers are scouting Jags TE's as I type this.  If that tells you anything.  

[pantherclaw]

Preseason.

[Davidson Deac II]

One thing I have learned over the past few years with Rivera, Gettleman and company is not to stress on the positional things to much.  Many times, we think a position is going to be weak throughout the season, only to see it become a strength. 

[Wundrbread33]

I'm sure he won't, but I'd like for Lucas to make it over these other guys.

Give me the guy with soft hands, that's gets open, and teach him how to block. He has dedicated to adding weight over the last couple seasons so I'm sure he is working on the physicality of the position.

Simonson? Meh. Great if you want a 5 yard catch. He isn't a good blocker either.

Sandland? Practice squad. Raw.

Deaver? Who knows. Just seems like JAG.

I know Lucas is doing this against 2nd and 3rds, but the others aren't doing anything in the passing game...period...against anyone.

[nctarheel0619]

Just go out and sign one after everyone starts releasing players.  For the most part, after Olsen it's just fuging trash.  

[top dawg]

And after game three, I feel even more concerned with the status of our TE situation. Dickson was in, which should have made  at least a marked difference, but it really didn't. Sure it could have had he caught that critical pass, but bottom line, he didn't. After Olsen, we are pretty much screwed. Other than Can, he is our most critical player on offense. Sure it was a preseason game with vanilla play calling, but do we really want to compensate with only our receivers in case Olsen is out for any appreciable amount of time? The rooks are obviously not ready, and Dickson is a liability blocking and catching. Why not give Mucas Dickson's spot? At least he can catch. And I swear it seems like he's a better route runner also, but admittedly it may be a case of the-backup-is-always-better.

Oh, damn! I forgot about Simonson. How surprising?

[csx]

Was it a concern prior to this season? Nothing has changed but a few more young guys in the competition.

[top dawg]

6 minutes ago, csx said:

Was it a concern prior to this season? Nothing has changed but a few more young guys in the competition.

Yeah, but I have higher expectations now. Plus, last time this year I could fool myself that Dickson was a half-way replacement for Olsen, believing "He can do half, right?" After last season, I no longer have any such delusion. He's not even a half-ass replacement.

[csx]

It shouldn't be a huge shock that a 7th rounder and an UDFA might take some time and might not work out.

[TheRumGone]

14 minutes ago, top dawg said:

And after game three, I feel even more concerned with the status of our TE situation. Dickson was in, which should have made  at least a marked difference, but it really didn't. Sure it could have had he caught that critical pass, but bottom line, he didn't. After Olsen, we are pretty much screwed. Other than Can, he is our most critical player on offense. Sure it was a preseason game with vanilla play calling, but do we really want to compensate with only our receivers in case Olsen is out for any appreciable amount of time? The rooks are obviously not ready, and Dickson is a liability blocking and catching. Why not give Mucas Dickson's spot? At least he can catch. And I swear it seems like he's a better route runner also, but admittedly it may be a case of the-backup-is-always-better.

I wouldn't say screwed and I am down on Dickson but I am reminded of the great plays he made last season, specifically this one when Greg was out for a brief period during the ATL home game (I was at that game, what an incredible play to watch live and also very scary when Greg went down, the stadium was completely silent and it looked like Cam was having a panic attack watching Greg roll around on the ground)

So I'm a little optimistic that if Dickson wins the #2 we will be ok with him. If Olsen goes down we're fuged anyway just like many other teams if they lost their top tight end. im not sure who we could pick up at this point that would be an upgrade, but it's something to watch going forward in later years in the draft. Maybe sandland becomes the answer eventually? Don't know or maybe we should draft a TE high.

[top dawg]

4 minutes ago, csx said:

It shouldn't be a huge shock that a 7th rounder and an UDFA might take some time and might not work out.

That's not a shock, but them doing basically absolutely nothing in these games is concerning. But of course, I already stated that things will take time with them, and they are not ready.