Tight End Options

[The Link]

Lets go out and get Wesley Walls.

[SKULL]

Untill Panthers decide to use the TE in the passing game ,it does not matter who the T E is .

If Jason Witten was right out of college and played for PANTHERS he would be a blocker and 4th option on passing downs .

The TE 's here are fine for what Fox wants .

[megadeth078]

I was only listing pro options here, but that's a possibility I'd accept.

I know a lot of folks are happy with an "adequate" TE, one of those folks unfortunately being John Fox. For those with that mindset, I think it's worth remembering just how valuable Wesley Walls was with this team.

What made Wesley Walls so great wasn't just his hands. Walls had a phenomenal ability to find those "open spots" in the coverage. That's not really a weapon in Jeff King's arsenal. I'd agree with folks that King is a good blocker, but I wouldn't put him as anything more than an average receiver and not especially great at getting open.

Likewise, the presence of Walls was something opposing defenses had to account for. It meant that you had to think twice about blitzing because Walls could burn you on a quick pass. Likewise, before you devoted an extra man to one of the receivers or moved the safety down in the box, you had to worry about how to account for Walls.

With all due respect to King, no DC in the league is going to be concerned enough about him burning them to pay much attention to his spot on the field or think twice about adjusting his scheme because blitzing or moving the safety could come back to haunt them.

I want a TE that gives opposing defenses headaches.

I have no confidence that John Fox sees this as a need, but I think Jeff Davidson might. If so, can he convince Fox? Not getting my hopes up, but it'd be nice.

Why replace the only tight end on the team that is doing his job though?

[pantherclaw]

As much fun as the annual TE debate is...I don't see the Panthers breaking the bank to bring in any elite pass catching TE. I am also sure that they'll retain King.

[Mr. Scot]

Why replace the only tight end on the team that is doing his job though?

Nothing against King honestly. He's an RFA, so he's the only one who's in flux right now. I could see keeping him on squad but replacing him as the starter.

As far as what to expect, it all comes down to the tender offer.

If they offer a higher tender to King, then it'll be a sign that Davidson hasn't influenced Fox to change his ways and we can expect the TE to continue to be little more than an extra offensive lineman who occasionally catches a pass.

(likewise, defenses will continue to be able to ignore the TE and devote more resources to stopping the WRs and the run game)

If they don't overpay King, then I think there's a shot at improvement.

[Snake]

Really I think they will put a high tender on King. Barnidge has the most skills of all our TEs. He can block and is a vertical threat also. Rasario has good speed but stone hands and is not all that great at blocking as well. King and Barnidge are the best TEs we have IMO right now.

[hmsmike]

I like Bo Scaife but I have to agree that Fox needs to show more interest in a receiving TE first before I spent the money on one!

For the life of me -- I can't understand why we can't better use that position!!

I believe it would free up the pressure on the #1 WR but maybe it is because he has a lack of trust in the line. Either way, there could be some better & creative play calling for that position!

[guyinchesapeake]

"He's a decent blocker but no one worries about him as a receiving threat."

No TE, in the league or in college, will be so on this team, not as the present system is run on the field. I think King is good, and may have that potential to be a true threat, but we have to try to get the ball to him consistently first. Heck, even if we had Witten, or Boss, or any of several other TEs, they are never going to be anything other than the odd target in our offense. I personally think that's a mistake, utilizing our TE more may open things up for our WRs, but, I don't run the offense.

[MurkN]

Really I think they will put a high tender on King. Barnidge has the most skills of all our TEs. He can block and is a vertical threat also. Rasario has good speed but stone hands and is not all that great at blocking as well. King and Barnidge are the best TEs we have IMO right now.

:eek: Stone hands isn't exactly how I would describe Dante Rosario.

[The Link]

He did drop alot of passes thrown his way...but he doesn't have stone hands.

[Seamonk]

:eek: Stone hands isn't exactly how I would describe Dante Rosario.

I still would. He thinks about running with the ball before he catches it most times. Often resulting in a drop or an interception. His role on offense reduced heavily after the Tampa Bay game. In both Tampa Games he played horrible.

I'm not calling for his head, I think he just got ahead of himself after that game winner.

[hmsmike]

I still would. He thinks about running with the ball before he catches it most times. Often resulting in a drop or an interception. His role on offense reduced heavily after the Tampa Bay game. In both Tampa Games he played horrible.

I'm not calling for his head, I think he just got ahead of himself after that game winner.

Honestly if they was to work with him on his receiving skills -- I really wouldn't mind keeping him either, but still you would have a fox block on using him more, even is he was more sound in receiving!

[natty]

Any TE for this team is going to have to be a GOOD blocker, not just adequate. Being a good receiver is a bonus.

[BigCat#1]

i like rosario dawson