my fave five: tight ends

This category is more complicated than I thought it would be. This is because there are tight ends, and there are h-backs and not all having the same job descriptions. Some are asked to more than others, so it doesn’t always seem fair to “penalize” a player for something the team doesn’t ask him to do, but then again, those who excel in receiving and blocking should be commended. So I don’t know if I’m really changing the way I’m evaluating tight ends as opposed to the way I evaluated the other skill players, but here goes.

1. Jason Witten – I know, I know, you’re probably thinking that this is a homer pick, but I’m being completely honest. If I had to pick who I felt to be the most complete, productive tight end in the league, I’d have to go with Witten. Witten was victimized by his circumstances in the ’05 and ’06 seasons when he had to be held in to help block for the highly immobile and slow-moving Drew Bledsoe. In those two seasons, Witten’s production took a big hit. Last, season however, Witten had the best statistical season in franchise history. Witten hauled in 96 catches for 1,145 yards and 7 touchdowns. Witten is also a superb run-blocker, so much so that the Cowboys who carry fullbacks on the roster, line Witten up in the backfield as a blocker for Marion Barber. I also believe that on any other team, Witten would have augmented touchdown totals, but with Terrell Owens and Marion Barber on the same roster, Witten doesn’t get the red zone looks he would otherwise. I know he’s not the freakish physical specimen that Antonio Gates is, but as far as production and blocking-and maybe I’m still scarred from watching Witten outrun Michigan’s entire secondary in his last Citrus Bowl-but as far as the total package goes, I’ll take Witten all day.

2. Tony Gonzalez – I know a lot of you all are sleeping on the man, but let’s not forget that he revolutionized the position, and after revolutionizing it, has really yet to be outperformed by anyone. The only reason I put him behind Witten is that Witten is younger, and the fact that Gonzalez benefitted last season from being Kansas City’s only real option for most of the season. Without Larry Johnson, Damon Huard was new as a starter, and though he’d been in the system once you get into game situations, you’re still nervous and everyone knows that a solid tight end is every quarterback’s best friend (after a solid offensive line). Gonzalez had by all measures an amazing individual season last year and despite his age, continues to abuse defenses on a regular basis. Tony Gonzales had 99 catches, 1,172 yards and 5 touchdowns. In a less than stellar season for the organization, Gonzalez was a bright spot for the Chiefs, and with Larry Johnson reportedly healed from his foot injury, the drafting of Jamaal Charles to help the run game, along with the fact that Croyle will be using Gonzalez as his personal training wheels in the pass game, look for Gonzalez’ production to be comparable to what it was last season.

3. Antonio Gates – For being the physical specimen he’s supposed to be, I don’t think Gates’ production really matches all the talk. Listen, I LOVE Gates, I’m still getting over the fact that he didn’t play football in college, and he does present match-up nightmare for most teams, Gates caught 75 passes for 984 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. Given the fact that for the last five years, San Diego has not had any real receivers other than Gates, the fact that he’s only ever gone over 1,000 yards once shows me that he’s more of a red zone specialist. I also think that Philip Rivers’ development as a quarterback, coupled with Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson blossoming as wide outs could lead to Gates finding it a bit more difficult to get to 1,000 yards, or it could in fact lead to him seeing more relaxed coverage, it’s really going to rest on how healthy Tomlinson is and Rivers’ ability to recognize favorable coverages for Gates when they’re there.

4. Kellen Winslow Jr. – Last year was really Winslow first year that he even came close to living up to all the bloviating he’d been doing about himself. Winslow had 82 catches for 1,106 and 5 touchdowns, but unfortunately for him, he was overshadowed by Braylon Edwards’ coming out party. Since he’s been in the league, Winslow Jr. has been running his mouth about how he feels he’s the best tight end in the league, I guess you always want a premiere receiver to have that kind of swagger and confidence [see: Bill Bellamy talking to mirror in Any Given Sunday], but I just can’t help but shake the feeling that somebody needs to remind Kellen that he may not even be the best receiver in his family. I just think that for the class of guys who play the same position as he does, he needs to go ahead and have more than one good season before he starts letting everyone know just how good he thinks he is. I will be looking to see how Winslow performs next season. Now having Donte’ Stallworth should take even more pressure off of Winslow giving him more opportunities. To me, Kellen Winslow has all the physical gifts to be a perennial standout, but he just needs some more time to put it all together I guess. I see only 5 touchdowns but I feel as though his touchdown total should be higher than that given that he should be a redzone threat.

5. Chris Cooley – Washington’s only big target (until this off-season), Cooley has benefitted from being a primary redzone option for the ‘Skins. Cooley and Clark are kind of the same kind of player, and even though Cooley didn’t score as many touch downs as Clark (few receivers did), he also doesn’t drop as many passes as Clark does. I also believe that in the true spirit of relativity, if Cooley played for the Colts, he would put up better numbers than Clark does (as would everyone else on this list) and if Clark played for the ‘Skins, he wouldn’t put up the same kind of numbers as Cooley. Cooley (as well as Winslow) is more of an h-back which to me is just a euphemism for him not being the strongest of blockers. Cooley lives for third downs and rarely comes up short. He’s not a volume producer, and that necessarily impacts my putting him a bit lower than the other guys, but top five is nothing to scoff at. However, his numbers are right on the cusp where there are some guys nipping at his heels. Most notably; Dallas Clark, if he can increase his yardage, and Owen Daniels [the young buck for the Texans], if he can increase his touchdown production.

Honorable Mention: You’d think I’d give this to Dallas Clark, but I’m going to go with Algernon Darius Crumpler. Don’t forget, I’m also taking into consideration next season, and I honestly believe that the fact that the Titans didn’t pick up any bona fide wide receivers this off season is great for Crumpler. Crumpler will reprise his role as the primary receiver on a team lead by a playmaking quarterback. With Vick’s incarceration, McNabb’s injuries, and Tarvaris Jackson in jeopardy of losing his job, Vince Young is the next closest thing to Vick left. Tennessee really doesn’t have any go-to wide receivers, and Vince Young will be working with a new offensive coordinator…remember what I said earlier quarterbacks still looking to get comfortable love their tight ends. Add to that what Crumpler learned from playing with Vick; when the pocket breaks down, just go, that ought to lead to more busted plays turned into large gains for the titans.