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Arizona Cardinals Community Projections: Leonard Pope

With the top three recievers accounted for, our community projections can now move onto another pass catching position, tight end. If you haven't made your projections for Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin or Steve Breaston, you still have time so click on each player and put your projections on record.  Pope2_medium

Leonard Pope, third round pick in 2006, will be a restricted free agent after this season and he needs to have a career year. He had a better sophomore season in 2007 and he became a threat in the red zone where his 6'8 height is a major asset. In a league with so many great tight ends he'll need to improve his overall numbers though if he wants to step out of the shadows at his position. He's also got some internal pressure from Ben Patrick who was making a push for playing time before a high ankle sprain against the Chiefs. Pope's not a dynamic player and he won't run by many defenders but his size gives him at an advantage over anyone he's facing. Pope got stronger towards the end of 2007 before an ankle injury ended his season in week 14. He averaged nearly three receptions for 28 yards per game during his final five games and while that doesn't sound overly impressive it would project out to 45 receptions for 450 yards over the course of an entire season. Pope needs to continue improve every aspect of his game but there are signs that he's starting to put it all together. Here's a look at his career numbers:

Games Receptions Yards Avg TDs
2007 13 23 238 10.3 5
2006 16 16 161 10.1 -
Total 29 39 399 10.2 5

The Cardinals need him as a consistent red zone threat and safety valve for either Warner or Leinart but if his game doesn't continue to grow he could be looking up at Ben Patrick sooner rather than later. Thoughts? Can Pope become a legitimate threat at  tight end and hold off Ben Patrick? You know the drill: Projections in the subject line and explanation in the body of your comment. Here's my take:

16 games, 40 Rec, 420 yards (10.5 yards per), 7 TDs

0 recs  |  Comment 6 comments

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14 games, 32 Rec, 278 yards (8.2 yards per), 3 TDs

Like so many Cards fans, I’ve had such high hopes for Leonard. This is his make or break season (with the Cards…he’ll go to new team next year and become a ProBowler like so many ex-Cards). I just don’t see it happening. Pope will have his opportunities to shine and will for a game or two, but two of Whiz’s “guys” are nipping at his heals and seem to do Pope’s job a little bit better. Tuman is a great blocker; Patrick has a little more juke in his receiving game. And the cynic in me sees Pope having a couple false starts early in a game and getting yanked by Whiz. Patrick will steal a lot of Pope’s receptions and I’m guessing Tuman will steal a couple of his red-zone TDs on run fakes. By the end of the year he’ll be worn down and is likely to miss a couple of games to rest for the (*gasp*) playoff run.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Aug 26, 2008 8:20 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

May as well thow this out:

Ben Patrick
15 games, 27 Rec, 302 yards (11.2 yards per), 3 TDs

Jerame Tuman
16 games, 8 Rec, 51 yards (6.1 yards per), 2 TDS

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Aug 26, 2008 8:26 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

No love for the TEs?

I think your guess must have been right CG, no one wants to chime in!

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Aug 28, 2008 10:17 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I guess so

As a former tight end (ehhh….at the middle school level) it’s always been one of my favorite positions so maybe my extensive knowledge just nailed the numbers just right. LOL

by cgolden on Aug 28, 2008 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

LOL

Me too, on the former TE in middle-school fact. I had hands like bricks except the one time the ball stuck in my gut long enough to tuck it away and run 62 yards for a TD. I was all legs and elbows back then. ::sigh::

I like the Cards’ TE situation this year with the addition of Tuman. Hopefully this group can produce as well/better as the Freddie Jones-era.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Aug 28, 2008 11:59 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

LOL

Yea I was the biggest kid in middle school but I stopped growing and a 5’9 TE isn’t a great asset so I got moved to another position. Not to mention I wasn’t the fastest kid around. Ahh the good ole days.

I’m pretty satisfied with the group as long as they’re healthy. Pope and Patrick are a nice duo and Tuman is a very solid #3.

by cgolden on Aug 28, 2008 1:31 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

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