State Of The Arizona Cardinals Roster: Tight Ends
by Andrew602 on Feb 3, 2010 4:46 PM MST
in 2010 Offseason
21 comments
So far we've covered quarterbacks and running backs in our state of the roster segment, and our next trip will be to the outside of the offensive line. The Cardinals haven't featured a top tier tight end in their history in Arizona and currently feature a tight end by committee. Each brings their own flares of contribution to the offense, so should the Cardinals consider drafting a tight end in April?
Ben Patrick
Age and 2009 Stats: 25 (08/23/1984) - 12 catches, 146 yards, 2 touchdowns
Contract Status: Restricted free agent
2009 Analysis: While Patrick's numbers don't scream tight end threat, keep in mind that he did miss the first four games of the season after serving a suspension. He spent the majority of year protecting Kurt Warner as well, and we all know how important it is to give Warner enough time in the pocket. Patrick didn't put up the kind of numbers that you come to expect from tight ends these days, but he showed flashes of his true potential. He caught two touchdowns and has improved has receptions and yardage totals each year the past three seasons.
2010 Outlook: Patrick is a restricted free agent so his chances of returning to the Cardinals seem more then likely, especially considering his age(25) and upside. He's shown that he can be a capable receiving tight end, and if he can improve his blocking considerably, he'll serve a better chance at competing for the starting role next season.
Anthony Becht
Age and 2009 Stats: 32 years old (08/08/1977) - 7 Catches, 61 yards, 1 touchdown
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent
2009 Analysis: Anthony Becht was brought on last offseason to provide veteran tight end support, and to assist with the blocking game. He successfully completed his job during the season when the Cardinals did use one or two tight end sets. Becht's success didn't transfer to the receiving game, as he only caught seven passes and one touchdown all year.
2010 Outlook: Becht will be 33 when the 2010 season starts and one would have to assume that the Cardinals won't flirt with the idea of bringing him back to the desert. Although he's a capable blocker, he's a liability in the receiving department. At this point in his career, if he hasn't developing dependable hands and I wouldn't foresee that happening anytime soon.
Stephen Spach
Age and 2009 Stats: 27 years old (07/18/1982) - 4 catches, 38 yards
Contract Status: Restricted free agent
2009 Analysis: Spach didn't enjoy the same success he held down the stretch in 2008 for various reasons. He started the season late due to the torn knee ligament he suffered against the Panthers in last year's road playoff game. The injury bug crept it's way into 2009, and slowed him for most of the year. Four catches for the entire season clearly signifies the lack of contribution Spach was able to make to the Cardinals.
2010 Outlook: It's unfair that injuries have plagued Spach during his career with the Cardinals. He's shown flashes of what he's capable of doing, and it wasn't that long ago that he was highly anticipated by Cardinal fans during the offseason. Spach will be a restricted free agent, and the Cardinals have to be asking themselves how much he brings to the table and how high the injury risk is.
Dominique Byrd
Age and 2009 Stats: 25 years old (02/07/1984)
Contract Status: Signed to a reserved/future contract
2009 Analysis: After being out of football in 2008, the Cardinals brought on Dominique Byrd to compete for the tight end position this past season. Byrd saw most of the action from the sidelines, or at home, as he didn't register any statistics in 2009.
2010 Outlook: Since we didn't see much of Byrd, it's difficult to judge how effective he'll be next season. For now, he's the only tight end signed to a future contract, so that certainly provides hope for himself. The main problem, is that he couldn't beat out Patrick, Spach, or Becht which means he doesn't bring anything to new the table for the Cardinals.
Potential Free Agents:
- Ben Watson - I don't foresee the Cardinals going out and spending money on a tight end but if they did I'd prefer Watson. He's a big, pass-catching tight end with vertical speed that can be a challenge for defenses to cover. He's an unrestricted free agent and I think he'd be a serviceable security blanket for Leinart in his first full season.
- L.J. Smith - Smith hasn't been as productive as he was when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles a few years back, but that doesn't mean he can't provide quality tight end play. He's 30-years old but still has the speed to be a target on the receiving end. His blocking is suspect however.
- Matt Spaeth - Here's the most important free agent to watch for. Spaeth spent the start of his career with the Steelers and will be a unrestricted free agent. If we've learned anything from Ken Whisenhunt, it's that he likes to bring in former Pittsburgh players. Spaeth is a good blocker and has good enough hands to be at the receiving end of the a lot of balls thrown his way. He's only 25 but I'd imagine he's already hit his "upside".
- Brandon Manumaleuna - Manumaleuna is 30 and has bounced around to different teams, but he would shore up the loss of Becht. He's a massive blocker that could immediately help the running game, and he can catch as well. The drawback is that he's slow and has struggled with weight issues.
Overview
Overall I'd say the Cardinals are bound the bring a new face at tight end this offseason. Patrick seems like a lock to return, and the Cardinals could give Spach a chance to return at full strength. Becht is the odd man out, especially at his age. The Cardinals didn't pursue a tight end in the draft last year, even with it being a pressing need, so I don't imagine the same this year. I'd expect them to pick up a small name free agent. What are your thoughts on the tight end situation?
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If a TE is the BPA and the Cardinals don’t have a glaring hole to fill at another position then I’d say draft one. The way the team looks though, even before any losses the off season may bring, I wouldn’t expect a TE in the first 3-4 rounds. A lesser known but well scouted FA will have a shot at the roster. Ben Watson seems a bit high profile for the Cards to bite on.
What will be interesting to me is what kind of TE will Whisenhunt be looking for. Will it be a ball catcher or power blocker? Or the much vaunted “well rounded TE”?
I'd have to say a power blocker based on what we've seen so far
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
"well rounded TE"
I’m sure he’d go for a Heath Miller clone if one existed. I don’t forsee us ever going the route of a TE who is a liability in the blocking game, we’ve had to weed out/re-teach too many guys already. This year’s draft seems to have more TE’s that can block than last year’s, when only OSU’s Brandon Pettigrew and Southern Mississippi’s Shawn Nelson got good reviews. If he slips to the middle rounds, I could see us going with Arizona TE Rob Gronkowski. Otherwise, I think USC TE Anthony McCoy or Alabama TE Colin Peek could be donning AZ red.
Gronkowski would be great.
I could get my father in law off of U of A basketball and watch a real sport for once.
He would
be a great addition, I doubt he’ll be available when/if we decide to take a TE. Then again, he’s about as complete a player at that position as I’ve seen in awhile. Whisenhunt may overrule the draft room if he’s still available in round 3.
Spaeth & Brandon
I think there could be two signings here. From what i ahve read here I like the sound of Spaeth, I havent heard anything of him until now though. If what I read is true I say go get him. I also like the sound of Brandon _, if they had Patrick, Spaeth, and Brandon they are set. Patrick & Spaeth are the future and Brandon the savy vet to learn from and lean on.
Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
Spaeth is a terrible blocker
That’s the primary reason why he was bumped down the depth chart for a seventh round rookie. He’s got Leonard Pope disease basically in that he’s too tall to get low enough to be a capable blocker.
Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
I can live with patrick
in my opinion, if he were to be featured, he would be capable of 45-60 catches a year. when he’s matched up against linebackers, he’ll beat most of them. I hope we keep him, because he’s cheap and reliable. i’d prefer the other tight end to be more of a hybrid, tight end/ tackle kind of guy. the cards need one of these to help out in the running game.
I have heard a lot of great names to bring in
Nice work everyone.
I like Patrick a lot, and Spach I agree will likely get a chance to be healthy.
Spaeth, Scheffler, Manumaleuna, Watson, and David Thomas are all very intriguing.
http://undrafteds.com/
I like...
Patrick and Spach to come back. I think Spach has shown flashes of potential and a full healthy season could be huge for him. The same goes for Patrick. Also, let’s keep in mind that we are talking about Matt Leinart starting at QB and not Warner. Warner has never been big on passing to tight-ends. This could be because we’ve never had an Antonio Gates. Still, Leinart will be in need of the dink-and-dunk drop downs to the tight end. In fact, I would consistently include a tight-end out route for Leinart while he’s getting more and more comfortable. Regardless, with Leinart dropping back to pass, I expect our tight end stats to increase heavily. Could end up being a big year for whoever starts at tight end.
Last addition, I like Manumaleuna. I’ve always liked him. Weight issues or not, he’s a big boy that knows how to block. He’d be great lining up at the end of the offensive line to run block, but he can also line up as a fullback and clear a hole. I think he’s more versatile than the other tight ends. While he lacks speed, he has hands and great blocking skills. He’s also not going to command a huge contract so I’d go after him first.
Here we go...........
The attempt to “Matt-ify” the offense.
Step 1. Take away the deep passing game to accomodate lack of arm strength and cut down on INT’s
Step 2. Hand the ball off more to our improving young running backs
Step 3. Find a tight end that can run short crisp patterns to be safety valve for QB in On-The-Job Training
Not sure we need or want a tight-end to catch 70 balls or maybe even 40 if we really want to maximize the skill set of the talented wide-outs and running backs that we have.
The “Matt-ification” of the offense will require a better blocking tight end as I assume the running game will be more of a feature
Patrick is OK and I personally would like to see him around, but to draft another tight end high in the draft (What’s Lenny Pope doing these days) when there are major concerns on defense and potentially the offensive line would just see me cringe
Whatever we need at tight end can be filled with a not so elaborate free agent.
If we trade Boldin
I think we HAVE to pick up a TE. If we don’t, than I think we can still spread the ball around even with Leinart at the helm.
I debated earlier this season on another discussion that we needed a productive TE if/when Warner retired. BUT I do not think we need a top-flight TE, just one who can do more run blocking and pass blocking than receiving, but can still catch the ball when its thrown to him. He doesn’t need to be Dallas Clark.
Whats most important is shoring up our OLB’s and our secondary. Hopefully we use just two picks on O, a backup QB and a TE.
They are who we thought they were!
No Way
I’d be disappointed if we traded Boldin and went for a TE. Boldin is far too valuable of a talent to be traded for a blocking TE. You’d be trading a perennial pro-bowl, #1 wide receiver (on most teams) for a second tier tight end.
Trading Boldin needs to bring in some return in the form of filling more glaring holes. Defense would be ideal. Whether it’s a linebacker, pass rushing DE, or coverage corner. We need to use a Boldin trade to our advantage and bring in someone making an immediate impact on defense. Otherwise, I’ll be disappointed with letting him go for peanuts.
I don't think the suggestion was Boldin for a TE.
Just that with Boldin gone a TE is needed. A player for player trade like that would be awful. Maybe with the extra picks from a Boldin trade it would provide the opportunity to draft a TE the Cardinals would otherwise pass up though.
We'll lose the talent that Boldin brings to the team
But can Leinart even spread the ball out enough to take advantage of that talent?
What? I didn't break it, I was just testing its durability, and then I placed it in the woods becuase it's made out of wood and I just thought he should be with his family.
Revenge of the Birds
I like the idea of Aaron Hernandez if he drops to the 3rd
He’s a good receiving TE who can line up in the slot. He could be a great safety valve for Leinart.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
I think Hernandez would be a GREAT addition.....
but theres alot of drafts that have him gone by the top of the second round.
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